Uncle Bills Marvelous Lasagna Recipes

UNCLE BILL'S MARVELOUS LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying, add ground beef and fry until cooked, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Drain off any fat and discard.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil to frying pan, chopped onions and garlic and saute' for 5 minutes.
• Add chopped celery, diced green and red peppers, sliced mushrooms, chopped zucchini, and saute' until vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add grated carrots, cover and cook until carrots are limp, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer this mixture to a large cooking pot.
• Add tomatoes including liquid, tomato sauce, parsley, hot pepper flakes and allspice and heat to boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Blend in wine and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• FILLING: Squeeze water from spinach and discard.
• Chop spinach small.
• In a mixing bowl, combine spinach, cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, beaten egg, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, mix well and set aside.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Use a 10" x 14" x 2" deep, heavy duty aluminum foil baking dish.
• Layer about 1/2" of prepared sauce over the bottom.
• Place enough lasagna sheets to cover area and press lightly into sauce.
• Layer another 1/2" of prepared sauce.
• Place lasagna sheets over and press lightly into sauce.
• Add spinach filling and level.
• Place lasagna sheets over and press lightly into filling.
• Add another layer of lasagna sheets.
• Layer another 1/2" of prepared sauce over.
• Place another layer of lasagna sheets and press lightly into sauce.
• Add the remaining sauce over and level.
• Sprinkle top generously with grated mozzarella cheese.
• Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese over.
• If desired, grate a 1/2 cup of Emmentaler Swiss cheese and sprinkle over top.
• Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil being careful not to let foil touch the lasagna.
• Bake in preheated 450 F oven for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 425 degrees F.
• Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Remove from oven, cover and let sit to set for about 5 minutes before cutting.
• Cut into pieces and serve hot.
• Ondine Delverde Lasagna is a brand name and is sold in packages of 15 lasagna sheets and also 3- 8" x 8" aluminum foil pans.
• You can use these pans if desired.
• This lasagna is pre-cooked and does not require any cooking before hand.
• They now make fresh lasagna sheets that do not require pre-cooking.
• You may also use lasagna strips but you will require cooking these.

TRADITIONAL CANADIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown the beef with the garlic; stir to break into small pieces of meat
• Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Add 4 cups cooked beef to 2 cups homemade tomato sauce; combine well
• Check again for seasoning
• Wring frozen spinach inside a thick tea towel until all liquid is dispelled
• Combine all ingredients
• Spread 1/2 cup Homemade Tomato Sauce onto the bottom of the pan; it will be sparse
• Place 4 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce (these will fit perfectly in the 11 x 13 inch casserole pan)
• Spread 1 cup of meat sauce very sparsely over the noodles; cover with 4 lasagna noodles
• Spread 1 1/4 cups of meat sauce very sparsely over the second layer of noodles; cover this layer of meat sauce with mozzarella cheese slices
• Cover the cheese slices with 4 lasagna noodles (at this point, you will need a couple of half pieces of noodles and ends if your casserole dish fans outwards as the surface area grows with each layer)
• Spread the entire cottage cheese and spinach mixture over the third layer of lasagna noodles; top this with another layer of lasagna noodles
• Cover the last layer of lasagna noodles with 1 1/2 cup of meat sauce, sparsely distributed over the noodles (if you have enough room, make one more layer of noodles and a final layer of meat sauce)
• The meat sauce will be the top of the lasagna; cover that with generous slices of mozzarella cheese
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; date and label; freeze for future use
• Bake frozen in 350 degree oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until bubbly and cheese on top just starts to brown (cover with tented foil while still baking, to avoid over browning, if necessary)
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes until bubbly and cheese on top just starts to brown (cover with tented foil while still baking, to avoid over browning, if necessary)
• If you have a lot left over, portion into individual pieces, wrap well, label, date and freeze and these make great individual lunches

WORLD'S BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

UNCLE BILL'S VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan. Add chopped onion, chopped garlic and saute for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add chopped celery, diced green pepper, sliced mushrooms, chopped zucchini, and saute until vegetables are softened; about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add grated carrots an continue to saute until carrots are limp, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer ingredients to a large pot.
• Add mashed tomatoes and liquid, tomato sauce, parsle, oregano, basil bay leaf, white pepper, red hot pepper flakes and allspice.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionallhy.
• Blend in wine and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
• Adjust spices to taste.
• Thaw spinach, squeeze out liquid and discard, chop spinach small.
• Combine spinach with ricotta cheese, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, padano cheese, and set aside.
• TO ASSEMBLE.
• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Aluminum foil baking pans are provided with (Ondine Delverde Lasagna).
• Use two - 8" x 8" x 2" aluminum pans and 10 sheets of lasagna.
• Spoon about 1/2" layer of the sauce into each 8" x 8" x 2" baking pans and press one lasagna sheet into the sauce.
• Add another 1/2" layer of sauce, then layer another lasagna sheet with grooves turned in opposite direction and press into the sauce.
• Add a 1/2" layer of the spinach/cheese mixture and press another lasagna sheet with grooves turned in opposite direction, press down firmly.
• Add another 1/2" layer of sauce and place another lasagna sheet with groovs in opposite direction and press down firmly.
• Add another 1/2" layer of spinach/cheese mixture and press another lasagna sheet down firmly.
• Cover the last lasagna sheet with another 1/2" layer of sauce.
• Sprinkle top generously with mozzarella cheese and padano cheese.
• Cover the aluminum baking pan tightly with aluminum foil, being careful not to let the foil touch the lasagna.
• Bake in preheated 500 F oven on the middle rack for 20 minutes.
• Uncover and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Remove from oven, cover with foil and let rest for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Cut into 4" x 4" squares for each serving.
• NOTE: Ondine Delverde Lasagna is a brand name and is sold in packages of 15 lasagna sheets and 3 aluminum foil baking pans. The lasagna is pre-cooked and is used as is. You can also use regular lasagna strips and cook as per instructions on package. Also, you can use fresh lasagna.