TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 40 min. + standing

YIELD: 12 servings.

My mom made this lasagna for special occasions, such as birthdays. When she passed, I inherited her cookbooks—tucked inside one of them, I found this recipe folded into a letter she wrote to me while I was stationed overseas. It's a hearty, rich dish that reminds me of home. —Janet Wing, Minot, North Dakota

Ingredients

9 lasagna noodles

1 pound bulk Italian sausage

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup half-and-half cream

3 ounces cream cheese, cubed

1/4 cup m...