Pioneer Woman's Lasagna


I don't know how many of you have the Pioneer Woman Cooks new cookbook, but I can tell you that it is as fantastic as her website is. I've been visiting her blog for close to 2 years now and her recipes have never let me down. I am thrilled to have her book and I just wish she would come to Virginia to do a book signing. Yes, I would wait in line to meet her and I wouldn't wait in line for just anyone....believe me! This lasagna is excellent! I had been been making a different one for several years that I found at allrecipes that is very good but uses so many ingredients. You know those recipes that have about 30 ingredients in them....some ingredients you will never use again? Well, this one is just as good, if not better, with way less ingredients. It even uses cottage cheese instead of ricotta (I am Italian myself and at first had a "hard" time with this), but it doesn't take anything away from how good this is. Please do yourself a favor and make this! It's kid friendly too, at least in this house!


Hey, I wanted to tell you that I am now wireless....a big deal for me. I have a laptop and don't like to venture too much into using it in different ways so I always just used the broadband. I finally decided to try to set up a wireless connection...OMG....You are dealing with a person that has no patience and doesn't understand hardly any computer lingo. Well, it just so happens that my son (yes, my 10 year old son) has a 12 year old friend who is just a whiz at this type of thing. I'll let you guess the rest......but I am wireless!!! Yipee!!!!


Pioneer Woman's Lasgana


1 tablespoon olive oil

salt

10 ounces lasagna noodles

1 pound mozzarella cheese

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 pound hot breakfast sausage (I used Bob Evan's regular breakfast sausage and removed the casings)

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 14.5 ounce cans whole tomatoes

2 6 ounce cans tomato paste

freshly ground black pepper

10 to 12 basil leaves

1/4 cup finely chopped flat parsley

3 cups low fat cottage cheese

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the olive oil and a dash of salt. Cook the lasagna

noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles and lay them flat on a piece of aluminum foil.


Grate the mozzarella cheese and set aside. In a large skillet over medium high heat , saute the hamburger, sausage and garlic until brown. Drain off excess fat. Add the tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir together well. Simmer over low heat uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.


Cut basil into chiffonade by stacking leaves on top of one another and rolling them tightly, then cutting across. Finely chop the parsley. Add half the herbs to the meat mixture and stir together.


In a medium bowl combine the cottage cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese and the other half of the herbs. Stir together well.


To Assemble: Begin by laying 4 lasagna noodles in the bottom of a deep rectangular baking pan. The noodles should overlap. (I used no bake noodles and followed the instructions on the box regarding assembling the lasagna...this will differ from what is written in Pioneer Woman's directions for assembly so make sure to follow instructions on the box as written for no bake noodles).


Spoon cottage cheese mixture onto the noodles. Spread to distribute evenly. Sprinkle half the mozzarella on top of the cottage cheese mixture. Spoon just enough of the meat mixture on top of the mozzarella. Spread evenly, being careful not to distrupt the layers below. Now repeat the process, beginnning with a layer of the lasagna noodles followed by the cottage cheese mixture followed by the mozzarella mixture and ending with a thick layer of the meat mixture. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over the top and bake for 35 to 45 minutes until lasagna is hot and bubbly. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Comments

Heather S-G said…
Oh, I want her book so bad!! I'm glad to hear that you like it. This lasagna sounds amazing. Of course :D
George Gaston said…
Debbie... going from Pioneer Woman's Lasgana to wireless broadband; we are living in a multi-cultural world, aren't we! Now you can stir, chop, surf and search all from your kitchen counter! I like your style...
Kathleen said…
This sounds great! I just started reading Pioneer Women. Glad to hear the recommendation on her book!
Pam said…
I love PW - can't wait to get her new cookbook. The lasagna looks terrific.
Nutmeg Nanny said…
What a delicious lasagna! I do not have her book but I want it really bad! There were a few giveaways going around but I was not lucky enough to score a book. I guess I will just have to work it into my budget and buy her book :)
Donna-FFW said…
Her lasagna intrigues me with the cottage cheese, It looks lovely Debbie. I have her book also, and am enjoying it.
Monica H said…
This looks tasty. I've never followed a recipe for lasagna- I've always just layered in whatever looked good :-)
Coleens Recipes said…
I love lasagna and this looks excellent. I've seen several bloggers singing the praise of Pioneer Woman, guess I'll have to look for the cookbook.
Joanne said…
Woohoo congrats on being wireless! Isn't it convenient?

i just ordered this cookbook after hearing such good things about it and falling in love with Ree's blog. This lasagna look perfect!
Amanda said…
Sounds fabulous Deb! I'm going to the Chicago book signing tomorrow. It's not till 7:30 at night, so I have a feeling I am not going to get home till REALLY late, and it's an hour from home!
ann low said…
To show my appreciation for your support, please pick the Award from my place.
Cassie said…
I'm still waiting on her book. My husband SAYS he's going to get it for me, but it has not appeared yet. I'm about to just order it myself online!

The lasagna looks amazing! It sounds simple and delicious. I probably won't be trying it, though, because my husband hates cottage cheese and I'd never be able to eat a whole pan by myself. Can you taste the difference between the cottage cheese and the ricotta?
the lasagna looks fantastic and congrats on going wireless!
Reeni said…
It's so hard for me to get away from the traditional ricotta. But I totally trust you when you say it works for this. And I bet it saves a lot of fat calories. Looks delicious! Yay for wireless!
teresa said…
that is one dang good looking lasagna. everytime i go to the bookstore i hold her book in my hands for about five minutes trying to decide if i should get it or not. i think next time i just need to do it!
Ingrid_3Bs said…
That cookbook is on my list for er, Santa!

She's not coming to FL either! :(
~ingrid
Mary Bergfeld said…
The lasagna looks simply delicious. I'll be trying this version next time we have lasagna.
Emily said…
YUM. This looks incredible! We always used cottage cheese in our lasagna when I was growing up. I wonder if it's south/midwest thing? I'm not sure.

Congrats on going wireless! You'll love it.
Jennifer said…
Hurray for you, wireless rocks! I also put cottage chhees in my lasagna, maybe she stole that idea from me, LOL!
Kerstin said…
What a hearty and delicious lasagna - yum! And yay for wireless, my parents just converted too!
The Blonde Duck said…
I asked for her cookbook for Christmas. I'm totally making this now!!
Katy ~ said…
Debbie, you totally crack me up, but I understand what you mean all TOO well and then some.

The PW cookbook sounds like the must-have cookbook of the season. I'm going to have to look for it.

I've always been reluctant to try lasagna made with cottage cheese, but if YOU say it's good, then this is on my to-do list.
Bunny said…
I need to get this book! It looks delicious! I have a laptop too and need to figure out how to go wireless too!
Anonymous said…
To be honest, I have not heard about the Pioneer Woman until I went to the Foodbuzz Fest! I must have had my head buried in the sand not to have heard of this culinary goddess until now!
La Bella Cooks said…
I really have been enjoying the PW cookbook and am glad to see people trying out her stuff lately. I will have to give this one a go as well. Have you tried her Olive Bread? Oh my, its heavenly.
Velva said…
Congrats on being wireless! Anytime, I have a computer question it's my 12 year old that I am asking.
This Pioneer Woman recipe looks great.
Julie said…
Hooray for smart 12 year olds! I think her lasagna was the first recipe I ever stumbled across..although never made it. Yours looks super.
Lot-O-Choc said…
Mmmmm wow this looks so so tasty!! Yum, I love lasagne. Num Num!!
Barbara Bakes said…
I am hoping to be wireless soon! The lasagna sounds wonderful! I have her book, but haven't baked from it yet. This would be a good one to start with.
Cate O'Malley said…
I have her cookbook, but haven't made anything from it yet. Sounds like this lasagna might be the perfect place to start. Thanks for the review!
Chibog in Chief said…
This is defnitely one of my favorite pasta dishes!! Gorgeous!
Your lasagna looks quite perfect and delicious! I've not made it with cottage cheese, but why wouldn't it work!
Anshika said…
Debbie absolutely ravishing cookies you have made. Loved them !!