Learning from Lasagna

Its been awhile, I know. But that's what happens in families. Kids get sick, teething, soccer practice, and all the sudden weeks have gone by and you didn't even notice. But in the chaos we call parenthood, I did manage to get some good food on the table.

Here is a great lasagna to learn with....

Learning Lasagna
1 package no-cook lasagna noodles
1 package italian blend shredded cheese (or 2 cups grated mozerella)
2-3 cups tomato sauce (see recipe below or use store-bought)
2 portions of lasagna fillings (see below)

Heat oven to 350F. Prepare sauce and fillings as desired. Coat bottom of 9x9 pan with sauce. Add one layer of noodles (about 3 noodles--you will probably have to break them up to fit). Cover with sauce. Add one layer of filling. Add layer of noodles. Cover with sauce. Cover with layer of shredded cheese. Add another layer of filling. Add layer of noodles. Cover with sauce. Cover with remaining shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Take foil off and bake additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool 15 minutes.

(This freezes well. Line the pan with two layers of foil, then assemble. Cover with foil. Freeze in pan. Once frozen, take out of pan and wrap with plastic wrap. You can bake from frozen, add 20 minutes).

Lasagna Fillings

1. Mix one small container of ricotta cheese with one clove finely minced garlic, 1/4 tsp basil, salt and pepper. (You can also add one package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained well).

2. Brown 1 lb. ground beef or italian sausage. Drain excess fat. Add one cup tomato sauce.

3. Sautee fresh veggies in pan with garlic and basil. You want about 1-2 cups when finished. I suggest mushrooms, zuchinni, carrots, spinach, peppers, or any mix (leftover veggies work well too!). Add one cup tomato sauce.

4. Grill or sautee one eggplant--sliced thin.

Easy Tomato Sauce
(its better and WAY cheaper than jarred sauce)
1 large can crushed tomatoes or about 5-10 fresh tomatoes, chopped and seeded
1 medium onion, chopped
at least 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried basil or a bunch of fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
(you can also pump up the veggie in-take by adding 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped ribs celery, 1 chopped bell pepper, or fresh or frozen spinach)

Heat a medium pot on high. Add olive oil, onions (and any other veggies except spinach), and garlic. Sautee for five minutes. Add basil, tomatoes, and salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer ten minutes. (Add spinach at end).
*I sometimes puree the sauce--to hide the veggies.

What the Kids Can Do!

*Select fillings (one kid can pick one, another can pick another)

*Break noodles into 1/2 Can you make this noodle into 2? This piece is called 1 half. How many halves do you have now?

*Count noodles

*Measure ingredients Let's scoop 1 cup of sauce into pan.

*Spread sauce and cheese

*Help make the pattern of the lasagne Sauce, noodles, filling...what comes next?

*Cut veggies (older children only!)

*Put foil on top

*Measure different pans to select right one

*Identify shapes for right pan We need a square pan, which of these is square?

*Count corners on pan How many corners are on this pan? We need one with 4 corners.

*Grate cheese (older children only!)

*Identify colors of food What color is the tomato sauce? How about this noodle?

*Taste different ingredients Do you like that taste? Does it taste sweet or sour?

*Mix sauce or fillings

*Read recipe Identify title, words, sentences, number, fractions, symbols.