Lasagna for a crowd

Lasagna for a crowd + (an extra for a friend) by Anne Tisbert 

This weekend I was craving Lasagna and thought to myself how can I make this using all the vegetables we have at the farm stand. A tastier combo. Everyone raved, so here it is. You can begin this several days ahead, in stages, or all at once. It seems I am always interrupted or should I say, I tend to under estimate the time it takes to do things. Although, It went together very well in several stages over a few days.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Lasagna noodles (cooked. drained and cooled) 
• 1 lb of fresh ground pork or sausage (cooked til browned, scrambled and drained on paper towel) 
• 4 -QT jars favorite spaghetti sauce (I used Paul Newmans Organic w/spinach and cheese) 
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 4 small onions chopped 
• 2 large peppers chopped (I used 8 mini purple peppers) 
• 3 cloves of garlic minced 
• 1 Tablespoon of oregano 
• 3 medium - Zucchini (Italian Romanesco ) sliced 1/4-1/2" thick 
• 1 bunch of red Swiss Chard(leaves only) or Spinach leaves 
• 3/4 cup of cherry or 1/4" sliced 2 - tomatoes 

Filling - (Mix the following all together and set aside or refrigerate until ready to assemble)

• 2 - 32oz containers of Ricotta Cheese (some people like to use cottage cheese for lower calories) 
• 4 eggs (scrambled) 
• 1 1/2 - 8oz packages of shredded cheese (any kind you like, I had a mixed blend. Save last 1/2 for toppings) 
• 1/4 cup of dried parsley 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon black pepper 

Topping

• 4oz shredded cheese (Mozzarella makes a nice topping too!) 

 Preparation: 

Cook pasta (slightly under cooked or al dente), drain and set aside (or put in a baggie in fridge) until ready to assemble. 

Brown ground pork, into scrambled pieces and add 1 clove of minced garlic, drain on paper towel. Also can be put aside (or refrigerate) until later. 

In a large deep skillet warm olive oil, add peppers and onion, cook until onion is clear and peppers are limp, then add 1 cloves of garlic stir in just until fragrant. Add sliced zucchini and sauté until slightly cooked. Remove zucchini and set aside (or refrigerate until ready to assemble).  Turn off pepper, onions, garlic mix or set aside (or refrigerate until ready). 

Heat homemade or jar Spaghetti sauce, add pepper, onion, garlic mixture. Add cooked pork, and continue to heat on medium until it bubbles, even when stirred. Turn off heat and add oregano. Stir again. Set Aside. 

In a separate Large bowl, make filling by Mixing all the cheeses, eggs. Then rub the herbs in your hands as you add them to the filling until all ingredients are well blended. You are now finally ready to begin to assemble the lasagna. Get all your layers in order.

Assembly: 

I use an enameled roasting pan 8 1/2" by 15", 2 3/4"deep, and also a standard bread loaf pan and fill both at the same time, so I can freeze one for later. Laddle the meat sauce thinly to just cover bottom of pans. Next add a layer of lasagna noodles to cover all the sauce. Use the longest pieces first and then cut pieces to completely cover the sauce layer. Next Dollop Filling (rubber spatula) over all the noodles and then lightly spread filling into a 1/2 " thick layer. Then add another layer of noodles. Next add a thin layer of meat sauce covered with a layer of spinach or chard leaves. Next another layer of noodles. Next Dollop a thinner layer of cheese filling and spread only 1/4" thick. Another layer of noodles. Next a layer of meat sauce. Then a layer of zucchini slices and a layer of cherry tomatoes in between zukes or add another layer of large tomato slices on top. Then add a thin layer of meat sauce if more is still remaining. (If meat sauce is hot when layering, then, top with shredded cheese. If assembling cold, cook 40 minutes before adding cheese topping.) 

Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Insert butter knife in center to test for hotness in lower cheese layers before removing from oven. Should be bubbling around sides too. Cut into large squares with a serrated knife and serve hot. Take uncooked lasagna pan of choice and cover with plastic wrap (xtra long so you will remember to remove plastic before baking) and also cover it with foil, FREEZE or deliver it to a friend. 

 Add a salad and crusty bread to complete your meal. Enjoy!

Summer Vegetable Stew with Basil Purée

 Cooking Light JULY 2000

Ingredients

Basil Purée :

• 3/4-1 cup basil leaves 
• 1 garlic clove 
• 3 tablespoons water 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt 

 Stew :

•  1 tablespoon olive oil 
•  2 bay leaves 
•  2 onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges 
•  3 garlic cloves, halved 
•  2 thyme sprigs 
•  1 cup (2-inch-thick) sliced carrot 
•  1 Quart small red potatoes, if large halved
•  1/2 teaspoon salt 
•  1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
•  2 cubed summer squash (aprox 3/4 pound) 
•  1 bell pepper (cut into strips)
•  1 cup green beans (cut into 2 inch pieces) 
•  1 tomato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 
•  2 tablespoons (1/2 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese 

Preparation

To prepare basil purée, combine basil and 1 garlic clove in a blender; process until smooth. Add water, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; process until blended. Set aside.

To prepare vegetables, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over low heat. Add bay leaves; cook 1 minute. Add onion, 3 garlic cloves, and thyme; cover and cook 10 minutes. Add carrot, potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper; cover and cook 20 minutes. Add squash and bell pepper; cover and cook 15 minutes. Add the green beans and tomatoes; cover and cook 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves and thyme. Spoon stew into individual bowls; drizzle with the basil purée, and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Nutritional Information /per serving Calories: 240 Calories from fat: 36%, Fat: 9.7g, Saturated fat: 1.7g, Monounsaturated fat: 6.3g, Polyunsaturated fat: 1.1g, Protein: 6.8g, Carbohydrate: 35.4g, Fiber: 7.5g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Iron: 3.3mg, Sodium: 373mg, Calcium: 123mg.

Kale Sauté

 (Serves 6)

12 oz kale
Olive Oil

1 Clove of Garlic 

Several Seasonal vegetables

Rinse & Pat dry Kale; tear leaves into about 1-inch pieces, discarding tough ribs and veins. 

Put Olive oil and Sliced Garlic into deep Frying Pan. Cook on low until the garlic smells fragrant.  Add Kale and cook 5 minutes. 

Add other vegetables like, onions, peppers, Swiss chard, Summer squash, and drizzle more olive oil over all to keep from sticking to pan. Cook for 15 minutes together. If using green beans add them during the last 5 minutes to keep crisp and colorful. 

Serve over pasta or with grilled chicken or with grilled pork kabobs for a complete meal.

Fresh Tomato Salsa

• 4 Med Large diced tomatoes (strain 1/2 liquid and reserve) 
• 1/2 chopped red pepper, 1/2 chopped green pepper 
• hot peppers (1 jalapeno or more and different varieties for hotter salsa) 
• 1 diced green onion 
• 1-2 Garlic scapes or 1/2 diced green garlic 
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder 
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp black pepper 
• 1 diced jalapeno (more for hot salsa) 
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 
• Franks Hot Sauce : 1 tsp for mild, 2 tsp for med, or 3 tsp for hot

Reserve tomato liquid. Stir all chopped vegetables together. Mix all herbs and seasonings in separate bowl. Add seasonings to veggies. Lastly stir in Frank's Hot sauce to taste. Add back desired amount of tomato liquid. Serve with slightly warmed organic corn chips.

Corn Salsa

Corn salsa with purple onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño peppers, cilantro and lime juice.

Ingredients

~  2 cups corn kernels, about 2 ears
~  1/3 cup chopped purple onion
~  1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
~  3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
~  2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
~  1 to 2 finely chopped jalapeño pepper
~  1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours (even better overnight).  Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.  Serve with grilled meat or poultry.  Makes about 3 cups.

For a heartier version, try about.com corn salsa.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

Ingredients

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic
3/4 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
1/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil


Directions

Place the jalapeno pepper, garlic clove, and ginger into a food processor or blender; pulse until the jalapeno and garlic are finely chopped. Pour in the lime juice, honey, balsamic vinegar, and salt, add the cilantro leaves; pulse a few times to blend. Turn the food processor or blender on, and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until incorporated into the dressing. Season to taste with salt before serving.


allrecipes.com

Sweet Peppers and Pasta

Epicurious.com

The key to this recipe is cooking the bell peppers until they’re meltingly tender, at least 15 minutes.

yield: Serves 4 as a main course
active time: 35 min
total time: 45 min

Ingredients:
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 large peppers (any and all colors bell peppers, aprox 3 pounds), cut into 2-inch-long julienne
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 pound penne

Preparation:
Cook garlic in oil in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. Add peppers, wine, and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

While peppers are cooking, cook pasta in a 6-qt. pot of boiling salted water until al dente and drain. Toss pasta with peppers and season with salt and pepper.

Three Pepper Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 package tri-color pasta
• 2/3 C olive oil
• 3 TB white wine vinegar
• 1/4 C fresh basil leaves
• 2 TB grated parmesan cheese
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 red pepper, julienned
• 1 yellow pepper, julienned
• 1 orange pepper, julienned
• 1 medium fresh tomato, chopped
• 1 (2.15 oz) can black olives, drained
• 8 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
2. In a blender or food processor, blend the olive oil, white vinegar, basil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until smooth.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, dressing mixture, peppers, tomato, and olives. Top with mozzarella cheese to serve.

from: Linda Demaria - allrecipes.com