Lasagna

For the meat
1 1/2 red onions, chopped
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
1 tablespoon basil, dried
1 tablespoon oregano, dried
2 1/2 pounds ground beef
6 ounces tomato paste

For the red sauce
3/4 red onion, chopped
1 clove fresh garlic, chopped
3/4 tablespoon anise seed
1/2 tablespoon red chili
1/2 cup red wine
4 ounces V-8 juice
2/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
3/8 cup fresh oregano, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
8 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons sugar

For the cheese filling
16 ounces ricotta cheese
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 clove fresh garlic, minced
1/4 tablespoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 cup spinach, chopped

For the noodles
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lasagna noodles



For the lasagna
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

For the meat: Saute onions, garlic, basil and oregano until onions are translucent. Add beef, cook until done. Add tomato paste.

For the sauce: Saute red onion, garlic, anise and red chili. Add wine, V-8, basil, oregano, red wine vinegar, crushed tomatoes and sugar. Simmer 30 minutes.

For the filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, garlic, pepper, salt, egg yolks, basil and spinach. Mix well.

For the noodles: Add salt and olive oil to a large pot of water. Bring water to a boil; add lasagna noodles. Cook until tender, but still al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.

To assemble lasagna: Place a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 13- by 9-inch pan. Add a layer of noodles, slightly overlapping them. With a spatula, add a layer of cheese mixture, then a layer of meat mixture, followed with a layer of sauce. Place a layer of mozzarella cheese slices on top of the red sauce. Repeat the layering process until pan is full, finishing with a layer of red sauce topped with mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove cover and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is golden brown.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Vegetable Lasagna

1/2 C. butter

6 T. flour

4 C. milk

1 t. salt

Melt butter in saucepan, add flour, salt and blend. Whisk in milk and cook until thick. Set aside to cool.

1 bunch broccoli

1/2 of a large Cauliflower

1/2 C. red roasted pepper diced

10 oz. frozen chopped spinach

1/2 C. minced green onion

1 C. frozen peas

Blanch broccoli and cauliflower. Run cold water over to stop the cooking. Drain well. Cut into small pieces.

Defrost chopped spinach. Drain and squeeze dry.

Add prepared vegetables to cream sauce. Make sure the vegetables are as dry as you can get them or they will dilute the cream sauce. Mix vegetables and cream sauce.

Add 1 C. Parmesan Cheese.

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 t. basil

16 oz. carton small curd cottage cheese

2 eggs beaten

Your filling is now ready.

1 large package Lasagna Noodles

Chinese Chicken Pizza

2 boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/4 cup cornmeal or flour
4-inch ball of pizza dough, room temperature
1/4 cup hoisin sauce (in grocery's Asian section)
4 green onions, sliced
Up to 2/3 cup cilantro leaves (not stems)
1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced paper-thin
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Milled pepper

Brush skinless chicken with olive oil and season with salt, pepper. Grill 10-15 minutes, direct heat, turning once. Cool and cut into strips.

Sprinkle work surface with cornmeal or flour. Roll out dough from center to a 12-inch circle or rectangle, 1/4-inch thick. Brush both sides with olive oil and place in center of heated grill's cooking grid.
Grill over medium direct heat 2 to 4 minutes, until bottom of crust is well marked and browned. Remove from grill and spread hoisin sauce evenly over cooked side of crust.
Sprinkle with chicken, green onions, cilantro, sprouts and red pepper. Top with cheese. If using a gas grill, switch to indirect heat.
Return pizza to center of cooking grate and grill with lid closed until bottom is browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from grill, shower with pepper and slice to serve hot.

Makes one 12-inch pizza.

Broccoli and Beef Pasta

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14-oz.) beef broth
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 cup uncooked rotini pasta
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 can (15 oz.) Italian-style tomatoes, with juice (do not drain)
2 cups broccoli florets or 1 package (10 oz.) frozen broccoli, thawed
3 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese or grated Parmesan cheese

Combine meat & garlic in large nonstick skillet; cook over high heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking apart with wooden spoon. Pour off drippings. Place meat in large bowl; set aside.

Add broth, onion, pasta, basil, oregano & thyme to skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high & and boil 10 minutes; add tomatoes with juice. Increase heat to high & bring to a boil; stir in broccoli. Cook, uncovered, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is crisp-tender & pasta is tender. Return meat to skillet & stir 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through.

With slotted spoon, transfer to serving platter. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover with lid or tent with foil several minutes, until cheese melts.

Meanwhile, bring liquid left in skillet to a boil over high heat. Boil until thick & reduced to 3 to 4 Tblsp. Spoon over pasta.

Risotto Verde

1 large Imperial, Vidalia or other sweet onion, peeled and chopped (about 2-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, crushed through a press
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup arborio rice, dry
1 cup frozen chopped spinach
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dry white table wine, such as chardonnay
2 (14.5-ounce) cans vegetable broth, heated
6 spears of fresh asparagus, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves or fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and olive oil together over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until onions are transparent and soft. Stir in the arborio rice, spinach and salt; cook for 1 minute. Stir in the wine and bring to a boil.

Cook, stirring frequently, until the wine is absorbed into the rice. Stir in the vegetable broth, one-half cup at a time, allowing the broth to be absorbed before adding more broth. Adjust the heat so that the broth simmers but doesn't boil away.

When adding the last half-cup of broth, stir in the asparagus spears and cook until the broth has been absorbed and the asparagus is tender.

Stir in the tarragon or basil leaves and Parmesan cheese. Turn off heat and allow to stand 5 minutes or until ready to serve. Rice should be creamy and moist, not dry, when serving. If the rice stands too long, stir in a little milk to moisten.

Spaghetti and Meatsauce

1/2 lb. bacon

2 1/2 lbs. ground chuck

2 C. chopped onion

1 C. green pepper

6 lbs. 9 oz plum tomatoes (put in blender)

18 oz. tomato paste

1 1/2 C. red wine

1 1/2 C. water

4 t. oregano

4 t. basil

1 t. thyme

1/2 C. parsley

1 bay leaf

2 T. salt

1/4 C. brown sugar

In a 5-6 qt. pan, fry bacon until crisp. Set bacon aside and crumble. Brown ground beef in bacon fat. Add onions and green pepper and cook another 5 minutes. Add the rest of ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil. Add bacon bits. Cook 2 hours.

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Meatballs
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1 lb. lean ground beef (or veal)
1 egg
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh black pepper

Preheat oven to 400F. Finely chop onion and garlic and place in a mixing bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix by hand until well blended.

Roll into 1-inch balls (or larger, if you wish). Place meatballs onto a tray and bake in oven for 10 minutes, or until meatballs are browned. Makes about 20 meatballs.

Tomato sauce:
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 small onions, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 28 oz. cans plum tomatoes
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh black pepper
Bunch fresh basil, chopped

Heat olive oil in large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until lightly browned. Add crushed plum tomatoes, breaking tomatoes with back of wooden spoon. Add seasoning and bring to a boil.

Lower heat and simmer sauce for 20 minutes, adjusting salt and pepper, if required. Add browned meatballs to sauce and simmer additional 15 minutes. Serve with spaghetti or linguini.
Serves 8 to 10.