Karens Lasagna Recipes

Steps:

• Place sausage and ground beef into a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until meat is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Break the meat apart as it cooks. Stir in mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, Italian herb seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Turn heat to medium-high and cook until mushrooms have given off their juices and bottom of pan is almost dry.
• Pour prepared marinara sauce into meat mixture. Pour water into marinara sauce jar and shake to get all the sauce out of the jar; add to mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer until meat is extremely tender, about 2 hours. Add a little more water if sauce becomes too thick. Skim excess fat from surface of the sauce and season with more salt and black pepper, if needed. Turn off heat.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat eggs in a large bowl and stir in ricotta cheese, 8 ounces diced mozzarella cheese, and 2/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Season cheese mixture with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and cayenne pepper; mix in parsley.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse noodles and set aside in a bowl of cold water.
• Spread 1/4 the sauce into the bottom of a 10x15-inch baking pan. Top with 1/3 the noodles and spread 1/2 the ricotta cheese mixture over noodles. Spread 1/4 the meat sauce over the cheese, top with 1/3 the noodles, and spread remaining 1/2 the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Spread 1/4 the meat sauce over the cheese filling. Tap the casserole dish lightly on a sturdy work surface to settle the layers. Arrange last 1/3 the noodles over sauce and spread remaining 1/4 the sauce over the noodles. Dot top of the casserole with 4 ounces diced fresh mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Cover casserole with aluminum foil, being sure not to touch the top of the casserole with the foil. Place casserole onto a baking sheet to catch spills.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook until lasagna is golden brown and bubbling, 30 to 35 more minutes. Let set for 20 minutes before cutting into squares.

Steps:

• Combine ground beef, Italian sausage (bulk or casings removed and crumbled), onions and garlic in a large dutch oven or large pot; saute until veggies are tender and meat is browned; drain any fat left in the pan.
• Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste to the meat mixture.
• Stir in the wine, diced bell pepper, bay leaf, basil, oregano and brown sugar.
• Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; turn heat down to a simmer and cover.
• Simmer 3 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Taste often and add more spices to taste if needed, simmering after each addition before tasting again.
• Add the spinach, sliced mushrooms and red pepper flakes 1 hour before serving if desired.
• In the meantime, cook lasagna noodles according to the package instructions.
• Layer in this order in your lasagna pan: a thin layer of meat sauce, a layer of noodles, another thicker layer of meat sauce, a cup of cottage cheese, sprinkle on a thin layer of mozzarella, dust with 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese and begin the next layer starting with the noodles; repeat until all sauce, noodles, and cheeses are used ending with noodles, an even layer of mozzarella cheese, dusted with Parmesan.
• Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven until cheese is melted and spotted with browned areas, about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Allow lasagna to set for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

Steps:

• Assembly Directions:.
• In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese , eggs, parsley, onion powder, basil and pepper until well blended; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together spaghetti sauce and cooked ground beef. In a 9x13-inch glass baking dish or (2- 8x8-inch pans) spread 3/4 cup meat sauce on the bottom. Layer 3 uncooked noodles on top of the meat sauce. Next spread 1/2 of the cheese mixture and 1-1/2 cups meat sauce. Layer 3 more uncooked noodles on top of the meat sauce. Spread with remaining cheese mixture. Top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining meat sauce. Pour water around the outside edges.
• Freezing Directions:.
• Place dish in a 2-gallon freezer bag. Or, if you want to wrap it in foil, cover the top of the lasagna with wax paper or plastic wrap and then the foil, because the acid in the tomato sauce will leave small holes in the foil. Label, seal and freeze.
• Serving Directions: Remove pan from freezer and thaw at least overnight in the refrigerator. Bake covered at 375°F for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. To bake from the frozen stage, add 30 minutes to the total baking time.

Steps:

• For the meat sauce: In a stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the beef (do not brown first), tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic salt, bay leaves and onion. Add 2 cups water. Mix until combined. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir in the vinegar and simmer for another 30 minutes.
• For the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl combine the ricotta, basil, parsley, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, if using, and egg and stir until well blended.
• Spread 2 cups meat sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place 4 noodles over the sauce-it is okay if they overlap slightly. Dollop 2/3 cup of the ricotta mixture on the noodles, then spread it in an even layer. Top the ricotta with 4 slices ham, then 4 slices provolone. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella over the provolone. Repeat the layering-sauce, noodles, ricotta, ham, provolone, mozzarella-twice more. Top with another layer of noodles, then the Parmesan and the remaining mozzarella.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake until the dish is bubbling and the noodles are cooked (you can test by poking with a sharp knife to make sure the noodles are soft), about 50 minutes. Remove the foil and return to the oven until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, another 10 to 15 minutes. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes, then serve warm.

Steps:

• Brown beef and onion in 4 quart Dutch oven over medium heat until no longer pink, drain.
• Stir in remaining ingredients except for the cheese.
• Heat til boiling, stirring occasionally, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10-12 minutes until pasta is tender.
• Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Steps:

• Brown sausage and ground beef with onion and garlic in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat, cooking and stirring until meat is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Stir tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian-style crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, 2 tablespoons parsley, brown sugar, salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, fennel seeds, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese into meat mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer sauce for at least 1 hour (up to 6 for best flavor). Stir occasionally.
• Place lasagna noodles into a deep bowl and cover with very hot tap water; let soak for 30 minutes.
• Beat egg in a bowl and stir ricotta cheese, 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and nutmeg into egg until thoroughly combined.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Cover bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 cup sauce. Layer 4 soaked lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 1/3 of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese in the dish. Repeat layers twice more, ending with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cover dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake until lasagna noodles are tender and casserole is bubbling, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake until cheese topping is lightly browned, 15 to 20 more minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Boil noodles, drain, and place on wax paper. Brown hamburger meat, drain of grease. Add sauce and heat until warm.
• Mix 2 or 3 bags cheese with the cottage cheese. Layer until baking pan is full starting with sauce and meat then add cheese mixture then noodles. Finish with sauce, then add the last bag of cheese on top. Bake on 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is lightly brown.