Family Fave Lasagne, #SundaySupper, #FamilyDinnerTable

This post is sponsored by American Family Insurance. All opinions are my own.

Dinner in Tokyo was mostly fish, miso soup and rice. I never tired of the simple fare in my 17 years growing up in Japan. I was always excited, however, when birthdays and anniversaries rolled around. Celebrations meant cake and sloppy joes or lasagne. Like American TV in the ‘70s (dubbed into Japanese), the dishes made a rare appearance. So, lasagne dinners were treasured. The original recipe disappeared as family members made their way back to the US. But my sister, Karen, concocted an equally delicious lasagne in the States for family get-togethers. Her recipe has remained in my files for years.  And I’m delighted to share this delectable how-to for today’s Childhood Favorites themed #SundaySupper at Twitter. (Scroll down for details.)

Melted mozzarella, sharp cheddar, parmesan and garlic herb spread
mingle with spinach and lasagna noodles.

Making the lasagne is always a pleasure. Yes, the spinach with mounds of mozzarella, cheddar on pasta noodles ensures a bite of bliss. But, the memories associated with this dish make me love it best. Due to the large size of lasagne it is perfect for large family get-togethers. (It’s seen a lot of parties!) I remember the dish on a foldout table in my sister’s home 30 plus years ago. My niece, Jasmine, was a toddler then with blonde curls. She knew how to charm her cousins. She still does. But she’s all grown up now. And Jasmine goes chasing after my great-nephew, Ethan, these days to make sure he doesn’t dive into the lasagne before the family meal blessing.

Another family fave shared through the generations - Disneyland!
The Ninja Baker and her Great-Nephew in the Magic Kingdom.

So that Jasmine can relax a little bit, we’ve taken turns devising games for my great-nephew. At our last get-together, as my sister and niece proceeded with the meal, Ethan and I pretend baked the tastiest cupcakes in the whole wide world! We whisked tiny amounts of flour and swirled sprinkles into muffin tins.

Other family party suggestions:
*Assign each person a dish (or drink.) Everyone gets to feel like they have contributed.
*Make sure all ingredients are readily available in the kitchen where you are cooking.
*Offer to reimburse for ingredients you did not bring. (Respect and good manners count in any kind of relationship.)
*Bring multiple measuring cups, knives, pans and necessary tools so no one has to wait to make their dish and hold up the feast.

So here’s the family fave lasagne from the Ninja Baker.