Robyn's Recipes- Meal of the Week

Entree

LASAGNE

1 lb. ground Beef
1 small onion, diced
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 12-oz. can tomato paste
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
Tabaso sauce to taste (or can be omitted)
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 bay leaf
1 pkg. lasagne noodles
2 eggs
1 15-oz. container ricotta cheese
1 16-oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese

About 2-1/2 hrs. before serving:

In a 5-qt. dutch oven, over high heat, brown ground beef and onion until all pan juices evaporate and beef is well browned, stirring frequently.   Add crushed tomatoes and their liquid, tomato paste, salt, oregano, thyme, tabasco, garlic salt and bay leaf.  Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.  Then discard the bay leaf.  Spoon off any fat from the sauce.

Meanwhile, boil the noodles ONLY for about 3 minutes, (baking them later will cook them the rest of the way, and this makes for easier handling), then drain.  Run a little water over them to keep them from sticking together, then drain again.

Next:

In a 13X9 baking dish, arrange half of the noodles going across bottom of dish, overlapping to fit. 

In a bowl:

Combine eggs and ricotta cheese.  Spoon half of the mixture over noodles, then sprinkle half of mozzarella, top with half of sauce.   Layer noodles on top of that in the other direction, then repeat the cheese layer.
Again, top with sauce.  You can top that layer with some grated parmesan cheese if desired. 

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in oven for about 50-55 minutes at 375 degrees.  Let stand 10 minutes for easier serving.

Side Dishes

Garlic Bread

One large loaf french or Italian bread
Garlic Powder
Parmesan Cheese
Butter

Slice loaf of bread, slicing 3/4 of the way down, taking care not to slice the entire way to bottom of loaf.  Using knife, butter each side of each slice.  Sprinkle garlic powder on each side of each slice, then do the same with the grated parmesan cheese.  Wrap in aluminum foil and bake in oven the last 15 minutes with your lasagne, or while the lasagne is cooling a bit.

Salad

My family loves my salads..... the reason is because I throw a little bit of everything into them....

Break up lettuce leaves, and if your family or guests enjoy fresh spinach, you can add some spinach leaves to the salad.  Be creative.   Below is a list of all the things that I like to add to my salads.  You can pick and choose, mix and match any way you like, or add them all:

Diced Onion
Diced Green Pepper
Fresh broccoli flowerettes
Fresh cauliflower flowerettes
Thinly sliced carrots
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sliced Black olives
Sliced Tomato or cherry tomatoes
Croutons

And top your salad with your favorite dressing!!

Dessert

Apple Crisp

8 cups peeled, sliced apples (Granny Smith are great, but use your choice)

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and egg to make a crumb mixture. 

Spread apples out in greased or sprayed large casserole dish or cake pan.  Cover with crumb mixture.

Dust with cinnamon, then pour 1/2 cup melted butter over top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

Beverage suggestion:  Chianti wine or blush wine.