Advice Forum Friday - Lasagna
Hey, guys! How was your Valentine's Day? Ours was VERY low key; I just have no desire to fight the restaurant crowds on the actual day, so Big Daddy and I will go out for an evening alone this weekend.
Last night we were going to get take-out, but finally decided it was just as easy to make a lasagna. Big Daddy ran up to Target real quick while I got some ground beef out of the freezer and thawed it out. Hey, maybe I'll just run through my easy lasagna "recipe" for you.
Here's what we used:
1 lb ground beef, browned and spiced up (mostly garlic)
2 8-oz packages of Italian Cheese blend (we like the cheese!)
1 carton of ricotta
No-bake Lasagna Noodles
2 jars of Prego chunky garlic and tomato sauce
Here's what we did:
Dump one jar of sauce into the ground beef
Spread a think layer of plain sauce on the bottom of the pan
Lay noodles on the sauce
Spread ground beef/sauce mixture on the noodles
Use a small scooper to plop hunks of ricotta all over the place
Cover it with lots of cheese
Lather, rinse, repeat
Cover with foil. Bake in the oven at 375 for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for about 20 more minutes.
I finally realized that lasagna is just not that big a deal to make, y'all. I used to get so confused about which layer goes where and what if I don't have the right ingredients, and I tell ya, since I started throwing this together, we have enjoyed lasagna MUCH more often. And it tastes just as good, I swear.
You may be wondering, "Lori seems to have it all together; what could she possibly want from me this Friday?"
You couldn't be more wrong.
Here's the deal: I told you my lasagna secret; now I want to know YOURS! I don't always want ground beef in my lasagna, and it will horrify you to know that I don't always like Italian sausage. So what else could I throw in there that would be good? Please don't say zucchini, because ICK. Other than that, bring it on.
And of course, if you need a little info or help this week, post your question at your blog and put your link down below.
And have a great Friday!!
8 comments:
You can use ground chicken and I swear you can't tell the difference. I am super wierd about these things but I prepared it that way for my MIL and I couldn't tell.
I use ground turkey (or even turkey sausage), and once it's browned and seasoned, it's hard to tell the difference.
Also, I prefer to use cottage cheese because I find it SO much easier to spread out than then ricotta...and the flavor is no different, I promise.
Next time I'll try covering mine - it always seems to get too brown on top. :o)
I saw your comment over on SAHMmy says about your sofa cushions slipping. If you purchase a nonslip mat that usually goes under a throw rug and place it under the bottom cushions instead you might solve your problem. Sometimes you can find the same sort of material, (rubberized open weave stuff) in shelf lining or place mats too.
Meat options:
Pepperoni
Bacon--make sure you pre-cook it
Veggie options:
Mushrooms
Spinach--layer fresh leaves or use frozen & mix with cheese
Broccoli
Bell Peppers
Roasted Garlic
Sauce options:
Alfredo
Pesto
SOUNDS GREAT- I actually never make it because I feel too intimidated by most recipes- I will tyr your suggestions- Maybe tomorrow-
I use ground turkey because it is cheap and healthier. Can't tell the difference at all!
We are garlic LOVERS here so I sprinkle each layer of sauce with garlic powder.
Spinach is good in it, too. Drain it well and mix it up with the cheese (it turns gray if you put it in the tomato sauce.)
I usually use ricotta because it's cheaper than cottage cheese where I live and I'm all about the cheap. Plus I'm unnaturally predjudiced against cottage cheese, because I think my mom fed me one two many pear halves with it as a child.
Add any veggies - mushrooms would be good, too!
I always add an egg to my cheese, I thought you had to! Maybe I'll try it without!
Thank you for the recipe. We use one that is similar, and it IS good! :-) I was also going to suggest the spinach as well.
Now I want to make one. :-) Maybe this weekend with a big ol' green salad and garlic bread. :-)
Oh how I love pasta! LOVE IT!
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