Episode 01: Lasagna & Mini Meatballs

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil to sauté in the pan

Meatballs

• 1 lb. of 85% ground sirloin beef
• 1/2 cup of toasted white bread, torn in little chunks
• 1 extra large egg
• 1/4 cup of milk ( or a tablespoon more if needed)
• 2 tablespoons of minced white onion
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1/8 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1/4 red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon fresh minced parsley
• Big pinches of salt and pepper

Ricotta Filling

• 16 oz. of ricotta cheese.
• 1 egg.
• 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoons of minced parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt & pepper for each
• 1/2 lb. of sweet Italian turkey sausage turkey with the casings removed, cooked into tiny brown crumbles

 

Lasagna

• 1 lb. of lasagna noodles… you might use less
• 4 cups of your favorite marinara sauce or homemade
• 20 ounces of mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
• 8 oz. of buffalo mozzarella, equal slices, then halved
• 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Garnish:

• Chopped parsley, basil and parmesan.

Recipe Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375℉
2. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling , salted, drizzle of olive oil water until al dente. Drain, then lay individually on a damp paper towel. Set aside.

Bowl one: Meatballs

1. Place bread crumbs and bread bits , let soak for 3-10 min. Then spray the pan with a nonstick and heat the olive oil until hot while you… Add remaining ingredients except meat, then finally mix in the beef with your fingers, gently to incorporate, not over mixing.
2. Start scooping baby scoops of the meat mixture into the pan starting at the outer corners working for way towards the middle , working quickly to sauté until brown on all sides, eventually turning all of them over and then shaking the pan when they’ve hardened a bit.
3. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve on a paper towel or bowl.

Bowl 2: Ricotta Filling

1. Mix all ingredients until combined well. Set aside.
2. Pour your marinara sauce into a saucepan and add your COOKED crumbled turkey sausage. Stir and heat over low-med flame then turn off flame to not burn bottom. Keep ready on the stove for assembly.
3. Spray pan lightly with nonstick.

Assembly layer order

1. 1 big ladle of sauce
2. Noodles
3. ½ of the Ricotta mixture
4. ⅔ of the Shredded Mozz, ½ the buffalo mozzarella, ½ the grated parmesan.
5. ½ of the Meatballs in rows.
6. Sauce.
7. Noodles
8. ½  remaining ricotta
9. 2/3 of the shredded mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella , and the remaining parmesan
10. Remaining meatballs in rows
11. Sauce
12. Noodles
13. Sauce
14. Remaining shredded mozzarella (or more) and parmesan cheese (extra if you’d like)

Place in the preheated oven for  about 30-40 min (depending on your oven) and bake until bubbly, hot and lightly golden in areas on top. Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle more parmesan, garnish with chopped basil and parsley if you want! Let cool for 5 minutes, then dig in!!

Mixed Green Salad with Shaved Parmesan

• 8 cups of mixed greens
• 1/4 cup (or a little more if you want) of fresh shaved good quality parmesan cheese (not too think or thick- peeler or knife)
• 2 tablespoons of  thinly sliced red onion ( moon shapes)
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1 tablespoon (enough for a once-around drizzle) of red wine or champagne vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste