Delicious Amish Lasagna Casserole

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Now, the women work just as hard, some would venture to say harder than the men. But their work is usually supporting the men, and watching the children. The women will whip up hearty meals throughout the day for the hungry work crew.

A barn-raising can attract hundreds of willing workers from through the Amish community. With that many men, a barn can be put up in a day. And more and more Amish barn-raisings involve modern equipment. But, anyway, sometimes a job doesn’t need 200 men.

Putting up a shed? That might require 10 people. Ditto for tilling a garden, building a fence, cleaning up a yard, or filling an ice house. These are all work occasions that don’t require hundreds of people. Yet, the Amish spirit of helping neighbors in need, or friends who need a hand with some work, using the adage that many hands make light work, is still alive for smaller jobs. This is when the Amish gather together for something a little bit more low-key than a barn-raising These gatherings are called “frolics."

The name “frolic," I’ve heard, comes from a German word that sounds similar. But it escapes me right now. Anyway, it’s not uncommon at all to have delicious baked goods, breakfast, lunch, and the like served during frolics.

Really, a frolic is just like a barn raising, except on a much smaller scale.

This recipe is called “lasagna casserole “… because, it’s described, well, one of our friends described it as tasting like lasagna except without the work of spreading the noodles, layering, etc. Now, it doesn’t take lasagna noodles, it takes macaroni noodles. But you get a lasagna-type taste.

You can adjust this how you like. Add a bit more salt, if you choose, and some more cheese. I mean, 4 ounces of cheese is not a huge amount, and if you want to use colby or Cheddar instead, go right ahead. A couple of teaspoons of Italian seasoning and oregano are other options that would round out the lasagna feel of this.

🍝 Amish Lasagna Casserole

• 1 lb. ground beef
• ½ c. chopped onion
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 tbsp. salad oil
• 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach
• 1 (16 oz.) mushroom spaghetti sauce
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
• ½ tsp. salt
• Dash of pepper
• 1 (7 oz.) pkg. shell or elbow macaroni, cooked
• 4 oz. shredded American cheese
• ½ c. bread crumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ¼ c. salad oil

📋 Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil.
2. Cook and drain noodles and set aside.
3. Cook and drain spinach, save the liquid and add water to equal one cup.
4. Stir the liquid, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce and paste, salt, pepper into the meat mixture.
5. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. combine macaroni, cheese, bread crumbs, eggs and ¼ cup salad oil with the spinach.
6. Spread mixture into a 13x9x2 inch baking dish.
7. Top with meat sauce. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
8. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

🍲 More Amish Casseroles

Six-Ingredient Country Casserole

Three-Layer Beef Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

Farmer's Hearty Casserole

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