Lasagna From The Kitchen Of Bernie Knight 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:

• 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:

• Prepare noodles as instructed on package. Drain. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg, parsley, 1/2 cup Parmesan and salt and pepper. Spread 1 cup Meat Sauce in bottom of 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 3 noodles down in pan and spread with half the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and top with 1 cup Meat Sauce. Repeat procedure for one more layer ending with last 3 noodles and then sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly at 375 degrees F. Remove from oven and let lasagna stand for 15 minutes
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat. Brown ground beef and sausage, about 7 minutes. Stir in onion and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, basil and oregano. Add wine, tomatoes and carrot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered until sauce has thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Brown ground beef, onions and garlic.
• Don’t drain.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, basil, oregano,& sugar.
• Simmer covered for 1 hour.
• Add browned sausage and butter last 15 minutes of simmer.
• Cook Lasagna noodles per package directions.
• Drain& rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
• Set noodles aside to cool.
• Blend ½ of mozzarella, Parmesan and parsley with cottage cheese.
• Build lasagna.
• Place ½ cup of sauce (not too many chunks) into bottom of 9”x 13” baking dish.
• Place layer of 3 lasagna noodles on sauce.
• Spread ½ of cheese mixture and meat sauce on the layer of noodles.
• Repeat with one more layer.
• Reserve 2/3 cup of the meat sauce for the top.
• Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top.
• Spray a piece of aluminum foil with some Pam and cover the dish.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until lightly brown.
• Remove from oven and allow to set for at least 20 minutes before cutting.

Steps:

• Meat Sauce: Heat the oil in a large fry pan over a medium heat.
• Add the onion and bacon and cook until the onion is golden and tender.
• Add the minced garlic and cook a couple of minutes more.
• Add the mince and cook, breaking up with a fork, until the meat has all changed colour.
• Now add the tomato paste and "cook it out" for another minute or two before adding the wine.
• Allow the wine to reduce a little, before adding the remaining sauce ingredients.
• Simmer until reduced and thickened and a deep rich red/ brown.
• *You could call this"cooked" in 30 minutes, but I like to let it simmer about 2 hours, stirring regularly to make sure it's not catching.
• Add a little more broth or water if it looks like doing so.
• Cheese Sauce:.
• Melt the butter, add the flour and stir well.
• Allow to cook gently for about 2 minutes, then add the milk all in one go, and whisk briskly until heated and thickened.
• Allow to cook a couple of minutes more on a simmer.
• Add the cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Assembly of the lasagna:.
• Spread a little of the beef sauce across the bottom of your pan.
• Cover with a layer of beef sauce and drizzle about half a cup of cheese sauce over this-no need to be too particular.
• Cover with a layer of lasagna sheets.
• Repeat the beef sauce and cheese sauce two more times, then a final layer of sheets.
• Spread the remaining cheese sauce (there should be about 1 cup) over the last layer of sheets, and sprinkle with the shredded parmesan cheese.
• Bake in a moderate oven for about 1 hour.
• Allow to stand about 15 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.