Spring is here! It is in the trees, the flowers, the fields. Now, I am not trying to get too far ahead of myself here, due to the fact the temperatures are planning to drop later this week, but I am fully committed to Spring. Check out these beautiful apricot trees...in just a few months, these trees will be loaded with delicious apricots and my blog will be loaded with apricot recipes. And the green grass....I love it so much more than the mud. The dog can actually play Frisbee with the kids and I don't have to bathe her before she can come in the house.....
Thank you spring....
Sooo...you know I often say I dislike leftovers. I never really enjoy re-heated foods. I am usually the very last person to take food home from a restaurant...'cause I just won't eat it. But there are a few leftover worthy meals....that actually make me crave left overs. Lasagna just happens to be one of them. It also happens to be yet another of my favorite family comfort meals. The deal is... it is a bit more time consuming than a typical lasagna recipe, as it is from scratch...but who cares...you can eat it two nights in a row...with my blessings.
LASAGNA
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, or sausage if you like it spicy
2 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 28 oz. can pureed tomatoes
4 tsp. garlic
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup bell peppers, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup olives, sliced
1 cup zucchini, sliced or diced
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 bunch spinach, washed and De-stemmed
1 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1 package lasagna pasta, cooked cording to instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a heavy saucepan, brown the onion and beef together. Add the garlic, bell peppers, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini and seasonings and simmer for ten minutes. in the meantime, cook and rinse the pasta. Spay a lasagna pan with cooking spray and spoon enough sauce in the pan to cover the bottom. Place your first layer of pasta on the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon a third of the ricotta onto the pasta and spread it evenly. Place the spinach over the ricotta in a single layer and then cover with 1/3 of the sauce. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the Parmesan. Repeat the process two more times. Finally, spoon the cottage cheese over the top and run a knife through it so it is swirled with the sauce.
Place the lasagna in the oven uncovered and bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top and return to the oven for 8 more minutes, or until the cheese is thoroughly melted. Remove from oven and let sit for five minutes before cutting into this yummy dish!
4 comments:
Whoa! You make me jealous with your pictures of spring - short sleeves!!! No way, it has been snowing in my place in the weekend and now its only +2. Thats how much of spring I get....
As for the family favorite, that is something simple is just pasta with sauce made of cream, curry paste, pieces of fried chorizo, green peas, marinated garlic and basil - it's one of those super foods - amazingly fast yet everyone loves it :)
GReetings from amazingly cold Finland
now that is great looking lasagna!!
I love the pictures....its so nice to be outside again.
Helooooo...anyone there? My first Giveaway, and only 2 responses? "sniff"
Ahh I missed the giveaway...darn my schoolwork..haha--well I love your spring pics..we are enjoying spring also- be still my heart lasagna oh I will eat leftover lasagna wout complaining..great recipe as always..our family fav-enchiladas, tacos and chalupas..
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