EASY RECIPE
Lois gave this recipe to me in the late 1970’s, and her grandmother gave it to her. So, for all I know this could be the very first recipe for lasagna ever! One thing for sure the recipe is based on great family cooking.
I have made this with noodles that need to be boiled and with the new version that do not require boiling. While it is an extra step, I prefer the boiled noodle. But, if you are in a hurry and don’t care, its a lot easier with the new no boil noodle.
Step by Step Recipe for Lasagna with Italian sausage:
1 lb spicy italian pork or turkey sausage
2 cloves garlic – diced
2 – 15 oz cans tomatoes – diced
1 – 12 oz can tomato paste
2 cups onion – diced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry basil
1 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs
1 lb ricotta cheese
1 lb mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
Brown the sausage with the garlic (drain excess fat), then set aside
Combine diced tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, salt, basil, and oil in a large pot. Simmer 1 hour or until slightly thickened.
Cook the lasagna noodles per box direction (or just use no boil noodles).
Beat the 2 eggs and add them to a bowl containing the ricotta cheese.
Line bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan with a layer of noodles and then cover the noodles with 1/3 each of the sauage, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce mixture, and mozzarella, add 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese, and a dash of pepper.
Do the preceeding step two more times.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, remove and let stand for 15 minutes before you cut into the lasagna.
While waiting, put together a nice salad. Do yourself a favor, don’t make garlic bread, and with the fat and calories saved have a second serving of lasagna.
AND STUFF
I think it was Sting who said an English gentleman never runs. Not being English, nor even perhaps a gentleman, I prefer to say I only run when a tiger is chasing me. Which luckily for me has, to date, not been a problem.
Point being, I do not like to run. To me there just doesn’t seem to be a significant purpose for running. I mean why go through all the bother. If I need to go somewhere, a car or bike is a much faster means of travel. If I want to exercise, the equipment at Gold’s Gym provides a more complete workout and there are flat screens everywhere. And, if I just want to increase my cardio, drinking a cup or two of coffee while watching the TV news accomplishes the goal of elevating my heart rate while at the same time keeping me up to date on current events.
I can only recall about 3 occasions where I found sufficient reason to run.
The first time was in Kauai when I thought a picture of me running on the beach would be funny, at least to me. So I had Sue take a picture while I “jogged” down the beach for nearly a half block! I would have run less, but at the blistering speed I run when I even imagine a tiger is after me, Sue needed that distance to position me in the camera frame. In any event the photo preserved a beautiful ocean scene, and cleverly provided me with indisputable evidence of me jogging.
My second “jog” was an early morning run across the Tower Bridge in London. I was alone, had jet lag, and could not sleep. So I figured jogging across the Tower Bridge would be a good story and would provide me with a great retort whenever the little lady would later suggest a run.
And my final “jog” was early one morning while staying at the Vista Hotel in the World Trade Center in New York. There is no photo of the run, but it was a nice memory.
I especially recall running past the Twin Towers, and down toward the nearby waterway. I watched a young couple pull up to the dock on a very large sleek sailboat. Without barely speaking a word, they handed off the boatlines to dockworkers and simply walked away. It can’t get much cooler than that.
Who knew, it would appear that I have at least one thing in common with the super rich and an English gentleman, we just don’t run.
So, what’s the point of this edition of And Stuff? Well, I like the memories, and the imagery those stories of jogging brought to life for me. Also, I like the irony of the fact that while I cannot stand to jog, I have 3 great memories that are solely the product of running. Huh, go figure.
I am guessing that while enjoying your lasagna dinner you can recall a story or two about something marvelous resulting from an activity you typically do not enjoy.
Good Eating and Table Talk,
Roger
