Recipes thread

[Thumpalumpacus]

I enjoy cooking, and within my own limitations am pretty damn good, if I do so allow.

Here's a thread OP from another forum, where I often share my cooking experiences.

Hey, I was pretty tired of traditional holiday food this year, so I made us lasagna instead. Here's my recipe; I hope y'all enjoy it. You East-Coast second-generation-Little Italy types don't break my balls too hard ... I'm just a redneck stuck out West trying to do right.

Anyway, start with some good basic ingredients -- seasoned salt, pepper, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, worcestershire sauce, ground garlic, a couple of 15-oz cans of tomato sauce, a pound of ricotta cheese, and I use a 6-cheese Italian blend. If you don't have that availaible, some grated mozzarella and asiago will get the job done. You will also need one pound of italian sausage, two eggs, one medium bell pepper sliced ring-wise, 1/2 medium zucchini diced, 1/2 med onion diced, three or four medium campari tomatoes, chopped fine (use two medium romas if Camparis aren't available), four to six large mushrooms (portabellas preferable, white or brown acceptable -- I'm using white) and one large bulb of garlic, chopped finely:





Slice up the sausage and pan-fry it in a little olive oil. In a medium saucepan, mix your tomato sauce, onion, diced tomato, chopped garlic, diced zucchini, along with plenty of oregano, some Italian seasoning, and some basil (be very careful, basil is a powerful flavor), and garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce, and bring to a covered simmer for about 30 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste while you're doing this. Once the sausage is browned, add it to the sauce and simmer for another 30 minutes:



Soak some lasagna pasta for 30-45 minutes while you're doing some of those steps.

Once your sauce is done, you start building your casserole in a pan with a light coat of olive oil. Lay down a thin layer of sauce first, and then a bed of pasta:



Beat the eggs into the ricotta cheese (helps spreadability). Spread your ricotta directly onto the pasta, and then your pepper rings, mushrooms, and grated cheese:




... and repeat the process until you've topped out your casserole pan:



Now you get to pop it into the oven for 45 minutes at 375°F, and relax a little. When it's done:



It's time-consuming, but worth it, and makes a good break from traditional holiday fare.