Marinara Sauce

Italians have to have a few tomato sauce recipes.  This is a recipe inspired by my Sicilian Nonna (grandmother).

Nonna and Nonnu

Are you craving a meatless sauce?  A basic marinara sauce is super easy to throw together!  Here are the ingredients:

2 cans tomato sauce
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup red wine
Salt
Pepper
1 teaspoon each:  parsley, basil, oregano
Dash crushed red pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

In a sauce pan, heat a little olive oil.  Add the onions.  Saute for 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute another minute.  Add the crushed tomatoes, red wine, sugar, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and the rest of the spices.  Let that simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the rest of the tomato sauce.  Let that simmer for another 15 minutes.

I like to serve this sauce with meatballs and pasta. 



If you are interested in a meat sauce, see:  http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/07/meat-sauce.html

Mangia!

Lasagna

This recipe is listed on Pamela's Heavenly Treat

One of my favorite pasta dishes is LASAGNA!  It has a tangy, chewy, goodness that can't be surpassed.  I love plating the lasagna and watching the cheese stretch over to the plate.  That is yummy goodness!

This recipe comes from my mom.  Mom is a great cook and I am so blessed to have her in my life.  She is a strong woman and has raised her girls to be strong and able to withstand anything.  With my father's passing, my mom handled herself with dignity and grace.  I can only hope to be that strong in life.

Mom, Me, Tonette, Karrie and Julia

Isn't she beautiful?

Here are the ingredients for the lasagna:

Marinara Sauce

Cottage Cheese - Large Container

Ricotta Cheese - 2 large containers

Parmesan Cheese - 2 cups

4 eggs

Salt

Pepper

Parsley - 3 tablespoons

Ground Beef /Ground Sausage - 1 pound each

Lasagna Noodles
Mozzarella Cheese - shredded

Start with a basic tomato sauce.  Here is a link to my meat sauce recipe.  Use that but omit the meat.

http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/07/meat-sauce.html

Next, brown your meat.  I like to use a combination of ground beef and ground Italian sausage.  When the meat is brown, drain the fat.

In the meantime, assemble the cheese mixture.  Mix together in large bowl:  Cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and parsley. 

OK - time for you to make a decision.  Do you want to take the easy way out?  If you want to take the easy way out, you can buy no boil noodles.  These are great and taste just fine.  If you want thicker noodles which taste better, then start up a large pot of water and boil the noodles to al dente.  Of course if you are REALLY wanting to do it right, go ahead and make your own pasta dough!

http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/08/homemade-ravioli.html

Once all of your ingredients are prepared, it is a matter of setting up an assembly line.  Start by putting a little sauce in the bottom of your pan and put a layer of noodles on that.

Then, layer your meat, cheese mixture, and shredded mozzarella.

Then put another layer of noodles on top of that.  Ladle some more sauce and start the process over again.  When you near the top of the pan, put a final layer of noodles and ladle some more sauce on the top.

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  After 45 minutes, remove the foil and put shredded cheese on the top.  Put it back in the oven until the cheese melts.

Mangia!  This recipe is featured on Totally Tasty Tuesdays!