from the archives
ingredients
When I was about 10, in the year 1981, I went through a huge
cutting-things-out-of-the-newspaper phase, and this recipe is one of the
survivors from that period. I clipped this, along with several other recipes
long-since forgotten, from the San Francisco Chronicle, and carefully taped it
into my recipe book, where it has remained these 33 years. And I’ve actually
made this recipe several times, so my labors were not in vain, it would seem.
Go, 10 year-old me with my scissors and tape and obsessions!
making the sauce
The reason lasagne is so easy is that you just make pasta
sauce, build layers of cheese, noodles and sauce, and then bake. I consider it
one of those all-purpose meals in that you can make what you like of it, and
there are endless variations. Often I make it without meat, which is still
tasty and filling. (Throw almost any vegetables in: mushrooms, peppers,
spinach, corn… you name it.) Once, however, I made it without cheese: a sad,
soupy affair. Not recommended.
building layers
My adaptation of this recipe is such that I use fresh herbs
when I have them, and instead of the cottage cheese and mozzarella, I just use
ricotta. I also top it with grated parmesan before baking, because: cheese. Finally,
I am now using the noodles which don’t require pre-cooking. (Imagine! No
fighting with noodles that rip in half as you try to un-stick them from
each-other, like devil mating octopi!) I had a real hard time accepting those
noodles at first - yes, I’m suspicious. You mean you literally just pull them
from the box and place them in the baking dish? Raw? And they work! Hallelujah.
optional: sprinkle grated parmesan on top before baking (= yum)
Golden Gate Lasagne
Ingredients:
½ pound ground beef
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
¼ tsp ground pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp dried basil
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
1 can (8 oz) stewed tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
½ 10-oz package lasagna noodles
¾ cup cottage cheese
¾ cup grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Brown the beef. Stir in the garlic, onion, pepper, oregano,
basil, parsley stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles as package directs until tender,
about 15 minutes. Drain.
Place a third of the noodles in an 8-inch loaf pan. Layer
with the beef sauce, cottage cheese and mozzarella. Repeat, making two more
layers.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until hot and
bubbly.
Serves 2 or 3
