Christmas Lasagna…Let The Competition Begin!

Our son Nick played college baseball, and his wife Sarah was a college volleyball player.  So you could say competition runs through their veins. And several years ago, when they decided to serve lasagna to their house full of relatives at Christmas dinner, Sarah said she planned to make her recipe, found on the Internet years ago, called The World’s Best Lasagna.  Nick quickly raised an eyebrow and asked her how she knew her recipe was the world’s best…since he makes lasagna for their family on many occasions…and without a recipe.  And he informed his wife he is pretty proud of HIS results too.

So that’s how this “Lasagna Throw-Down” was born.

Game ON.

I stayed completely out of the kitchen during all prep work for both contestants…so nobody could accuse me of playing favorites.  Sarah followed her recipe, and Nick made his free-wheeling version. (Like Mother, Like Son I must admit!)

Check out the Girl’s Plates…Two out of Three Already Empty!

There was some “trash talk” between the two cooks during dinner…but they kept their disagreements civil.  (After all…it WAS Christmas, for Heaven sake!)

Nick’s on the Left…Sarah’s on the Right

So after SEVERAL recounts…the votes were finally tabulated.

And the winner (by a SLIM margin) our son Nick!

Now don’t get me wrong…I absolutely LOVE my daughter-in law Sarah. But a mother’s love for her sons runs DEEP. (And I was secretly a little bit giddy when I found out I had selected his dish.)

And I didn’t lie. I DID like Nick’s a little better.  (His was more savory and Sarah’s was a little sweeter.) But as Sarah’s Dad Gregg tactfully commented, “Either one of you is welcome to make YOUR lasagna for me…any time!”  And I totally agree with him.  Both pastas really were delicious.

So if you’d like Nick’s recipe…you’re out of luck.  I’m proud to say “He cooks like his Mom.” So no recipes…just the tastes he dreams up as he cooks.  But when I have time I’ll share Sarah’s recipe, and you won’t be disappointed with the dish.  (I asked her for HER recipe years ago!)

And yesterday Nick proved he can teach his old Mom a thing or two in the kitchen.  He asked me to add some cream cheese to my usual garlic bread recipe as I made it.  I admit I was really skeptical…but it was delicious.  Lesson learned.  Old dog…New trick.

It’s a great problem to have when there are TWO great cooks under one roof in Indy.
Especially since I love them BOTH.

And Christmas dinner 2014 was a HUGE success…Italian style!