| Almost everyone I know likes lasagna. I think it is a | | | | in handy when you are pressed for time! For many |
| popular food item for several reasons. Most folks like | | | | people the economical price factor of lasagna is as |
| pasta in general; and when you add ground beef and | | | | important as the ease of preparation and family |
| a tomato or marinara sauce and cheese – | | | | pleasing taste. |
| voila! It makes for a meal that can’t be beat! | | | | Prep time for lasagna is short, and once |
| Italian foods have long been very popular throughout | | | | you’ve made one or two, you won’t |
| the world and lasagna is certainly no exception. | | | | even need to refer to your recipe. Also, you may |
| Perhaps the simplicity in structure is one of the | | | | find yourself adding to or changing the usual |
| reasons it is a very popular food choice for many | | | | ingredients. It can become your very own recipe! If |
| families today. | | | | you are going to go for a complete homemade |
| The main reason I like serving lasagna is the fact that | | | | lasagna recipe you will need to make your own pasta |
| it’s a crowd pleaser. And for someone who | | | | and this can be done with a machine or by hand. |
| likes to try to “keep it simple,” this is a | | | | Many cooks today prefer the convenience of ready |
| dish that can be totally prepared ahead of time | | | | made pasta ingredients however. You’ll need |
| – even the night before – and then | | | | about a pound of ground chuck and a quarter pound |
| simply removed from the refrigerator and baked! | | | | of Italian sausage; six uncooked lasagna noodles; |
| Add a salad and bread sticks to lasagna and you | | | | tomato sauce; Alfredo sauce; cottage cheese; grated |
| have a “may I have more, please?” | | | | Mozzarella cheese and some Italian spices. In a large |
| meal fit for a king! You can always choose to add | | | | rectangular glass dish, spread a small amount of |
| special ingredients to your lasagna recipe and make it | | | | tomato sauce and then place three of the noodles in |
| more appealing and personalized. Substitute turkey or | | | | the dish. On top of the noodles, spread half of the |
| ground veal for the meat or use a combination of | | | | browned meat, cottage cheese and shredded |
| meats for a surprisingly tasty dish. | | | | cheese, Alfredo sauce and tomato sauce. Repeat |
| As far as preparing the lasagna, there are many | | | | with the remaining noodles, ending with shredded |
| good recipes out there. As well, there are several | | | | cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake at 350 |
| companies that sell “ready-made” | | | | degrees until the noodles are soft, about 30 to 45 |
| lasagna and you can find them in the frozen food | | | | minutes, depending on your oven. For the last 5 or 10 |
| section of your supermarket. The family size | | | | minutes, remove the foil so the cheese can brown |
| packages usually cost under $10, and although | | | | slightly. Remove the dish from the oven and let it set |
| they’re not as scrumptious as one you make | | | | for at least 10 minutes before serving. Get ready for |
| from “scratch,” they can certainly come | | | | a real lasagna taste fest. |