The Freshman Cook: Homestyle Lasagna

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Today we are making the entree of our meal~The Homestyle Lasagna! Let’s start with the sauce. This sauce makes about 4 cups. This is plenty, and you will have some left over for spaghetti with meat sauce.

 Here’s the recipe:

2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil                                1 small Onion, finely chopped 2 garlic Cloves, minced 1# extra lean Ground Beef 28 ounce can Whole Peeled Tomatoes 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste 1 3/4 cups Water pinch of Sugar 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning 1 Bay Leaf Salt & Pepper

  Start by chopping your onions. I used

                                a food processor,but you can dice them                             

            with a knife. I used the minced garlic that 

comes in the container ready to use.

 Sometimes I use  the fresh garlic

 but these are very handy.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet until shimmering.

Add the garlic and oil; stirring a few times until lightly         

browned, about 5 minutes.

      Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook until browned.           

As the beef cooks, break it up with a spatula or spoon,

so that it all gets cooked.

Drain the ground beef grease. I like to do this by pouring the beef into

a small colander. Let it sit so that all the grease drains. 

            Then pour the beef mix into a large pot.             

Add the tomatoes. I bought the whole peeled tomatoes. You 

can also buy tomato puree, but I love the San Marzano brand.                 

I bought them at Whole Foods.  Puree the tomatoes yourself 

in the processor.

Place the tomato puree, tomato paste, water, sugar, 

and herbs into the large pot with the beef. Add the 

salt & pepper and bring the pot to a boil. 

  Reduce the heat to low, cover partially and simmer until thickened, about 45 minutes.

Now, lets cook the pasta. Here is what you need to finish the Homestyle Lasagna. 

Lasagna Noodles, Ricotta Cheese, Shredded Mozarella, Sliced Provolone, Parmesan Cheese, Sauce

Put water in a large pot, and once it begins boiling, place the lasagna noodles in the pot. Let them cook for 15 minutes. Once they are done, drain the water and let the noodles cool. They can even get cold, as we will be putting them in the oven to cook in a few minutes.

In a 13 X 9 pan, cover the bottom, lightly, with the sauce. Cover with the lasagna noodles.

Your next layer is provolone cheese. Layer like in the picture and you will have plenty, because the cheese will melt and get on every slice.

Place a layer of sauce over the provolone cheese.

Now, start it all over again. Layer with the noodles.

Place the Ricotta Cheese on the noodles.

Layer with the meat sauce.

Top with the shredded mozzarella.

Bake at 350 until done, about 30 minutes.

There you have it! Homestyle Lasagna that you and everyone you serve it to will love.

Tomorrow we will make the side dish~garlic bread.

Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow.

                                                                                                                                                          

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