Valentines Day: Artichoke Mushroom Lasagna

Five years ago today, Ben proposed to me.  I'm so thankful for the last five years.  We may seem like a mess even together at times, but we would be in chaos without each other.

I love holidays.  And I don't typically opt to not celebrate anything.  However, Ben was working all day and I had and endless list of things to do before I went to work in the evening.  I'm still dealing with a crazy head cold.  So it seemed too stressful to pull some sort of celebration together.

I changed my mind mid morning.  I decided on baking brownies and then preparing a lasagna that Ben could throw in the oven while I was working.  I could then come home and we could have a wonderful dinner together.  That was the plan...

How I pictured dinner in my head.  Ben and I being graceful and enjoying the moment.  And the table/room were perfectly set.

 
I was in the middle of baking brownies when I got a call.  The call was for me to come in for a 2nd interview that day.  The same day they called!  Of course I said yes.  Now I had to add prep interview outfit and myself to the list.  Needless to say I was a bit distracted in my baking.  Finished brownies were missing a few key ingredients.

I made pathetic attempts at accomplishing remaining tasks on my to do list while processing information for my interview.  I quickly ran to the store to buy ingredients for the lasagna.  I could go to the interview and then come home and assemble the lasagna.  All would go as planned.

I went to the interview.  It went well.  I confidently walk out to my car and realize I locked my keys inside...with my cell phone...and my coat.  At this point I contemplated walking 2 miles home in heals and no coat.  Instead I walked back inside, where I just interviewed, to use a phone to call someone to pick me up.  This was embarrassing to say the least.

Over an hour later I'm finally back at the house.  I have 10 minutes until I have to be at work.  I'm thinking all hopes of a lasagna are shot, when Ben comes home.  He puts on his hero cape and agrees to fix the lasagna while I'm at work.  It will be ready when I get home and we will still have planned wonderful dinner!  I set off for work with hope restored.  Dreaming of enjoying a glass of wine when I return.

Yes, Ben wears this under his clothes while he works

 I come home to find Ben in a state of frenzy.  He had been cooking for close to 2 hours and was just now assembling the lasagna.  It still had to bake for an hour.  He then declares that he does not like cooking because it is way too stressful.

Around 9:30 we finally sit down to eat.  The day had not come close to going as planned.  Ben and I were both stressed and exhausted.  But the lasagna was delicious.  And I got to spend time with my favorite valentine.

Our dinner was more a version of this

I was excited to try this recipe from the April/May 2011 issue of Taste of Home.  It exceeded my expectations.  We both rated the lasagna as 4.5 cookies.  It was so good!

Ingredients:
1 lb. sliced baby portobello mushrooms
2 Tbl. butter
3 garlic cloves
2 cans artichoke hearts (14 oz)
1 cup white wine (we used a pinot grigio)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese (we used 1 1/2 cups parmesan and 1 cup asiago)
1 cup white wine

Lasagna noodles (the recipe called for no cook.  We used noodles that needed pre cooked)
4 cups shredded mozzarella

Directions here


9 large servings/ 14 points each