(Family Features) A warm, cozy meal may seem like a burden to make after busy winter days, but Skillet Lasagna lets you skip the craziness of home cooking with an easy, one-pot solution. Discover more comforting recipes that let you reclaim evenings with loved ones by visiting Culinary.net.

Skillet Lasagna

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 44 ounces marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup ricotta
• 1 1/2 cups frozen spinach
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• bread, for serving
• Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

1. In large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef with onion power, garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Drain excess grease. Mix in marinara sauce, heavy whipping cream, ricotta and spinach.
2. Break up lasagna noodles and add to skillet. Cover and let set over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir and top with mozzarella cheese. Cover and let set 10 minutes.
3. Serve with bread and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

(Family Features) A cozy morning at home sharing a delicious breakfast – for many families, it’s a picture of perfection. Whether your brunch favorites include pastries and pancakes or fruits and French toast, enjoying a meal together is a heartwarming way to start the day.

Now, you can savor all your favorite flavors inspired by wish kids. These Bananas Foster French Toast and Peanut Butter and Apple breakfast recipes are made with the freshness and irresistibly soft texture of Butterbread from Nature’s Own, which partnered with Make-A-Wish on a $500,000 donation to highlight and support wish kids through 2026.

Since 1980, the global nonprofit has granted more than 375,000 wishes in the U.S. to children with critical illnesses, helping them build the strength and hope needed to fight their illnesses. Granted wishes can be life-changing, bringing a sense of normalcy to families that can impact entire communities.

To celebrate the partnership, the Slice of Hope Campaign was launched, introducing in-store displays as well as a digital “Well Wish Wall” where shoppers can submit their well wishes for kids to see.

Special-edition bread loaf packaging also highlights the collaboration by sharing inspiring stories from three wish kids: Addison, who fulfilled her dream of experiencing the wonders of Pearl Harbor; Aden, who ventured out for an epic fishing trip; and Joanna, born with an adventurous spirit that wouldn’t rest until she learned to surf the breathtaking shores of Hawaii.

“We are truly honored to partner with Make-A-Wish on this meaningful two-year journey, committing to help grant life-changing wishes,” said Krystle Farlow, senior director of brand management for Nature’s Own. “Together, we hope to continue to inspire and spread goodness, one wish at a time.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit naturesownbread.com/make-a-wish.

Bananas Foster French Toast

Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

French Toast:

• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 stick butter
• 1 loaf Nature’s Own Butterbread

Bananas Foster Sauce:

• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 bananas, sliced lengthwise and quartered

1. To make French toast: In mixing bowl, combine eggs, half-and-half, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
2. On nonstick griddle or griddle pan on medium heat, melt butter.
3. Dip each bread slice into egg mixture until fully coated (two times each). Place on griddle and cook until each side is slightly brown.
4. To make bananas foster sauce: Melt butter and brown sugar together; add cinnamon. Once melted into caramel, add sliced bananas.
5. Continue spooning sauce over bananas in pan.
6. Plate French toast and spoon bananas with sauce on top of each French toast stack.

Peanut Butter and Apple

Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 slice Nature’s Own Butterbread
• 1/2 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon honey

1. Spread peanut butter on one side of bread.
2. Arrange apple slices on top of peanut butter.
3. Drizzle honey over apple slices.

SOURCE:
Nature’s Own

I have a love/hate relationship with Jello that takes me back to 1986, when I was an exchange student in Hamburg, West Germany.
My host mother was passionate about preparing elaborate aspic dishes, turning our dinners into delightful culinary experiences. Using molds shaped like pork chops and fish, she crafted colorful aspics filled with pickles, ham, carrot medallions, and boiled eggs, all artfully arranged in slightly sour gelatin. It always amazed me how she transformed simple ingredients into beautiful creations served with lettuce or sauerkraut.
One memorable night, she made a fish aspic with smoked herring, pickles, radishes, and boiled eggs. The tomato-based gelatin disguised the fish, which was perhaps a blessing! These aspic meals were often our main course, with our largest meal at midday, and they remind me of the warmth and joy of sharing food and culture around the table.
My mom, Gayle Storey, had a typical 1970s recipe for Jello salad that stood out at the dinner table. She loved using her colorful Tupperware mold to create it.

Read the Love and Luck food column by Suzanne Storey in Thursday’s On The Table feature in The Bowie News.