Featured Christmas Eve Lasagna , salad and sourdough

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chopsaw

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Dec 14, 2013
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Did Christmas early with my family last week , so got to stay home this year .
Kids thought lasagna sounded good , and I agreed .
Mixed the bread up on Tuesday , and held in the fridge overnight .
Out of the fridge , pulled , stretched , and shaped . Warming on the counter .
20251224_104324.jpg
I did a couple stretch and folds , then into the proofing basket to
warm up on the counter .

Made up the pasta while the bread was rising .
50 / 50 semolina and AP flour . 1 whole egg per cup of dry , and 2 TBLS of water .
Rested , rolled , and ready to go . I just cover it and leave it on the counter .
20251224_160418.jpg

Preheat the oven to 450 with the bread oven in it .
Bake for 30 minutes lid on .
20251224_151529.jpg
Then another 30 minutes lid off , or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the
bottom . Completely cool before slicing .
20251224_154349.jpg
Lasagna was basil pesto ,
20251224_160414.jpg
Spicy Italian sausage and tomato puree ,
20251224_160511.jpg
Ricotta cheese with a whole egg mixed in .
Mixing an egg in the cheese will give it some height .
20251224_161447.jpg
Good quality shredded mots .
20251224_160641.jpg
Rinse / repeat for 4 layers .
Top layer goes on , and before I add , I press it all down .
Evens out the filling .
20251224_161704.jpg
Baked off at 375 for an hour .
You can see how it lifted from the added egg .
20251224_172328.jpg
Everything ready to go .
20251224_174720.jpg
Daughter made the salad . I love the peppers and onions in there .
20251224_174723.jpg
Cut shot of the bread ,
20251224_174830.jpg
and the lasagna . The pasta is cooked from raw in the dish .
Soaks up all the flavors , and really helps hold it all together .
Not a sauce swamp either . People use to much sauce in and on
their pasta .
20251224_175521.jpg
I showed it all together , and the close ups of each item , because
the plated up shot was pretty uneventful to look at .
Flavor was there though . Great meal .
20251224_175538.jpg
Hope everyone had a great holiday , and hoping for some positive changes in the New Year .
 
Did Christmas early with my family last week , so got to stay home this year .
Kids thought lasagna sounded good , and I agreed .
Mixed the bread up on Tuesday , and held in the fridge overnight .
Out of the fridge , pulled , stretched , and shaped . Warming on the counter .
View attachment 728995
I did a couple stretch and folds , then into the proofing basket to
warm up on the counter .

Made up the pasta while the bread was rising .
50 / 50 semolina and AP flour . 1 whole egg per cup of dry , and 2 TBLS of water .
Rested , rolled , and ready to go . I just cover it and leave it on the counter .
View attachment 728999

Preheat the oven to 450 with the bread oven in it .
Bake for 30 minutes lid on .
View attachment 728996
Then another 30 minutes lid off , or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the
bottom . Completely cool before slicing .
View attachment 728997
Lasagna was basil pesto ,
View attachment 728998
Spicy Italian sausage and tomato puree ,
View attachment 729000
Ricotta cheese with a whole egg mixed in .
Mixing an egg in the cheese will give it some height .
View attachment 729002
Good quality shredded mots .
View attachment 729001
Rinse / repeat for 4 layers .
Top layer goes on , and before I add , I press it all down .
Evens out the filling .
View attachment 729003
Baked off at 375 for an hour .
You can see how it lifted from the added egg .
View attachment 729004
Everything ready to go .
View attachment 729005
Daughter made the salad . I love the peppers and onions in there .
View attachment 729006
Cut shot of the bread ,
View attachment 729007
and the lasagna . The pasta is cooked from raw in the dish .
Soaks up all the flavors , and really helps hold it all together .
Not a sauce swamp either . People use to much sauce in and on
their pasta .
View attachment 729008
I showed it all together , and the close ups of each item , because
the plated up shot was pretty uneventful to look at .
Flavor was there though . Great meal .
View attachment 729009
Hope everyone had a great holiday , and hoping for some positive changes in the New Year .
That looks so delicious! :emoji_yum: Homemade pasta really makes it a special meal. Love that.
 
Did Christmas early with my family last week , so got to stay home this year .
Kids thought lasagna sounded good , and I agreed .
Mixed the bread up on Tuesday , and held in the fridge overnight .
Out of the fridge , pulled , stretched , and shaped . Warming on the counter .
View attachment 728995
I did a couple stretch and folds , then into the proofing basket to
warm up on the counter .

Made up the pasta while the bread was rising .
50 / 50 semolina and AP flour . 1 whole egg per cup of dry , and 2 TBLS of water .
Rested , rolled , and ready to go . I just cover it and leave it on the counter .
View attachment 728999

Preheat the oven to 450 with the bread oven in it .
Bake for 30 minutes lid on .
View attachment 728996
Then another 30 minutes lid off , or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the
bottom . Completely cool before slicing .
View attachment 728997
Lasagna was basil pesto ,
View attachment 728998
Spicy Italian sausage and tomato puree ,
View attachment 729000
Ricotta cheese with a whole egg mixed in .
Mixing an egg in the cheese will give it some height .
View attachment 729002
Good quality shredded mots .
View attachment 729001
Rinse / repeat for 4 layers .
Top layer goes on , and before I add , I press it all down .
Evens out the filling .
View attachment 729003
Baked off at 375 for an hour .
You can see how it lifted from the added egg .
View attachment 729004
Everything ready to go .
View attachment 729005
Daughter made the salad . I love the peppers and onions in there .
View attachment 729006
Cut shot of the bread ,
View attachment 729007
and the lasagna . The pasta is cooked from raw in the dish .
Soaks up all the flavors , and really helps hold it all together .
Not a sauce swamp either . People use to much sauce in and on
their pasta .
View attachment 729008
I showed it all together , and the close ups of each item , because
the plated up shot was pretty uneventful to look at .
Flavor was there though . Great meal .
View attachment 729009
Hope everyone had a great holiday , and hoping for some positive changes in the New Year .
Man that looks amazing 🔥🔥
 
Looks great Rich, we use cottage and ricotta in ours.

Point for sure
Chris
 
Did Christmas early with my family last week , so got to stay home this year .
Kids thought lasagna sounded good , and I agreed .
Mixed the bread up on Tuesday , and held in the fridge overnight .
Out of the fridge , pulled , stretched , and shaped . Warming on the counter .
View attachment 728995
I did a couple stretch and folds , then into the proofing basket to
warm up on the counter .

Made up the pasta while the bread was rising .
50 / 50 semolina and AP flour . 1 whole egg per cup of dry , and 2 TBLS of water .
Rested , rolled , and ready to go . I just cover it and leave it on the counter .
View attachment 728999

Preheat the oven to 450 with the bread oven in it .
Bake for 30 minutes lid on .
View attachment 728996
Then another 30 minutes lid off , or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the
bottom . Completely cool before slicing .
View attachment 728997
Lasagna was basil pesto ,
View attachment 728998
Spicy Italian sausage and tomato puree ,
View attachment 729000
Ricotta cheese with a whole egg mixed in .
Mixing an egg in the cheese will give it some height .
View attachment 729002
Good quality shredded mots .
View attachment 729001
Rinse / repeat for 4 layers .
Top layer goes on , and before I add , I press it all down .
Evens out the filling .
View attachment 729003
Baked off at 375 for an hour .
You can see how it lifted from the added egg .
View attachment 729004
Everything ready to go .
View attachment 729005
Daughter made the salad . I love the peppers and onions in there .
View attachment 729006
Cut shot of the bread ,
View attachment 729007
and the lasagna . The pasta is cooked from raw in the dish .
Soaks up all the flavors , and really helps hold it all together .
Not a sauce swamp either . People use to much sauce in and on
their pasta .
View attachment 729008
I showed it all together , and the close ups of each item , because
the plated up shot was pretty uneventful to look at .
Flavor was there though . Great meal .
View attachment 729009
Hope everyone had a great holiday , and hoping for some positive changes in the New Year .
KILL'er look'in meal, as to be expected from you Mr Rich!!!

We had Lasagna for Christmas Eve dinner as well, my little brother's LONG time live in girlfriend/ might as well be his wife is Sicilian, she is an amazing cook, and very easy on the eye's. LOL!!!
She and my two nieces made up a huge Lasagna and brought it over to my parents house. Mom made up a big salad, and I bought a few loves of S.D from my favorite bakery, Acme Bread Co in Berkeley, CA. (As I still haven't figured out how to bake a decent S.D bread.)
I volunteered to make dessert, which was Cannoli's, this yr I didn't make the shells.
(They are a pain in the ass to make).
So I ordered them from Frank and Sal's Italian Market in Brooklyn, NY, they taste exactly how my Noni's Cannoli shells used to taste, so it was nice and easy for me. I just had to whip up the filling, which is Ricotta, heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and real vanilla bean paste, and shaved dark chocolate. Piped into the shells with a pastry bag, then dip each end of the cannoli in chopped roasted Pistachio nuts, then dusted with powdered sugar.

It was a perfect night with just our immediate family, which made it extra special, as it was much less pressure than cooking and cleaning up after 25-30 extended family members.

I hope you had a great Christmas, Bruth'a!!!

Let's promise to try and make 2026 a yr to remember.
Dan.:emoji_thumbsup:
 
That looks so delicious! :emoji_yum: Homemade pasta really makes it a special meal. Love that.
So true, it's the only way to go for a special supper, dry pasta and jarred sauce is fine for everyday meals, but handmade pasta, and sauce is where it's at for special meals.

Rich has a little Italian or Siciliano somewhere in the wood pile, his meals are always spot on.
 
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Reactions: Colin1230
Absolutely wonderful meal, Rich! Thanks for sharing. I love lasagna but, it has to be done right. Like that right there!
 
Looks like an awesome meal
Thanks !
My Mom made lasagna for Christmas this year.
Yup . I saw you posted that . It's a great Christmas tradition .

Homemade pasta really makes it a special meal.
Yeah , it's great when it's right . I have a " system " with sausage and bread that keeps it easy and fun .
Trying to get there with pasta , but after it's rolled out the work needs to start , and the mess gets bigger , lol .
 
Nicely done all around Rich, looks so good! Yum!

I might be a crazy redneck, but I like a leftover thin ish slice of lasagne out of the fridge in between some toasted slices of French bread as a sammy with a bit of butter and mayo!

Congrats on a well deserved carousel ride bud!
 
FROM CUTTING THE PASTA SHEETS TO THE FINISHED PLATE, THE BEST LASAGNA THESE EYES HAVE EVER SEEN! BREAD AND SALAD ARE OVER THE TOP, CAROUSEL RIDE IS WELL DESERVED, NICE WORK RICH. WHAT THICKNESS DO YOU GO TO ON THE SHEETS OF PASTA, LOOKS PERFECT, AROUND #4? RAY
 
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