October 7, 2013

urra! (chinet giveaway numero tre)

Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and this dish is delicious proof of that.


I'm sure we all have foods that we ate as a child that bring back great memories or just make us feel warm and fuzzy inside to eat again. Many times, no other rendition of a dish can even compare to the way it was made by dear, sweet Madre. Other interpretations can still be delicious, of course, and maybe of even higher quality, but that wave of nostalgia is stronger than all that.

This recipe for lasagna is almost exactly how my mom made it when my brothers and I were growing up. It's irrefutably basic and frill-free, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that no lasagna I've eaten, whether at fancy restaurants or in the homes of others, tastes as good to me. I'll go ahead and share the recipe with you, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's nowhere near as good as your version (or your mom's)(or dad's!) is to you.


Incidentally, a half recipe of this lasagna fit perfectly into my 8x8-inch piece of Chinet Bakeware®, and I'm sure the 9x13-inch piece would've been ideal for the full recipe. As I've come to expect by now, the pan worked perfectly, and boy, was it satisfying to simply toss it into the trash when all the lasagna was consumed. In my experience, lasagna can contribute to some of the worst stuck-on goo in the world.

If you want a chance to try this useful Chinet Bakeware® out for yourself, leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite pasta-sauce combination. If your comment is randomly picked, you'll win a full set of pans! I'll leave the comments open for a week and close them next Monday, October 14th. Good luck!

Classic(ish) Carne Lasagne
(double for 9x13-inch pan)
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 box oven ready lasagna (such as Barilla)
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/2 batch spaghetti sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Prepare the spaghetti sauce; it can be warm or cold when the lasagna is assembled.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan (Chinet has one!) with non-stick spray.
Place a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan then cover it with two noodles. Spread some more sauce on top of the noodles, then spread out some cottage cheese on top of that. Repeat layers until you run out of room or ingredients. Make sure you have sauce on top covering all of the noodles so they don't get hard in the oven. Sprinkle the cheeses evenly over the top. Spray a piece of foil with non-stick spray and cover the pan with it, spray side down (so the cheese doesn't stick).
Bake 35-45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the lasagna is bubbly. Let the lasagna set for about 10 minutes before digging in.


Disclosure: While Chinet did provide me with a stipend and their terrific bakeware free of charge, the opinions in this post are all mine. I might be bribed, but I wasn't in this case.

28 comments:

  1. Interesting to use cottage cheese, I love lasagne.

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  2. A wonderful lasagna! I've never used cottage cheese in this dish... Original.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. My mom's meatloaf is the same for me... nothing beats it.

    The lasagna looks simple and tasty. I've never tried making it with cottage cheese. I'll have to give it a try.

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  4. My mom uses cottage cheese in her lasagna, too! My favorite pasta and sauce combo would have to be a classic spaghetti and red sauce.

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  5. I love the use of cottage cheese, how brilliant! :)

    My fav pasta/sauce combo would be a tie.
    I love orecchiette with spicy clam sauce, but I also adore homemade beet and ricotta raviolis with a brown-butter sage sauce.

    Great....now I'm HUNGRY! ;-)

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  6. My pasta sauce combination would be shells, spaghetti sauce with meats and ricotta cheese.

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  7. I love sun dried tomato Alfredo with everything to pasta with broccoli or just plain green beans

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  8. I love angel hair pasta with rich Alfredo sauce anytime!
    Blessienelson(at)gmail.com

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  9. Tonight, I went simple. Cellentani with a cheese sauce. You have me wondering about my mom's lasagna, is the nostalgic part the reason why I am never satisfied with what I make? I have to find out my mom's recipe, or I will try yours!

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  10. you are so right about comfort foods and childhood memories,any other way it never tastes the same...this lasagna is amazing in its flavors and is definitely our new comfort food,looks yummm :-)

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  11. OMG — these look incredibly delicious!

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  12. My favorite pasta-sauce combination is of coarse ravioli. But i would definitely make lasagna first just to see how good i'm with pasta!

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  13. I love lasagna too but if I am really wanting to splurge on calories & taste for me, it is gnocchi with a parmesan cream sauce. I do throw a little spinach in there to look healthy.
    scrappin_sis02 at yahoo dot com

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  14. Me encanta me encanta se ve irresistible su lasagna,abrazos.

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  15. I've yet to meet a baked spaghetti that I didn't love!

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  16. I adore mussels and spaghetti or fettucine..yummeee. Smoked salmon or fresh salmon is a must have too, I simmer the mussels in a white wine from Washington state where we live. The smoked salmon I use some white wine too or just reduced sodium chicken broth, it comes out delish, always fish or seafood in our pasta. I would love to win this contest, ciao mary jane s. from momanddad00@clear.net...Love your blog, read it daily and use your recipes!!!

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  17. shells filled w/ cheese and spinach

    fruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net

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  18. I love any kind of pasta with a cheese sauce! A runner-up would probably be stuffed shells.

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  19. Mom has always used cottage cheese in her lasagna. And it's always been my favorite. And my fave pasta dish is lobster ravioli in a vodka cream sauce. Would love some right now instead if the mac&cheese we're having instead.

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  20. I love lasagne. :) I also love just plain old spaghetti with meat (Italian sausage) sauce. Yum!

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  21. Nothing better than the recipes our moms made for us, Grace. This one looks delicious and easy to make. Love recipes like this.
    Favorite pasta sauce? Alfredo.
    (You should join Louise's Pasta Party!)

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  22. I am sure that these lasagna are the best you have ever eaten, because they carry in them all the family love and affection. I can safely say also that you will never, ever eat lasagna as tasty as these for the same reasons. I have very strong food memories from my childhood and I cherish them all. This is one fine dish Grace!

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  23. There's nothing like a childhood favorite! That looks like a delicious stack of pasta, sauce, and cheese.

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  24. Lasagna is the essential comfort food :) this looks incredible!

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  25. lasagna and my homemade tomato sauce
    mrsrodjac at hotmail dot com

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  26. I like puttanesca sauce with tomatoes, black olives, capers, garlic and a bit of anchovy paste (shhhh)!

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  27. I have an unhealthy love of pasta with butter sauce or alfredo. I may need treatment :)

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