Ravioli Meets Lasagna

 

Celebrating the Season 

Looking for a holiday brunch idea? Here's one of the most unusual ideas surely to dazzle your guests. Try a champagne toast with Wild Hibiscus Flower Syrup. This product can be found at Total Wine. The jar contains a syrup with 11 hibiscus flowers. Place one flower in the bottom of a flute glass and then fill with champagne. Not only was this a wonderful added flavor but also a festive looking addition to the brunch table.

Ravioli Meets Lasagna=The Perfect Holiday Casserole

This make ahead Italian Chicken Sausage Ravioli Lasagna is bursting with Italian flavors. It's a hearty delicious casserole that makes a sizeable pan. With leftovers for the week leaves you more time for other holiday things.

Cook's Notes: I suggest you make the easy marinara sauce the day before for flavors to meld. I used a 11 x 8 size pan but a 13x 9 pan works too. 

Marinara Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 jar (24 oz.) good quality marinara sauce 
• 1 can (14. oz.) basil garlic diced tomatoes
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon each Italian seasoning and parsley flakes
• Pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions: 

• Mix all ingredients in a saucepan.
• Simmer on low for 45 minutes. 
• Cool and refrigerate until needed.

Ravioli Lasagna Ingredients:

• 1 package of Italian Chicken Sausage (fully cooked)
• 20 ounces fresh cheese and spinach ravioli (deli section and I used Butoni product) use uncooked 
• 12 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Bring marinara sauce to room temperature. Mix in 1/2 cup water to thin the sauce.  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Slice each sausage lengthwise and then cut into 1/2 inch slices.
• Spread 1-1/4 cups of marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. 
• Spread 1/2 of ravioli over marinara sauce, then top with 1/2 of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 Parmesan cheese.  To the remaining marinara sauce add cut sausages.  
• Spread rest of ravioli over the cheese mixture. Top with rest of marinara/sausage mixture and top with remaining cheeses.
• Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 minutes longer.