Tried True Lasagna Recipes

TRIED & TRUE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta and hold in a pot of lukewarm water; set aside.
• Brown the meat, then add sauce, soup, seasonings; let simmer for a few minutes to meld the flavors. Feel free to add some water to keep the sauce "loose" --
• In a small bowl, mix cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Layer in pan in the following order --
• Three to four noodles, HALF the meat sauce.
• Three to four noodles, half the cottage-parmesan cheese (spread dollops out evenly).
• Three to four noodles, sprinkle two cups of mozzarella cheese.
• Three to four noodles, remaining meat, cottage-parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese.
• Finish with remaining parmesan.
• Pop in the oven for 60 minutes; let stand 10-15 minutes before serving (easier to cut and serve).
• NO COOK NOODLE METHOD: Leave lasagna uncooked; use same number of noodles, just spread them out so they are evenly distributed in their layers. When all layers are in the pan, pour in about 1/2 to 3/4 cup very HOT water around edges. Cover pan TIGHTLY with foil to create a steamy environment. Check the noodles after 1 hr 15 minutes; if soft, remove foil completely (you might want to add a bit extra cheese at this point), pop back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes to get golden brown and bubbly.
• NOTE: use any combination of meat or all of one kind--whatever you like!

LASAGNA TRIED AND TRUE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil, add onions, garlic and meat, and saute until meat browns. Add undrained tinned tomatoes, tomato paste, half the chopped parsley and season with salt and pepper. Mix well, then simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add oregano and correct seasoning. If sauce seems dry-ish, add the 1/2 cup of water or stock.
• Place cottage (or ricotta) cheese in a mixing bowl with the Parmesan cheese, remaining parsley, one or two eggs, and beat with a spoon until thoroughly mixed. Season to taste.
• Oil a large lasagna or square casserole dish.
• Spread a layer of tomato/beef sauce over the bottom of the dish. Make sure the sauce is spread right to the edges of the dish. Follow with a layer of lasagna noodles, then a layer of the cottage or ricotta cheese mixture, and top with the Swiss cheese.
• Repeat layering, finishing with a layer of Swiss cheese.
• Bake at 180 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is browning.
• Leave to stand 10 minutes in a warm place before slicing.

TRADITIONAL LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble beef and sausage until no longer pink; drain. Add next 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if desired., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add parsley; stir in cottage cheese, ricotta and Parmesan cheese. , Preheat oven to 375°. Spread 1 cup meat sauce in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with 3 noodles, provolone cheese, 2 cups cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup mozzarella, 3 noodles, 2 cups meat sauce, remaining cottage cheese mixture and 1 cup mozzarella. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella (dish will be full)., Cover; bake 50 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.