Cook with me Tuesday- Lasagna
Hello Friends! Today I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite recipes...LASAGNA! Now I've been a lasagna fan ever since I was a kid and try to make it pretty frequently around here but somehow I've managed to make it in a while and thought that it was about time. So I decided to bring you guys along with me while I whipped up a batch of this melty deliciousness. So make sure that you head over to my YouTube channel so you can see how it all turns out.
For your convenience though, I thought that I would put the recipe over here so you can print it out or write it down or just save it to refer back to later on.
If you decide to make this yummy dish please sure to let me know! I'd love to see how yours turns out and what you decided to serve it with.
Lets get started!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 box of Lasagna noodles
2 jars spaghetti sauce (I used Ragu this time around)
2 tablespoons garlic salt
4 tablespoons garlic powder
4 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
15 oz ricotta cheese
15 oz cottage cheese
1 pack sliced provolone
4 cups shredded Italian blended cheese or a mix of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese
3 pounds ground beef
about 3 tablespoons Worcestershire
about 3 tablespoons soy sauce
pepper
The first thing I do is start to brown the meat. In a large pot I put all 3 pounds of ground beef, add in about 2 tablespoons each of garlic salt, garlic powder, onion powder, about a tablespoon of Italian seasoning, the Worcestershire and the soy sauce and pepper. Mix everything together and cook until all the ground beef is browned.
I typically also start a pot of water on the stove to boil as well so I can cook the noodle. Those just cook to the directions on the back of the box.
While the meat is browning I will typically take the time to make the white layer of the lasagna. This will be a mixture of the cottage and ricotta cheeses. Take a medium size mixing bowl and put the entire tubs of the ricotta and cottage cheeses into the bowl. Add in the rest of the garlic powder,onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix until everything is fully incorporated and the cover and place this in the fridge until you are ready to start layering the lasagna.
Once the meat is completely browned I like to take the meat and drain it if there is any extra grease in the pot and put it into a large bowl. I then add the 2 jars of pasta sauce to it. Personally I like to have one meat flavored and then one of the super chunky veggie ones, which is what I used today. You can also add in some extra veggies at this point too, if you want to get some extra veggies into your kids diet. Personally I like to add shredded or finely chopped carrots, zucchini, and peppers. They don't add a ton of flavor and are easily incorporated into this dish so the kiddos never find out. Once you've gotten everything into the bowl, it's time to mix it up. Mix everything together and set aside to cool.
By this time the noodles should be done. Just drain those bad boys and set them aside to cool as well. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is try and layer up a lasagna with crazy hot noodles... those suckers burn! This may or may not have been learned the hard way...
Now it's lasagna making time!!!
Once everything is cooled off it's time to finally make all this stuff look like a lasagna. Go ahead and turn on the oven. I set my to 350 degree Fahrenheit. It normally takes about 5-6 minutes for that to heat up, so it'll be done warming up once your lasagna is ready to go in the oven.
Next I like to line I large baking pan then spray it with cooking spray to keep everything from sticking. If you want and easier clean up or would like to freeze this for later, you can also through it in a disposable pan. Just make sure that whatever you use, you spray it first because this dish has a nasty tendency to stick to the pan.
Once the pan is prepped you'll need to gather your layers together. Go ahead and grab the cheeses and creamy cheese from the fridge. Don't forget these... you have to have cheese for lasagna! Once you've got everything in front of you, it's time to start.
Bottom Layer-
Step 1- noodles! so take 4-5 of those lasagna noodles and lay them out in the bottom of the pan. I like to try and make mine slightly overlap each other so I can ensure that there is a good solid foundation.
Step 2- Meat sauce! Next spoon out about 1/3 of the meat sauce. Make sure to spread it evenly across the noodles.
Step 3- Creamy layer! This is the ricotta cheese mixture. Take about half of the mixture and spread it evenly over the sauce.
Step 4- Cheese! Finally you'll want to top this all with the shredded cheese. I normally use about 2 cups here of the cheese.
Middle Layer-
Repeat the above steps again. Once you've finished all 4 steps you should have a little bit of the meat sauce left, the provolone cheese, some of the noodles, and maybe some of the shredded cheese left. This will be perfect for the next layer.
Top Layer-
This is the third and final layer and the one that shows off to the world.. the top layer! Go ahead and lay out another layer of noodles just like you did in the last 2 layers. Make sure to completely cover the middle layer with the noodles. If you need to you can even split a noodle to cover all of the sides and edges.
Next put down the rest of the meat sauce. Try not to let it get too close to the edge of the pan. This way it doesn't run over the side and some of the noodles are left exposed so they can crisp up on the edges while they bake.
Sprinkle on any remaining shredded cheese on top of the meat sauce.
Then top with the provolone. I will lay down about 6 whole slices and then the rest I split in half and lay over the open areas that are left. In the end the whole top should be covered with a layer of sliced cheese.
Once the lasagna is all layered up and looks good, pop it in the oven to bake. I think this normally takes about 30-45 minutes but you'll know it's done when the cheese is all melted and turning a nice golden brown color.
I suggest serving this up with a nice Caesar salad.
I hope that you enjoyed this post! If you did make sure that you check out my YouTube channel and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more day to day happenings.
For your convenience though, I thought that I would put the recipe over here so you can print it out or write it down or just save it to refer back to later on.
If you decide to make this yummy dish please sure to let me know! I'd love to see how yours turns out and what you decided to serve it with.
Lets get started!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 box of Lasagna noodles
2 jars spaghetti sauce (I used Ragu this time around)
2 tablespoons garlic salt
4 tablespoons garlic powder
4 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
15 oz ricotta cheese
15 oz cottage cheese
1 pack sliced provolone
4 cups shredded Italian blended cheese or a mix of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese
3 pounds ground beef
about 3 tablespoons Worcestershire
about 3 tablespoons soy sauce
pepper
The first thing I do is start to brown the meat. In a large pot I put all 3 pounds of ground beef, add in about 2 tablespoons each of garlic salt, garlic powder, onion powder, about a tablespoon of Italian seasoning, the Worcestershire and the soy sauce and pepper. Mix everything together and cook until all the ground beef is browned.
I typically also start a pot of water on the stove to boil as well so I can cook the noodle. Those just cook to the directions on the back of the box.
While the meat is browning I will typically take the time to make the white layer of the lasagna. This will be a mixture of the cottage and ricotta cheeses. Take a medium size mixing bowl and put the entire tubs of the ricotta and cottage cheeses into the bowl. Add in the rest of the garlic powder,onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix until everything is fully incorporated and the cover and place this in the fridge until you are ready to start layering the lasagna.
Once the meat is completely browned I like to take the meat and drain it if there is any extra grease in the pot and put it into a large bowl. I then add the 2 jars of pasta sauce to it. Personally I like to have one meat flavored and then one of the super chunky veggie ones, which is what I used today. You can also add in some extra veggies at this point too, if you want to get some extra veggies into your kids diet. Personally I like to add shredded or finely chopped carrots, zucchini, and peppers. They don't add a ton of flavor and are easily incorporated into this dish so the kiddos never find out. Once you've gotten everything into the bowl, it's time to mix it up. Mix everything together and set aside to cool.
By this time the noodles should be done. Just drain those bad boys and set them aside to cool as well. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is try and layer up a lasagna with crazy hot noodles... those suckers burn! This may or may not have been learned the hard way...
Now it's lasagna making time!!!
Once everything is cooled off it's time to finally make all this stuff look like a lasagna. Go ahead and turn on the oven. I set my to 350 degree Fahrenheit. It normally takes about 5-6 minutes for that to heat up, so it'll be done warming up once your lasagna is ready to go in the oven.
Next I like to line I large baking pan then spray it with cooking spray to keep everything from sticking. If you want and easier clean up or would like to freeze this for later, you can also through it in a disposable pan. Just make sure that whatever you use, you spray it first because this dish has a nasty tendency to stick to the pan.
Once the pan is prepped you'll need to gather your layers together. Go ahead and grab the cheeses and creamy cheese from the fridge. Don't forget these... you have to have cheese for lasagna! Once you've got everything in front of you, it's time to start.
Bottom Layer-
Step 1- noodles! so take 4-5 of those lasagna noodles and lay them out in the bottom of the pan. I like to try and make mine slightly overlap each other so I can ensure that there is a good solid foundation.
Step 2- Meat sauce! Next spoon out about 1/3 of the meat sauce. Make sure to spread it evenly across the noodles.
Step 3- Creamy layer! This is the ricotta cheese mixture. Take about half of the mixture and spread it evenly over the sauce.
Step 4- Cheese! Finally you'll want to top this all with the shredded cheese. I normally use about 2 cups here of the cheese.
Middle Layer-
Repeat the above steps again. Once you've finished all 4 steps you should have a little bit of the meat sauce left, the provolone cheese, some of the noodles, and maybe some of the shredded cheese left. This will be perfect for the next layer.
Top Layer-
This is the third and final layer and the one that shows off to the world.. the top layer! Go ahead and lay out another layer of noodles just like you did in the last 2 layers. Make sure to completely cover the middle layer with the noodles. If you need to you can even split a noodle to cover all of the sides and edges.
Next put down the rest of the meat sauce. Try not to let it get too close to the edge of the pan. This way it doesn't run over the side and some of the noodles are left exposed so they can crisp up on the edges while they bake.
Sprinkle on any remaining shredded cheese on top of the meat sauce.
Then top with the provolone. I will lay down about 6 whole slices and then the rest I split in half and lay over the open areas that are left. In the end the whole top should be covered with a layer of sliced cheese.
Once the lasagna is all layered up and looks good, pop it in the oven to bake. I think this normally takes about 30-45 minutes but you'll know it's done when the cheese is all melted and turning a nice golden brown color.
I suggest serving this up with a nice Caesar salad.
I hope that you enjoyed this post! If you did make sure that you check out my YouTube channel and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more day to day happenings.
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