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Everyone seemed to enjoy it, but people who are eating your food aren't going to tell you it's bad. My husband and I thought the lasagna was rather bland. At first, I thought it might be because I found out later I was coming down with a cold, and I realized I couldn't taste very much. But I looked at some of the reviews online afterward, and I wasn't the only one who thought it was kind of boring.

The recipe probably could be improved by using italian sausage instead of ground beef, along with plenty of seasoning. I think basil, oregano and garlic could give the dish a much-needed kick. It was a time-consuming recipe, however, and I don't know if I would bother making my own bechamel sauce again.

Now that I've badmouthed Giada's recipe for lasagna, I'll give you another of hers that worked well. Her Cheese and Rosemary Breadsticks recipe was quick and easy, and I loved the crunchy breadsticks it produced. Yes, it uses refrigerated dough, but the added ingredients give it a fresh spin. You could easily substitute another type of cheese or spice for different flavors -- I bet sesame seeds would be great. (There is a difference between the directions in the cookbook and in the online recipe -- the book tells you to roll the dough with the palm of your hand after adding the ingredients, while the online recipe says to just twist the dough. The book also has you brush the dough with olive oil before adding other ingredients. I imagine you would get two different textures from these methods.)

Later, I'll post the recipes for the berry tiramisu and the pesto and cheese dip appetizer, which I adored!