Lasagna To Go

Friday night’s dinner was a tray of hot bubbling lasagna. It was really simple to make, since all I had to do was take it out of my freezer and place it in the oven late afternoon to bake. By 6:00 pm, my kids were devouring layers of noodles, cheese and meat, asking for seconds while telling me how good it tasted. The kids happily fed their faces as I thought about the time I spent with Debbie just over a week ago, mixing fresh ricotta cheese with herbs, making a pot of homemade sauce and assembling lasagnas. Debbie’s plan was to take her lasagna with her on vacation to serve as a hearty family dinner after a long day at the beach. I was content storing mine in the freezer for an opportune time (like a rainy day with a house full of kids.)

I glanced at the thin slices of fresh mozzarella cheese on top and creamy ricotta smeared between the layers of noodles. I tried not to stress out about the mess they were making and instead thought about moments slicing a fresh ball of cheese while my friend whisked the eggs. I wondered if Debbie’s family was enjoying the lasagna as much as my family was and pictured her kids sitting at the table like mine. I hoped she was happy, like me, that we had taken the time to make these dinners in advance together.

This tray of lasagna fed my family while giving me a few minutes to think of a friend.