Sep 04

What's Cooking? New Feature!

I love to cook and finding new recipes always makes me dance with joy. Beng an Italian/Sicilian, I grew up with the old world Italian cooking. My grandmother still makes homemade pasta and sauce for holidays in addition to the traditional holiday fare. I am kicking off this new feature with my sister’s Lasagna, my dad’s marinara sauce. Enjoy!

Italian Marinara Sauce

2 Cans Tomato Puree (1# 20 oz.)

2 cans tomato sauce (1# 20 Oz.)

4 small cans tomato paste

4 cans of water (Use the tomato paste cans for this)

1 clove of garlic minced

1 TBSP. Italian Seasoning mix

-OR-

Use this blend:

1/2 Tbsp. EACH: Dry Oregano, Dry Basil, Mint (Optional), Parsley.

1 can Diced Tomato with juice

*****

1) In a large sauce pan, empty the following: Puree, Sauce, diced tomato and four cans of paste. Add seasonings and TWO cans of water. Stir till well mixed and simmer on low to medium heat for 3-4 hours.

2) Stir frequently, add 2 TBSP. Sugar, some parmasan cheese to thicken if desire. If it is too thick, add ONE can of water until it is at the deisred consistancy.

*NOTE: This makes a lot so make sure you have room in freezer or fridge for it all. I freeze what I am not using and pull it when I need it.*

*******

Jen’s Lasagna

3 cup ricotta cheese

3 Cup Shred. mozzerella

3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

2 Eggs

1 pound ground beef

1 jar of Spaghetti sauce (Or use homemade sauce, whatever you desire)

Lasagna Noodles-Uncooked

Heat oven 350 degrees

****

1) Mix ricotta cheese, Mozzerella, eggs and 1/2 cup parmasan cheese. Set aside after mixing well in bowl.

2) Brown ground beef, strain grease then stir in jar of spaghetti sauce. Set aside till need it.

3) In a baking pan, layer 1 cup sauce mixture, noodles and 1/4 cup cheese mixture. Repeat layers until all out of mixtures and noodles. Top with cheese.

4) Bake for 30 minutes covered at 350 degrees on cookie sheet in case it drips. Take off foil cover last ten minutes of baking. Let sit for ten minutes to cool down before cutting!

*NOTE: You can freeze this as well or make smaller portions as well. Just do all but the final step of baking then when you pull it out, you will bake for 1 hour and fifteen minites instead of the 30 minutes as mentioned above.*

Serve with crusty Italian Bread and a salad. You can serve a wine if you so desire as well.