Figuring out the new normal around here has been a challenge. Over the last few years, I’ve become really good at cooking elaborate, time-consuming dinners for my family. Fresh bread at dinner was not uncommon, nor were comforting, simmer-all-day kind of meals. But then, I started working away from home again, and now I get home after 6pm, and even then I’m at the mercy of my girls’ schedules. Dinner has become somewhat of an afterthought, and as a food blogger, that’s a really, really tough pill to swallow.
My husband and I have spent some time brainstorming make-ahead meals, and we’ve come up with a plan that works for us. Most of our weekday meals require just about 30 minutes of prep and cooking time, so we are still able to eat a good, homemade meal with minimal time investment. It’s very important to us that even though we’re in a time crunch in the evenings, we continue to focus on healthy meals with natural ingredients whenever possible. Which brings me to this recipe. It makes being at work all day worth it. Plus, it’s brilliant.
Ravioli, made into lasagna? Seriously. Brilliant.
Since our family time is a precious commodity these days, we take advantage of dinnertime, and the entire family pitches in. The girls are old enough now that they can (and love to) help me in the kitchen, and this recipe is perfect for the kiddos – the layering and cheese-sprinkling is a great task for little hands.
As far as convenience goes, you can’t beat these awesome pastas from Monterey Gourmet Foods. They meet my high standards of flavorful, natural and high quality ingredients. In fact, Monterey Gourmet Foods takes great pride in their products, as dictated by their own, “Generally Natural Principles.” They offer a wide variety of products, which all have distinct flavors and are perfect for a family on the go – especially a family with high standards. While you can use any flavor of ravioli you like for this recipe, for me the Spinach Ricotta Ravioli was perfect. I dressed it up with a little homemade alfredo sauce that I made earlier in the week.
Check out Monterey Gourmet Foods on Facebook for product information and awesome recipes, and be sure to visit their website, also. And then, enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card by leaving a comment below telling me what dish or sauce you’d serve with your Monterey Gourmet Foods Discovery Dish.
Good luck!
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- 12 oz Alfredo sauce
- 16 oz spinach & ricotta ravioli, cooked according to package preparation
- ⅛ cup pesto sauce
- ½ cup roasted red bell peppers (jarred or canned), sliced into julienne strips
- 1 and ⅓ cup pesto panko bread crumbs (see recipe below)
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup pesto sauce
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅛ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray 8”x 8” baking pan with non stick spray.
- Smooth ¾ cup Alfredo Sauce over bottom of the baking pan.
- Layer ravioli, slightly overlapping in rows.
- Smooth ¼ cup Alfredo Sauce over ravioli.
- Dot with ⅛ cup Pesto.
- Layer remaining ravioli slightly overlapping in rows.
- Smooth remaining Alfredo Sauce over ravioli.
- Sprinkle with pesto panko bread crumbs, place roasted red peppers evenly across top and dot with remaining pesto sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake until sauce is bubbling, about 35 minutes.
- Remove foil and broil until bread crumbs are lightly browned.
- Let lasagna rest about five minutes. Serve with a large spoon.
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
I would serve them with a side salad and marinara sauce.
elena150980@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/402537704392384512
I would serve a side salad.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/402591038117646336
I would make a fresh garden salad.
reklaw422 at hotmail dot com
Alfredo sauce and a light green salad
i would make a salad
freebiel0ve@yahoo.com
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/402798654072709120 .
freebiel0ve@yahoo.com
i would do a fresh salad and homemade coleslaw!
vanitizebaby@yahoo.com
tweet https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/402807874235006977
vanitizebaby@yahoo.com
I would serve a side dish of steamed asparagus
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/402821158464004098
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
I would serve a side of my zucchini surprise. Its shredded zucchini and carrots.
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/402941271531982848
I would
serve the dish with a side green salad and some Mediterranean couscous
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/403303452584845312
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
I’d like to serve the ravioli with a rosa sauce and some breadsticks!.
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I would serve with kale salad
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/404107764122648576
I would serve them with Creole Potato Salad
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/406952356236890112
I think this would pair nicely with roasted eggplant, maybe also topped with red pasta sauce.
Gosh that looks yummy, in decades of making ravioli I have never once baked them, but I now I feel that I immediately must! Maybe I’ll do mine in an Alfredo with mushrooms.
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margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com
I would make a side salad and a tomato sauce with it. these look so good too.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/408873323917897728
amy [at] utry [dot] it
A side salad would pair perfectly with the pasta.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/sevenislucky/status/409749201451352064
Maybe a side salad.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com
I’d serve it with sauteed green beans with pine nuts.
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/410572061765955584
I’d like the shrimp and lobster ravioli with an alfredo sauce
nannypanpan@gmail.com
A spinach salad with fresh strawberries and balsamic dressing.
I would serve it with a side of mixed vegetables
hewella1 at gmail dot com
I would make green beans as a side.
I Tweeted; https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/412425292032901120
Lisa Garner
i love corn as a side
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/412448114046271489
I think the Potato & Cheese Pierogi would go well with a side salad!
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/412659503385939969
https://twitter.com/willitara/status/412659503385939969
I’d serve this with a salad and garlic bread
s2s2 at comcast dot net