Mmmm, lasagna. All ooey, gooey, cheesy, tomatoey (yes, that is a word) and full of Italian goodness. What's better than lasagna? Well, some would say lasagne. It depends on what spelling you are used to. Me, I've known it both ways, but I tend to type "lasagne" but I'm thinking "lasagna". Capisco? Probably not. Oh well. Doesn't matter because they both taste good.
Growing up, my mom made it with small curd cottage cheese. I've never been a fan of the curd, so when I had it with ricotta, I made the switch. I think my aunt might even make it with tomato soup. I'm not going that far, but I do use canned sauce most of the time, along with "no bake" noodles and turkey instead of hamburger. Hardly authentic, I know. But it still comes out ok.
The thing about lasagna is that it doesn't have to be about tomatoes, meat and cheese. Heck, cheese doesn't have to figure into the equation at all - although, why would you want to leave it out is anyone's guess. The Internets are full of folks who put pumpkin, squash, eggplant, and other various veggies instead of meat. Many folks are partial to the bechamel style sauce, instead of ragu. Me, I'm cool with whatever shows up on the plate because I just find the beauty of those stacked sheets of pasta to be soul satisfying. A lovely blogger named Maryann shares many wonderful recipes at Finding La Dolce Vita. Check out her "ricotta and besciamella" lasagna for something far more interesting than cottage cheese and tomato soup. If anyone must know the secret behind the tomato soup version, let me know and I'll get it to you.
Ooh, gotta go check my dish in the oven right now.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
You say Lasagne, I say Lasagna
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8 comments:
Lasagne is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!! YUMMMMMMY!
When I was a nanny in NY for an awesome Italian family, I learned her family's secret meat sauce that they always use for their lasagna and holy hell! I effortlessly gained 30lbs. that year!
I just made lasagna last week. (Haven't blogged about it yet...) I have my favorite recipe that I always use, but I have been wanting to try it with a bechemel sauce.
aww..thanks for mentioning my lasagna. The boys love it!
I puffy-heart both lasagne and lasagna. :)
It's looking quite sparkly 'round here. Love the look of the place!
My mom didn't like to cook at all. When I was ten years old, I found a package of lasane noodles in the grocery store and wanted it. She told me that I'd have to make it if I wanted it.
In the family photo album, there's a pic of me at ten years old, making lasagne. Needless to say, it's still one of my favorites.
Oh, and now I mix ricotta with sour cream to make it extra yummers.
Thanks for the post!
I adore lasagne. And I once made a butternut squash version that was incredible. But the standard meat-cheese-sauce...there's nothing better.
My mother has the best ever recipe for lasagne. When I was a kid I thought all lasagne was made that way, and always ended up disappointed when eating it elsewhere. Apparently it came from the one Italian ancestor we have. Since I gave up meat about 10 years ago, I had to adjust it -- I use zucchini sliced longways, thick, which gives a good texture, along with broccoli and some carrots, and I can't remember what else. I do mix some of the small curd cottage cheese into the ricotta. Anyway, the original recipe is one of the very few things I miss, meat-wise.
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