Delicious Campfire Lasagna: Cook with Family

Happy Sunday Funday everyone!   I thought today I would bring to you another entrée and crowd pleaser for dinners while camping.  I have to give my cousin Chrissy thanks for this one as she gave me the original recipe and some tips that I have added on to over the years.  For example, I’ve added spinach because I like some greens.  I’ve also played around with the type of meat I’ve added or don’t add at all.

I also have to mention that the last time I made this was this past July at my favorite camping site – Letts Lake.

The place is beautiful and the last five miles are unpaved to get there which is always a roll of the dice with my Prius but I’ve made it at least 3 out of the 4 times I’ve tried.  I was fortunate to go literally two weeks before the Mendocino Complex Fire (specifically Ranch Fire) started and the campsite was evacuated and later burned in the same fire.  I cried a good amount after learning it burned.  But why do I even remember this so specifically?  Because this was the first time I had the genius idea to add Italian sausage to my lasagna.  The bees were so incredibly bad this past summer in California. The second I opened the sausage packet, hundreds of bees swarmed on me and the meat so quickly, that I had to abort the mission. I ended up kicking the sausage a few feet away from the campsite.  Next time, I will cook and cut the meat prior to going camping so I can quickly assemble and hopefully not have the swarm of bee issue.  On the other note, while I won’t be able to enjoy Letts Lake this upcoming summer, hopefully it will be back open in 2020.  I also pray all the animals and especially baby ducks are ok but the bees I will say I hope they won’t be returning (wishful thinking I know!)

So here you go – my and my cousin’s much loved combined lasagna recipe

Ingredients –

• Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
• 2 jars of Rao’s Marinara Pasta Sauce (this part is VERY important.  Trust me – splurge and spend the $8 on a jar of delicious sauce – it makes all the difference)
• 1 bag Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 bag Cheddar Cheese
• 1 bag Parmesan Cheese
• Any kind of cooked meat you would like
• Any vegetables you might like (I like spinach and zuchinni)
• Italian Seasoning
• Cast Iron Pan
• Foil

Directions –

Line the cast iron with double foil (spillage of the marinara sauce in the cast iron is a real pain to clean when camping)

Make a layer of oven ready lasagna noodles

Spread a portion of sauce over noodles

Add a part of the vegetables that you want evenly over sauce/noodles combo

Add any meat if you are having meat for the next layer

Add a layer of mozzarella and cheddar cheese

Add another layer of oven ready noodles

Add another portion of sauce over noodles

Repeat vegetables, meat and cheese layers

If you are now at the top of your cast iron, add sauce to cover, remaining mozzarella & cheddar cheese and as much of the parmesan cheese that looks good to you. Top with

Italian seasoning and cover pan with foil

Put cast iron pan on indirect heat over the campfire

Cook for about 45 min – an hour or when cheese is melted on top

Enjoy!

I would love feedback! If you have tried this recipe, please rate below and/or comment!