10 Layer Poor Mans Lasagna Casserole Recipes

CATELLI'S 10 LAYER LASAGNA WITH DOMENICA'S SAUCE

Steps:

• For Domenica's sauce: Lightly saute the garlic and chili flakes in the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the tomatoes and salt and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
• For the three-cheese filling: Mix together ricotta, goat cheese, Parmesan, basil, mint, nutmeg and some salt and pepper in a bowl.
• For the pasta: Place the yolks in the base of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and turn on low speed. Start slowly adding flour. As the dough starts to come together, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Remove the dough and knead until smooth and not sticky. Let rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Cut dough into four quarters. Roll the quarters through a pasta machine, starting with the widest opening, taking it through each opening once or twice and finishing with the smallest opening. (You should be able to see through the finished pasta sheets.)
• Cut sheets into pieces that will fit in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Boil a pot of water and cook pasta sheets for about 1 minute, then remove them and put them in ice water to stop the cooking. Remove the sheets and lay out on clean kitchen towels or napkins.
• For the thyme bechamel: Heat the butter and flour in a saucepan over medium heat and stir together for a minute. Add the milk, thyme and some salt and pepper and cook until mixture starts to thicken. Turn off heat and set aside.
• To assemble: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Coat a large baking dish with olive oil. Lay a sheet of pasta in the bottom and spread with a thin layer of bechamel and cheese filling. Spread with a rubber spatula or large metal spoon. Add a layer of pasta, then spread a layer of tomato sauce on that.
• Repeat this assembly until the pasta is all layered. Finish the top layer with tomato sauce and bechamel and sprinkle with Parmesan and basil. Cover with foil and bake for 24 to 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

10-LAYER POOR MAN'S LASAGNA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Brown hamburger in frying pan with salt and pepper, oregano, Italian seasonings, onions and garlic until done.
• Drain grease.
• Stir in (drained) mushrooms and spaghetti sauce.
• Simmer on very low.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, heat cream cheese in microwave until very soft. Stir in the sour cream and beef bouillon well. Set aside.
• Cook macaroni until just done or "al dente". Drain well.
• In greased 4 quart roaster or crock pot, place (layer) 1/3 noodles, then 1/3 cream sauce, then 1/3 meat sauce, repeat 2 more times until ingredients are used up.
• Top with shredded Mexican blend cheese.
• Bake in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 35 to 40 minutes until heated through and lightly bubbling.
• Let rest 5 or 10 minutes before serving.
• About 10-12 servings.
• Serve with garlic bread and a tossed salad.

LASAGNA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles; drain. Sprinkle with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the pasta, 3 cups mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining pepper. Transfer to a greased shallow 3-qt. or 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture and spaghetti sauce (dish will be full). , Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and cheese is melted, 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: Sprinkle casserole with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.

POOR MAN'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown meat in a skillet. Drain fat from meat (I usually rinse it under warm water.).
• Meanwhile, boil noodles according to package directions (its OK if they're a little underdone.).
• Meanwhile mix the egg and cottage cheese in a bowl, and set aside.
• Spray a 9x13 pyrex. Coat the bottom with a very thin layer of pasta sauce. Layer about half of the noodles on top of the sauce. Layer the meat on top of that, followed by another thin layer of sauce. Layer the cottage cheese mixture on top of that, followed by the remaining noodles. Add the remaining sauce on top of the noodles (I prefer it thin on top, so that the noodles get crispy-chewy.) Sprinkle all of the cheese on top of the lasagna.
• Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes depending on how crunchy you like your noodles.
• I have found that half of a container of cottage cheese is perfect, so I usually go ahead and mix the remaining half with an egg, and freeze it. It defrosts quite easily in the fridge next time.
• I also usually buy the meat on sale in bulk, and freeze it in pre-cooked portions. If you do that, you can easily put this meal together quickly. It's also easy to make 2 lasagnas at once, and freeze one for later. You can reheat it in the microwave, or in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes, covered.