I?ve been thinking a lot about tradition lately. The holiday season is sprinkled with rituals we carry on from year to year. Traditions give us something to look forward to, and they provide a sense of stability in a season that can feel overwhelming and chaotic. My family has never been one to bake cookies or make gingerbread houses, but our traditions do involve sitting around the dinner table. I can tell you what my favorite one is with just one word: lasagna.

My mom has made what I consider traditional lasagna every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember. Tender blankets of noodle layered with cheese, tomato sauce, and vegetables. She?s always willing to tweak her recipe to accommodate my changing dietary needs (thanks, mom), but no matter how much the ingredients change, the feeling of familiarity always remains the same.
Because the Christmas season always triggers my cravings for carb-loaded pasta dishes that bring comfort and joy, I decided to start a tradition of my own. This Vegan Skillet Lasagna incorporates all of the elements I love about my mom?s recipe, right down to the mozzarella ?cheese.? I also used red bell pepper, mushrooms, and spinach, but you can easily swap these out for your family?s favorite vegetables. There?s no need to cook the noodles before adding them to the skillet; they become tender just simmering in the tomato sauce.

I had a bit of an issue with the lasagna noodles sticking together, but if you add them to the skillet slowly and ...