I just love Italian food and one of my favorite dishes of all Italian food is Lasagna. When I was young, growing up in our house my mom would make two Italian dishes and one was Spaghetti and the other one Lasagna. But my mom would make it a little different from most Italian restaurants, she made meat sauce with her Spaghetti and Lasagna. I know when you go to most Italian restaurants you must specify meat sauce or meatballs when you order Spaghetti, but the Lasagna will come with meat sauce. I found that out the hard way because I grew up thinking that meat sauce or meatballs was automatically included with Spaghetti.
Lasagna is a classy dish that can be served for any occasion, throw in some garlic bread and a garden salad and you have the perfect date night meal. I love making my own meat sauce, it gives the Lasagna a more personal homemade taste instead of using a jarred or canned pasta sauce, which tends to taste processed, homemade is always better. I also like to add Pepperoni when I pan my Lasagna, when it cooks the oil from the Pepperoni blends in with the meat sauce and gives it so much flavor, this is the twist that I put with my Lasagna.
One important thing that you should know is whenever you make a meat sauce using any kind of tomato paste, puree, or crush tomatoes, to be sure to use some sugar, it will enhanced the other spices that you add to your meat sauce, you do not have to add a lot a few tablespoons should do to cut that bland taste trust me on this guys. Please view the video and recipe below and let me know what you think in the comment box.
LASAGNA
INGREDIENTS – MEAT SAUCE
2 Pounds of Ground Beef
2-29 oz Cans Tomato Puree
1 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
1 Red Onion (chopped)
7 Gloves of Garlic (chopped)
2 Packs of Spaghetti Seasoning Mix (McCormick Thick & Zesty)
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon Basil
1 Teaspoon Thyme
1 Teaspoon Ground Red Pepper
1 Tablespoon Salt
4 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
1 Cup of Water
CHEESES & FILLINGS
4 Cups of Ricotta Cheese
1-8 oz pack of Fresh Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1-8 oz pack of Cheddar Jack Cheese
16 oz pack of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1-8 oz pack of Fresh Mozzarella Slices
2 Teaspoons of Italian Seasoning
2 Large Eggs (beaten)
1-8 oz pack of Pepperoni
1 16oz Box of Lasagna Noodles
DIRECTIONS
Boil Lasagna noodles per package directions, then make meat sauce.
Brown ground beef and drain if it is too much fat, add, green bell pepper, red onion, and garlic cloves, cook for about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree, spaghetti seasonings, onion powder, garlic powder, basil, thyme, ground red pepper, salt, sugar, parmesan cheese and water, lower heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.
In large bowl mix, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, 2 eggs, and Italian seasoning, mix until well blended. In large pan or casserole dish, put a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of dish and add a layer of lasagna noodles, spread ricotta cheese mixture over noodles add shredded mozzarella, cheddar jack, add more meat sauce, add pepperoni and breakup fresh mozzarella slices all over dish, repeat for second row, for last row add meat sauce, pepperoni, and just spoon ricotta cheese on top don’t spread, just flatten it down, finally sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and cheddar jack. Cover with tented foil, but make sure the edges are tight and bake at 375F Degrees for 55-60 minutes. Enjoy!
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