Michele's Baked Lasagna

Many years ago, I purchased R&F Brand Lasagna noodles.  I decided to save the recipe knowing someday I would not be able to find it. Sure enough, the parent company sold and today this brand no longer exists.   But I still have the recipe.  This recipe is my base. It is great as is, but I will enhance it, making it a little different each time.  I ALWAYS double the meat that is called for.

These are my ingredients.  I start with opening my wine, because I love to enjoy a glass as I cook.

Ingredients

1 lb. Lasagna noodles

3/4 lb. Ricotta (or full container)

2 eggs

4 Cups Meat Sauce - See below

1 lb. Mozzarella Cheese

4 Tbls or more, Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Pepper

Meat Sauce

1 lb. Ground meat ( 1/2 beef - 1/2 Pork)   - (I double this.)

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

1 Large Onion

1/4 Cup Chopped Parsley

1 Clove Garlic, chopped or pressed

1 Carrot, grated

1 Can Tomatoes, chopped or mixed in blender for a few seconds

1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste

1/2 Cup Dry Red Wine

12 oz. water

1 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Pepper

1 Tsp Basil

Sauté onion, parsley, garlic and carrot in oil. Add meat and brown.

Add tomato paste, wine and water, salt, pepper and basil.  Simmer 1 hour.

Boil Lasagna 10 minutes in 6 Qts. salted water.  Add cold water until noodles can be handles.  Do NOT drain.

In a separate bowl mix eggs and ricotta.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 Grease Baking dish and arrange the bottom with parallel layers of lasagna.  Add 1/3 of Meat Sauce, 1/3 Ricotta mixture, 1/3 thin slices Mozzarella.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan.  Cover with another layer of each, and a third layer of each.  Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 30 minutes. 

Serves 8

I chopped my onion, added grated carrots, and pressed garlic.

Saute in 1/4 cup Olive Oil

I added 1 lb. each of

  Harter House Ground Round (95%  lean)

and Harter House homemade Italian Sausage.

At Harter House, all of our ground meats are ground fresh daily from our own trimmings, to ensure the freshest product for your family.

Brown the meat and drain the fat and oil from the pot.

I like to use Bounty paper towels to soak up the liquid.

I added basil rather than parsley.  I love the flavor of basil and I find that fresh spices add an extra kick that always wins the prize.

Next I added chopped Roasted Red Peppers, tomatoes, and tomato paste.

I added 1 cup Cabernet Wine and 1 cup water.

(a little different from the original recipe)

              

                                                       

Now, we let it simmer for an hour.

Next, I've set up my work station to layer each ingredient.

A little oil on the Pampered Chef Stone Bakeware. 

Layer noodles, meat sauce, Ricotta and egg mixture, Mozzarella slices, and Parmesan cheese. Repeat for three layers.  Then bake in a 350 degree oven 30-45 minutes. (since I made a larger amount, I cooked it a little longer)  Then I broiled the lasagna just long enough to make the cheese bubbly on top.

Finally, I made a Cheesy Garlic Bread with English Muffins.  Melted butter and garlic powder sprinkled on muffins and topped with shredded mozzarella.  Broil for about 8 minutes, till the cheese is browned a bit.

Mandarin Shrimp Pasta

This recipe came from one of my business associates,

Jan O'Rear.  Jan brought it and served it cold at a social event.

This a one of my favorites!  ~Shelly

INGREDIENTS

1 pound raw shrimp, shells removed

1 cup Italian dressing, divided

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 medium carrot, peeled and grated

6 green onions, chopped

3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

1 8-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained

8 ounce package almond silvers or sliced almonds, toasted (see instructions below)

3 cups angel hair pasta, cooked

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Marinate shrimp in refrigerator for 1 hour in 1/3 cup of Italian dressing; drain shrimp after 1 hour.
2. While the shrimp is marinating, in a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining Italian dressing, peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, grated ginger root and red pepper flakes. Set sauce aside. 
3. Toast almonds in a dry pan for 4 minutes, in a preheated 350 degree oven. Set aside.
4. Boil pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
5. Saute the grated carrots, chopped green onions and chopped cilantro in the canola oil with the sesame oil until browned.  
6. Add the shrimp and saute until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
7. Combine pasta, vegetables, shrimp and sauce in a large saute pan and heat thoroughly, stirring continually, until heated through.
8. Garnish with toasted almonds and mandarin oranges.
9. Serve hot or cold.

For a variation, substitute 1 lb. boneless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces for the shrimp and add (1) 8 oz. can of sliced water chestnuts is desired.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing (in a 9x13 pan)

 MY FAVORITE

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  2 teaspoons baking powder
  2 teaspoons baking soda
  ½ teaspoon salt
  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  2 cups white sugar
  4 eggs
  1 ⅓ cups vegetable oil
  4 cups grated carrots
  ¾ cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.   Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

• Step 2

  In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and eggs until thick and pale. Stir in the oil, then gradually mix in the sifted dry ingredients. Fold in the carrots and nuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

• Step 3

  Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 Cup Butter
8 oz. Cream Cheese
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Notes

Use 1 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1/3 cup oil inst4ead of the full amount of oil.

This recipe also makes great cupcakes.
Mini muffins cook about 15 minutes, regular size muffins about 25 minutes.

Italian Sausage Rigatoni Bake

This casserole combines all of our favorite Italian flavors, 

but the fresh mozzarella really sets it apart!

Serve this with a warm Ciabatta Bread

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
5 cups marinara sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
1 pound sliced part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions; drain.
• In a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms and pepper over medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Stir in marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cream. Add rigatoni and toss to coat.
• In each of two greased 8-in. square baking dishes, layer one-fourth of the rigatoni mixture and one-fourth of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, until heated through and cheese is melted, 25-35 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if tops brown too quickly.)
  
  
  Freeze option: Cool unbaked casseroles; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake casseroles as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

From: tasteofhome.com

Lemon Garlic White Wine Sauce

 This sauce is great over a variety of meats, such as chicken, cutlets, fish, or scallops.  

Sauce Ingredients - I would double this!

• 2 Cloves Garlic – Minced
• Juice of 1 Lemon – Fresh 
• 1.5 Cup Dry White Wine (Pinot Grigio)
• 1 Tbsp Butter  
• 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper Powder
• 1 Tsp Salt 

For Preparing Chicken 

• 2 Large boneless Chicken Breast – Cut horizontally, into 8 flat pieces
• 4 Tbsp  Flour
• Pinch of Salt
• Pinch of Pepper
• 1 Tbsp Butter
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil – For Frying. 

Cooking the Chicken -

1. In a ziploc or bag, add flour, salt, pepper and mix evenly.
2. Take the four chicken pieces, drop them in the Ziploc bag and shake 3-4 time to evenly coat the chicken.
3. Remove the flour coated chicken and add the remaining chicken to this bag and coat evenly. (Now all the chicken are evenly coated with flour mix).
4. In a large pan, add butter, oil and heat it for a minute on high flame and then reduce the flame to medium.
5. Now, place the coated chicken pieces evenly on the pan and let them cook for 3-4 minutes.
6. Turn the chicken to the other side and cook for another 3-4 minutes (Till light brown or golden brown – as per choice).
7. Transfer the cooked chicken on the large plate.

Preparing the Wine Sauce -- 

1. In the same pan, add the butter and let it heat for a minute.
2. Add minced garlic, stir 3-4 times  (You may keep or discard the garlic as per your choice and proceed with next step  I keep it).
3. Now add white wine and stir everything well using a whisk.
4. Let it cook for a minute on medium flame and then reduce the heat to low.
5. Cook the wine for about 4-5 minutes and then add lemon, pepper and salt.
6. Whisk everything to a smooth consistency and add the cooked chicken.
7. Let the chicken cook in the sauce for 2-3 minutes and then turn off the heat.
8. You can pour the entire content of the pan in a serving dish or can place 2-3 chicken pieces in
9. individual plate and pour some sauce over and around it

The "I Want to Marry You" Cookie

The "I Want to Marry You" Cookie, ended up becoming the most popular recipe on the Cooking Channel in 2012.

You can read all about Melissa Stadler's story at ModernHoney.com.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips combination of milk, semi-sweet or dark
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
optional Nuts

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat until melted and starts to turn a golden color. (don't let the butter become too brown)  Remove from heat.
Immediately add the dark brown sugar and granulated sugar and stir until sugars are incorporated and smooth.  Keep stirring until all of the grainy texture is gone. Chill the mixture for 10 minutes.

Remove from the refrigerator and stir in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
Add the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix together.
Stir in chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.

Roll into balls or use a scoop, and place on a light colored cookie sheet.
Chill for 30 minutes or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.  The dough gets better when it chills for 24 - 48 hours.

Preheat Conventional Oven (non-convection) to 325 degrees.  
Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and bake 12 - 16 minutes.

Light Chicken Piccata

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons flour, divided
2 tablespoon grated Parmesan Cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon shallots, minced
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons capers (optional)
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon tarragon

Directions

1.Whisk 2 tablespoons flour and 1 cup broth in a small bowl until smooth. Place remaining 2 tablespoons flour and the Parmesan cheese in a shallow dish. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and dredge both sides in the flour. Shake to remove excess.

2.Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown or no longer pink in the middle (2-5 minutes per side). Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

3.Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the shallots and white wine, and cook until reduced by half (this should take about 1 to 2 minutes).

4.Stir in the reserved broth-flour mixture and the lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring until the sauce is thickened (about 5 minutes). Stir in the tarragon, parsley, butter, and capers.

5.Serve chicken with a light salad or pasta. pour sauce over chicken.

Recipe
From: 12Tomatoes.com