Resident Favorite Recipes in Riverpark West

Sunday Beef Lasagna

From our kitchen

I have made lasagna on a Tuesday, so the name isn’t a rule. Sunday is simply when I’m most likely to have time to leave a pot of sauce simmering while I do something else nearby. It also gives me a reasonable answer when someone asks why there are so many bowls on the counter. There’s the sauce, the ricotta mixture, the shredded cheese, and the noodles. I get them all ready before I start layering. Otherwise I’m halfway through and looking for the Parmesan with a sauce-covered spoon in my hand. I use regular lasagna noodles and boil them just short of done. They finish in the oven. I lay them on an oiled baking sheet rather than stack them in a colander, where they seem to develop a lasting attachment to one another. Daniel usually volunteers to help with the mozzarella. This involves distributing a little into the dish and checking a little for quality. I’ve started putting his portion in a separate bowl. The sauce should be thick enough to spread, with no puddle of water around it. I let it simmer uncovered while I mix the ricotta. There’s no need to hurry that part. Waiting after the lasagna comes out is harder. Fifteen minutes feels unnecessary until I try cutting it early and find the filling heading in every direction. A short rest makes serving much easier. I don’t promise perfect squares. The first piece is often a little untidy, which gives me a reason to take it. I like the browned corner, and nobody needs to know whether I planned it that way.

8 servings · Ready in 1 hr 50 min · Nov 9, 2026

Creamy Tomato Tortellini and Spinach Soup

From our kitchen

Refrigerated tortellini is one of the things I buy when I don’t know what we’re having for dinner.

Serves 4–6 · Ready in 35 min · Nov 2, 2026

Graveyard Taco Dip

From our kitchen

A taco dip is welcome at almost any gathering. For Halloween, I put a few baked tortilla tombstones in the top and give it a new name.

Serves 12 · Ready in 35 min · Oct 27, 2026

Cherry Tomato and Ricotta Pasta

From our kitchen

Cherry tomatoes are easy to buy by the handful and surprisingly easy to forget once they're home. This pasta is a good use for the ones that have started to wrinkle. If they're sound and just a little soft, they're ready for the skillet.

Serves 4 · Ready in 30 min · Oct 23, 2026

MacMichael’s Monday Night Chicken Pot Pie

MacMichael’s chicken pot pie uses cooked chicken, frozen vegetables, and one mixing bowl—and the boys will actually eat it -sometimes.

Serves 6 · Ready in 55 min