Gayle’s Galley March 2024

Irish Coffee

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 jigger Irish whiskey (3 TBsp – I use Jameson Irish Whiskey)

Heavy cream, slightly whipped (I use the can whipped cream)

Preheat mug with hot water, then empty. Pour piping hot coffee into warmed mug until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top the coffee with whipped heavy cream. Serve hot.

I like making lasagna from scratch, but sometimes I’m rushed for time and want a smaller version of this well-known pasta dish. Looking through old magazines and cookbooks, I came across recipes for using frozen ravioli to mimic lasagna.  I’ve tweaked the recipes and came up with this easy casserole. I hope you enjoy it. 

Ravioli Casserole

1 lb ground beef

1 medium chopped onion

1 c slice mushrooms 

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 jar spaghetti sauce (680ml)

1 pkg frozen sausage or cheese ravioli (400g)

1½ c shredded mozzarella cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In large skillet, cook and crumble beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Add onion, mushrooms and garlic and heat until cooked. Season with salt and pepper.

In a greased 8” x 8” baking dish layer a third of the spaghetti sauce, a layer of ravioli, half the beef mixture and ½ c cheese; repeat with another third of the spaghetti sauce, layer of ravioli, and the remaining beef mixture. Top with the last third of the spaghetti sauce.   Cover and bake until heated through, approximately 40 minutes.  

Remove casserole from oven. Remove cover and top with the remaining 1 c cheese. Return to oven uncovered for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

There are so many terrific cooks and bakers in the HYC community. If you have a recipe that you think HYC members would enjoy, please send it to

gayle.martin@sympatico.ca