Have you been watching any Olympics? I hate the feeling of having the TV on during the day, but I can’t help but love the feats of strength and skill on constant display. I just sit there and exclaim about the LEGS, the ARMS, the CORE STRENGTH! The ski jumpers who can basically lay parallel to their skis while in flight…how is that even possible?! I am totally impressed by every sport.
However, it also makes me aware of my own limitations and completely comfortable in my own lack of elite athletic ability. I’m well aware of how much time and energy these people have committed to their sport, and don’t envy them having to find something else to do when this time has passed, and the unique body trauma each of them carries into their old age. Fitness is important, but that level of time, intensity, and the amount of injuries these people sustain and overcome is just not something I’m able to find a lot of meaning in.
It has opened up a great avenue of play for the kids, as they play “Olympic Games” and attempt each sport in their own unique way. They’re accurate too -at least half of their figure skating routines and ski jumps incorporate elaborate falls and comments to onlookers about their inability to hold on and keep their balance :)
For those of us who don’t have to wonder whether every bite is the right fuel for the next day’s big competition, we have this quick and easy Ravioli & Sausage Lasagna. Preferably served with copious amounts of warm bread for comfort food perfection. Maybe I just don’t get athletes because I know exactly what I’m not willing to give up – time and energy for one thing, but cheese and carbs for another.
I’m on a bit of a lasagna kick, as you may have noticed. Last week we had Taco Lasagna, and this week it’s this Ravioli Lasagna. If you’re anything like me, though, weekly lasagna is totally acceptable, and if there are leftovers for lunch or another dinner, even better. I love lasagna in so many forms and this version uses refrigerated ravioli noodles, making it super easy on TOP of being delicious, perfect for a regular weeknight meal but delicious enough to serve company. Anything that I can serve with heavily buttered garlic bread is a win in my carb-loving books.
Sorry, I can’t stop talking about carbs. I need to stop taking pictures of food, they make me too hungry to blog. You need to make this, I need to go make a plate of nachos. For breakfast. Good day.
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 500g mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 can (796 mL) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ½ cup half and half or heavy cream
- ½ cup milk
- 1½ - 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 700g package fresh spinach and cheese ravioli, uncooked (found in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores)
- 1½ cups grated mozzarella cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly coat a 9x13" baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In large pot or deep frying pan, heat oil over medium heat and cook onion and garlic until onion is softened, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Add sausage meat, breaking up with a fork, and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, and pepper.
- Stir in cream and milk, then set aside 1 cup of sauce before adding mushrooms and ravioli to pan. Stir to coat everything evenly, then dump into prepared baking dish, pressing down lightly to even out ravioli.
- Pour reserved 1 cup of sauce over top, then spinkle with mozzarella.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, until ravioli are cooked through and cheese is melted.
Would you/could you also add some ground beef to this recipe? My hubby is a meatatarian and I think that would appeal to him a little more….Thoughts?
You could definitely add beef if the sausage isn’t meaty enough :) Or you could totally replace the sausage with beef and it will still be just as good!
Thanks!
Made this tonight, so good and easy to put together. My teenage son loved it as well as my husband who as a rule doesn’t care for tomato sauces. Thank you for a great recipe, it’s a keeper
I made this last week and we both loved it! I didn’t have a can of crushed tomatoes in the house (which I realized halfway though preparing it) so I used two cans of tomato soup instead, and it turned out great!
Made this last night…Reuben raved!
this looks sooo comforting! send us some ! ;)
This dish looks awesome! A big bowl of this and watching snowboarding, and I’m a happy camper!
This looks really tasty. Olympics + this dish = Winter cozyness. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds great!
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I say yes to lasagna always, such a real comforting meal to me. Yours look amazing!
We’ve been watching tons of the Olympics, too! And I could totally curl up on the couch with a big bowl of this while watching those athletes. I’ll eat a double portion on their behalf, ha! =)
I love ravioli and love lasagna! Perfect combo Anna!
I love the idea of ravioli lasagna. I’m just upset I didn’t think of it first. :)
totally a winter-warming dish. I could just nuzzle up with my cats and eat WAY too much of your lasagna.