This was a shopping day for me, and an eating out day for Mike. He bought lunch for himself and a friend who was helping with the workshop. Fair trade. Their lunch (at Wendy’s) cost about $16 (no receipt since he didn’t realize the contest was still in effect).

My shopping took me to Sam’s Club and a quick stop at Harris Teeter on the way home. Sam’s was to pick up sandwich rolls, sliced ham, cream, milk and a big bag of pre-cut salad (2.77 for 3 lbs). I spent $19.05 there. At Harris Teeter I stopped to pick up some Pepsi for my husband’s helper and splurged on a few pounds of cherries (on sale for 1.77/lb) for a total of $7.76.

Before I left to go shopping, I threw the ingredients for a loaf of bread into my bread maker. I use an easy potato bread recipe, and in this case, shaped it into a large, oblong loaf. I love the added body the potatoes create.

For dinner I made a no-boil lasagna recipe, using some homemade Italian sausage for the meat. I think sausage, instead of hamburger, makes all the difference in lasagna. With the lasagna we had a tossed green salad, fresh homemade bread, and green beans straight out of the garden. Yum!

Virginia’s Easy Lasagna

1 lb Italian Sausage
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp Salt
3 cups Spaghetti Sauce (large can)
1-1/2 cups Water
15 oz Ricotta
8 oz Mozzarella Cheese — shredded, DIVIDED
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan
1/4 cup Parsley — chopped
1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
8 oz Lasagna Noodles — 9 pieces, uncooked

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large sauce pan, brown meat; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and water; simmer about 10 minutes.

In medium bowl, stir together ricotta, one-half mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.

Pour about 1 cup sauce on bottom of 13 x 9 inch baking dish (spray with Pam for easy clean up). Arrange 3 UNCOOKED pasta pieces lengthwise over sauce; cover with about 1 cup sauce. Spread one-half cheese filling over sauce. Repeat layers of lasagna, sauce and cheese filling. Top with layer of lasagna and remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil; bake additional 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Easy Potato Bread

3 oz water
6 oz milk
1/4 cup instant potato flakes
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
3 cups bread flour
2 tsp Yeast, Active Dry

Put ingredients in bread machine in order listed. Set machine for 1-1/2 lb, dough setting. Start.

When the dough is ready, take it out of the machine and set it on a floured counter to rest for a few minutes.

Shape into an oblong loaf.

Let rise for 35 minutes in a warm place.

Bake for 20 minutes in a pre-heated 375° oven.

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