Almost as wildly popular as pizza, lasagna is technically both a pasta (wide and flat, sometimes rippled) as well as the finished Italian dish of the same name. A little-known fact is that lasagna was the main recipe in the first-ever British cookbook. Yet, lasagna finds its origins squarely in Italy hundreds of years ago, though the word can also be found in use in ancient Greece.

It’s tough to mess up a good lasagna recipe just because there is such a wide range available in the dish, based on personal preference. Mozzarella and ricotta cheeses are almost a necessary ingredient, as are tomato sauce and a meat of choice; such as beef and/or sausage and even lamb, chicken or seafood. Toss in some artichoke and spinach to get creative, as well as just the right amount of spices.