Baked Lasagna

There is a first time for everything, right?  So for my Mum's last night staying with me, I decided to try making lasagna.  Despite being rather time consuming, it was delicious!  It is a dish which seems to take several hands, so I would recommend making it with a friend, parent, or significant other.  I added a light side of summer salad with strawberries and blue cheese.

Ingredients lasagna

1 clove garlic, crushed
2 carrots, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
5 pieces dried lasagna pasta, halved
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/2 pound ground beef (we used 10% fat)
1 can tomatoes (plain or flavored)
Tomato ketchup (optional)
Squeeze lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Wash  and chop the vegetables.
2. Heat EVOO in frying pan on medium-high heat.  Fry vegetables, spices, and salt and pepper.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are soft.
3. Place vegetables on separate plate.  Place ground meat into frying pan from vegetables and cook until brown.  Add vegetables and can tomatoes. 
4. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 
5. Break lasagna pasta pieces in half and cook for 5 minutes in salted boiling water. 
6. While waiting for vegetables and pasta to cook, make white sauce.
7. In an 8x8 glass dish, pour half vegetable and meat mixture.  Cover with 5 pieces lasagna pasta.  Add half white sauce mixture.  Repeat process.
8. Bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes.
(recipe adapted from "A Passion for Pasta" by Reader's Digest)

Ingredients white sauce

1 oz butter or margarine
1 tbsp flour
1/2 pint mixed milk and water (half and half)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup cheese, shredded

Directions

1. Melt butter or margarine in small saucepan.
2. Add flour while stirring with wooden spoon. 
3. Cook for approx 1 minute on low heat and gradually add milk and water mixture.
4. Stir constantly.  Add beaten egg and cheese. 

Serves 4 people

TIPS

- The white sauce is made by the roux method.
- Imrpovise!  We did not have all the ingredients, so we used what we had available.  It was still delicious, and Mum tells me that's what cooking is all about!

Bon Appétit!