Cindis Lasagna Recipes

CINDI'S SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a 12-inch skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until meat is no longer pink; drain off fat.
• Add the salt, the Mrs. Dash Table Blend Seasoning, black pepper, the pasta sauce, and the tomato paste to the skillet. Cook until heated through.
• In a medium-size bowl mix together, the cottage cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and the 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. (Cheese mixture will be thick).
• Grease the inside of a 6-quart rectangular slow-cooker.
• Spoon 1/4 of the meat sauce in the bottom of the slow-cooker.
• Arrange 3 (uncooked) lasagna noodles over the meat sauce (over lapping the noodles just a bit).
• Spoon 1/3 of the cheese mixture, over the uncooked lasagna noodles.
• Repeat layers twice, with the meat sauce, the noodles, and the cheese mixture.
• Top with the remaining meat sauce.
• Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
• Cover, and cook on low setting (NO. 3) for 4 hours.

CINDI'S AWESOME CRESPELLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Make Crespelle Batter:.
• Start with the crespelle batter by mixing together flour and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk four eggs plus milk.
• Whisk the eggs into the flour mixture, and beat until you smooth and bubbly.
• Melt butter in microwave.
• Whisk butter into the batter.
• Chill in the fridge for one hour while you make the sauce.
• Make Your Sauce:.
• In a very large sauce pot, saute the onions, garlic, and peppers in the 2 tbs of olive oil.
• As they start cooking, add sugar and balsamic. (Red wine can be used if you prefer, but you may need to decrease the sugar a bit unless you like really sweet sauce.).
• Once the liquid evaporates and the veggies are softened, add the meats, and cook until browned. Be careful not to overcook, or they will be dry in your sauce!
• Add your cans of sauce, crushed tomatoes, and paste.
• Add your parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
• Simmer for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. Keep a very close eye out that the bottom doesn't start burning, as the sweeter the sauce, the easier it burns! Don't be afraid to taste as it simmers, and add more sugar, salt, pepper, or crushed red pepper if necessary. Remember to add only a little at a time, and then allow time for the flavors to grow before tasting and adding more!
• NOTE: This is enough sauce for TWO lasagna's, so reserve half and refrigerate or freeze when done.
• Cook Crespelles:.
• While the sauce simmers, finish making your crespelles.
• Heat a 10 inch non-stick skillet on medium high heat.
• Put a small amount of oil in the bottom of the pan and rub it inches.
• Add 1/4 cup of batter and swirl around the bottom of the pan so it covers making a 10 inch pancake.
• Loosen sides with spatula.
• When the top appears bubbled and dry, go ahead and flip. Crespelle should be very lightly browned on bottom.
• Give another minute or two on this side until brown spots appear on bottom.
• Stack in a plate separated by paper towels so they don't stick.
• I generally add a dab more oil between every two or three crespelle's.
• Should make about 12 crespelle's, with maybe one or two left over for the kids to snack on. (They LOVE these things plain!).
• Preheat your oven to 375.
• Make your filling:.
• Beat two eggs into the ricotta.
• Add 1/2 cup of parmesan and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella. (Note, if you use lasagna noodles in place of the crespelle, use a bit more cheese for 'body'.).
• To make the lasagna:.
• Spray the bottom of a lasagna pan with Pam.
• Place two crespelle's on the bottom of the pan, and tear parts of another one to fill in the two gaps on the side if necessary.
• Add about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of sauce to LIGHTLY cover the crespelle with sauce.
• Add one third of the cheese filling a teaspoon at a time, spreading over the sauce.
• Add another layer of crespelle, and repeat the sauce and cheese layers.
• Do this one more time, and then top with crespelle, a little more sauce, and sprinkle with the 1/4 cup parmesan and 1/2 cup mozarella.
• Bake at 375 for approximately 30-40 minutes until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.
• Let the lasagna stand for 15-20 minutes to 'firm up'.
• Can be frozen as well.

CINDI'S SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. In a 12-inch skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic, until the meat is no longer pink; drain off the fat.
• 2. Now add the salt, Mrs. Dash Salt Free Seasoning, black pepper, spaghetti sauce and tomato paste. (After I added the spaghetti sauce, I then put 2 Tablespoons of water inside the empty jar. Placed the lid back on the jar, then shook it up a bit, before adding it back to the skillet.) Cook until heated through.
• 3. In a medium size bowl, mix together, the cottage cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and the 1-1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Cheese mixture will be thick.
• 4. Be sure to reserve 1/2 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, to sprinkling on top the final layer of meat sauce.
• 5. Grease the inside of a 6-quart rectangular slow cooker. (I used a cooking spray to coat the inside of the slow cooker.)
• 6. Spoon 1/4 of the meat sauce in the bottom of a slow cooker.
• 7. Arrange 3 (uncooked) lasagna noodles over the meat sauce.
• 8. Spoon 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the uncooked Lasagna noodles.
• 9. Repeat layers twice, with meat sauce, Lasagna noodles, and the cheese mixture.
• 10. Top with remaining meat sauce.
• 11. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
• 12. Cover, and cook on low setting (Number 3) for 4 hours.
• 13. Let the Lasagna sit while it's still in the slow cooker, for 15 minutes, before slicing, and serving onto your plate.
• 14. Yields: 8 servings.