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Most of us have had lasagna at some time in our lives, and some of us have even attempted to make it.

To mark Lasagna Day on July 29, some cooks have offered up some original recipes, tips and tricks to make this Italian favourite with a unique East Coast twist.

Kendra Mills is the marketing director of the PEI Potato Board, the industry association for the P.E.I. potato growers.

Mills says the secret to making the best lasagna is “thinking outside of pasta and including potatoes as the layers.”

Sub out the noodles, she says, and instead "try russets or yellow P.E.I. potatoes, as they will hold up the best during cooking."

Mills also recommends scrubbing the potato skins and leaving them on for extra flavour and nutrition.

But skip the red potatoes, she says, “as they will break down more in the lasagna.”

Bonita Hussey, a home chef, co-owner, and director of Bonita’s Kitchen in Spaniard’s Bay, N.L., has three affordable and interesting lasagna meals.

"Making homemade meals at home can be fun and tasty. Don’t waste food, turn it into another meal, a different meal, and your family will love it," she says.

Hussey makes her homemade lasagna with homemade lasagna noodles, which she says “makes this lasagna so tasty and affordable.”

Her secret ingredient? Shredded carrots!

“Having the noodles and ground beef cooked before layering the meal helps speed up cooking time,” says Hussey.

She also does a twist on the usual with a leftover-inspired meatloaf lasagna that's baked in small, cast iron pans or a pan of choice.

“This recipe is a spin on leftover meatloaf turned into a new meal to save on waste and make it interesting and very tasty,” she says.

She says this recipe is also designed for personal-sized meatloaf lasagna dishes.

Hussey’s lasagna roll-ups are a spin on a cabbage roll recipe. Instead of using cabbage leaves, use lasagna noodles.

“(It's) a very affordable meal and makes good leftovers," she adds.

Like her homemade lasagna, Hussey also uses her favourite secret ingredient - shredded carrots.

“Carrots give the recipe a wonderful taste and texture and are also very good for you,” says Hussey.

Serves: One family Prep time: 1 hour

Read more ERIN SULLEY: Share your recipes and you’ll never know when a great dish — like this incredible lasagna — will come your way CHEF ILONA DANIEL: Lasagna can be made with less labour, but still with all the love

ERIN SULLEY: Share your recipes and you’ll never know when a great dish — like this incredible lasagna — will come your way

CHEF ILONA DANIEL: Lasagna can be made with less labour, but still with all the love

Shivani Dhamija founded her Halifax, N.S.-based business Shivani's Kitchen in 2014. Her premium, hand-made Indian spice blends, frozen meals, and ready-to-use Indian sauces are on the shelves of many retail stores throughout Atlantic Canada and the United States.

Dhamija says her secret to making the best lasagna is that she has invested in a proper lasagna pan.

“I hope you are adding your lasagna sauce to the pan first before you add your lasagna," she adds.

She has a few other tips and tricks.

“If you have kids like mine who don't want to have vegetables, you can add veggies to your lasagna, but don't add them raw, as they usually create a soupy lasagna. So, cook them, and then add them to your lasagna layering,” she says.

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