Homemade Lasagna

[chopsaw]

Looks really good.
We make homemade lasagna here too.

Thanks !

Wow Rich , we love Lasagna ( even though we only use mozza on top and a little in the middle layer )
we normally make it at about 5 layers high.

Thanks David . Do you add egg to the cheese ?

 

[DRKsmoking]

Thanks David . Do you add egg to the cheese ?

No I just use blocks that I grate when needed. But I will try this in the next big pan we make.
When I used too make in restaurants, we used Ricotta . The cheese is new to me in Lasagna.

David

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Wow Rich. Where does the line start? Looks like a bit of work but so worth it. You nailed it bud.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Rich, simply SPECTACULAR!!

 

[chopsaw]

Wow Rich. Where does the line start? Looks like a bit of work but so worth it. You nailed it bud.

Thanks ! I do it in waves and clean after each step . It's worth it .

Rich, simply SPECTACULAR!!

Thanks Charles . Appreciate that .

 

[xray]

Oohh Lasagna!!! I haven’t had homemade from scratch lasagna since my Gram died. She made it all the time on Sundays when everyone would stop over and sit down at her table.

Yours looks great Rich! Very nicely done!

 

[boykjo]

Looks heavenly......

 

[bauchjw]

Wow! That looks killer! I really like the egg with the cottage cheese, it makes too much sense, we’re going to do that next time around! Thank you for sharing!

 

[chopsaw]

nicely done!

Thanks Joe .

I haven’t had homemade from scratch lasagna since my Gram died

My wife's side was full Italian from her Dad's side . We used to go to her Aunt's house on Christmas for homemade ravioli . It was awesome . Had the good sausage from down on the Hill in St. Louis . Her homemade meatballs were also the best . She made fried cardoon ? Kind of like celery flattened out and fried . Stuff was fantastic . Sauce to die for . Wife's cousin gave use the whole ravioli recipe last year , for the pasta and the beef filling . That filling is insane . I adapted the pasta recipe , but it made a light go off . Good times , but things change .

 

[chopsaw]

Looks heavenly..

It was pretty good . I keep a base bulk ground pork in the freezer . Mixed up with Adkins farm style seasoning . easy to adapt the flavor to what ever . I crushed up some fennel , anise and red pepper flakes in a mortar and pestle and mixed it in .
Really added some flavor .
Thanks for the comment .

Wow! That looks killer!

Thanks Jed .

I really like the egg with the cottage cheese,

It's a great add . Just the egg really rounds it out . Depending on how much cheese I have I'll add more eggs . Just be careful because it pushes it up over the top of the pan . Cook on a sheet tray and make sure your pan is 2 1/2 to 3 inches deep .

 

[tallbm]

Got inspired to make up some Lasagna yesterday . This is how it went .
Start with some home made Italian sausage .
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Brown off in a pan .

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Then get the sauce ready .
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The meat stomper gives the perfect texture .
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Set both aside to cool .
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Time to make some pasta . I've done it all different ways , and still haven't tried them all .
If you look for pasta formulas you know how many variations there are .
This is were I've settled in . It makes a silky smooth pasta with great chew .
Had around 1 1/2 pounds of flour . 75 / 25 Dbl. zero to semolina .
3 whole eggs . Will see if it needs any water .
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That blue silicone mat works perfect for this . Started with 2 eggs .
I use a fork to start out .
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Mix the 2 eggs in . This will be pretty shaggy . That's ok .
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Added the third egg and mixed some more .
Starting to come together .
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I added some warm water by the TBLS. to bring it together slowly .
Keep kneading until it picks up most of what's on the mat .
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Cut in half and wrap in plastic . Into the fridge for at least an hour .
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Time to roll some dough .
The Marcato Pasta machines are top of the line . I have the Atlas with removable cutting head .
They make other profile / shaped cutters you can use .
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After resting in the fridge the dough comes together .
Press it out flat enough that it will pass through the roller set to 0 .
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Pass through one time , and fold in half .
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Turn 90 degrees and re-roll , still set to 0 .
The 90 degree turn helps control the shape of the ends .
Square , not pointed . I fold and turn 3 times .
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From this point I go through one time , adjusting the rollers until
I reach 5 . That's a good thickness for this . Ravioli I'll g0 to a 6 .
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Done right it should grow in length , not in width .
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About 3' of perfect pasta . No ragged edges is a good sign .
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I decided to go ahead and par boil the sheets . Sometimes I use it as is , because it cooks in the dish .
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Hold on some paper towels to cool .
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I use cottage cheese in my Lasagna . Never cared for the texture of Ricotta .
I add a raw egg into the cheese and mix it in .
Gives it some height when it cooks and helps to set it when it cools .
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You know the rest , just get it layered up . I like to do 3 layers
including the top .
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Baked covered at 350 for 1 hour .
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set oven to 425 and bake uncovered until you like the color .
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Cool for an hour or more . The egg helps hold it together , gives it height
and makes a nice slice .
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Thanks for lookin .

Wow, great post and great job!!!

My favorite dish in the entire world is my mother's Lasagna. She to makes it with cottage cheese and I agree I much prefer it to ricotta.
She also started incorporating a little pepperoni into it some years ago, just made it even better!

This is so amazing, thanks for the post!

 

[chopsaw]

Wow, great post and great job!!!

Thank you . Appreciate that .

She also started incorporating a little pepperoni into it some years ago, just made it even better!

You know , I was thinking about that . I didn't because some at the get together are picky eaters . I really like the flavor of hot salami and pepperoni .

 

[SmokinAl]

Awesome lasagna Rich!
We use cottage cheese for a lot of dishes, but I have to say I never tried it in lasagna. It sure makes a killer twice baked potato though!
Al

 

[noboundaries]

Wow. Those corners have my memories drooling. Well done!

And for those who dislike ricotta, make your own. Only takes minutes, plus a few hours to cool. Soooo easy and WAAAY creamier than either store-bought or cottage cheese.

 

[chopsaw]

Awesome lasagna Rich!

Appreciate that Al .

We use cottage cheese for a lot of dishes, but I have to say I never tried it in lasagna. It sure makes a killer twice baked potato though!

Sounds like a great add for a baked tater .

 

[chopsaw]

Wow. Those corners have my memories drooling. Well done!

Thanks !
I've heard making ricotta is pretty simple . I may have to give it a shot .

 

[KBFlyer]

Looks perfect to me. I did the very same thing last year and should make more but for some reason life keeps getting in the way. My daughters father-in-laws mother makes a really nice light pasta that almost melts in your mouth and I have tried to get mine close to hers but I am sure she is only telling me half of the secrets to make it like hers LOL.
Those old Italian grandmothers will take a recipe to the grave before letting it up. :)

 

[chopsaw]

Looks perfect to me

Thanks bud .

-in-laws mother makes a really nice light pasta that almost melts in your mouth and I have tried to get mine close to hers but I am sure she is only telling me half of the secrets to make it like hers

My sister is always asking my son for our recipes . Then it shows up in the " Family cookbook " as hers . So now he always leaves something out when she asks . Lol .

Thanks for the comments .

 

[gmc2003]

My sister is always asking my son for our recipes . Then it shows up in the " Family cookbook " as hers . So now he always leaves something out when she asks . Lol .

Now that's just plain mean, funny as heck but still mean.

 

[MJB05615]

That is funny. A few years ago, I tried to get 2 recipes from my MIL. It took 5 different tries and fails on my part until I got the complete recipes. There's an Everybody Loves Raymond episode about that too, lol.