Kerry's Lasagna

This lasagna is good - A+ good. Dad makes homemade noodles to go in it which kicks it up a notch but I use store-bought ones and it's an "acceptable" substitute :) This is Garrisons all-time favorite, #1 requested meal. Chase hates lasagna in general but loves this one. For me, the fennel is a must but it can be left out if you don't care for the taste of fennel. I recommend making the french bread found HERE to go with this dish.

Kerry's Lasagna

1lb sweet Italian sausage
1lb lean ground beef
1 large white onion, minced
5 cloves garlic, crushed
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
12 oz tomato paste
15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 c chicken broth
2 tbs white sugar
1/2 c chopped fresh basil
1 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 c + 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 lb lasagna noodles (Dad makes homemade noodle. Find the recipe for his homemade noodles here)
30 oz cottage cheese
1 large egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 pound mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese

In a large pot over medium heat, add in ground sausage and ground beef. Use a spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. Add in onion and garlic and cook until meat is well browned, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar, fresh basil, fennel, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, place lasagna noodles into the bottom of a pan. Pour hot tap water directly over the noodles, making sure the pasta is completely immersed in the water. Let them soak for 30 minutes, then drain and discard water.

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and nutmeg. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a deep 9x13 pan.

To assemble, spread about 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Place 4 noodles on top. Spread with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/4 of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat layering two more times to create three complete layers. To finish, place a final layer of pasta, topped with another 1 cup of meat sauce to cover the pasta. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes to allow the cheese to brown. Serve hot.

Honey Butter by Elsie Thackeray

Ingredients:

1 c honey
1 c butter

Refrigerate honey, butter , mixing bowl and beater for at least 1 hour before mixing.  Beat ingredients until smooth.

Jarvis Chocolate Bundt Cake

A lady in our Lincolnton Church was famous for this cake.    ****Read secret****

Ingredients:
1 Betty Crocker Hersheys Milk Chocolate Cake Mix
1 small chocolate pudding mix
1/2 c water
1/2 c canola oil
1 c sour cream
4 eggs
2 large handfuls of semi sweet chocolate chips
  Mix together until smooth adding in chocolate chips last.

Bake at 350 in greased bundt pan.  53m-1 hr.  ****Secret is to  put hot cake directly into a covered tight cake server like  Tupperware and let sweat for 2 hours.

Pistachio Salad or Watergate Salad

Favorite of Dougs for Thanksgiving.  At my house it was called Watergate salad.  It is a pretty sweet salad.

Ingredients:

2 cans pineapple tidbits, drained
2 cans Mandarin oranges, drained
2 Packages Pistachio instant pudding, dry
 1 c  red grapes, sliced
 1/2  c. pecans, chopped
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 10-12 oz cool whip

Mis all ingredients together and chill until ready to serve.

North Carolina Baked Ziti

When I lived in Lincolnton, NC this was a favorite casserole to take to families for service opportunities.  So delicious.

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9X13

Ingredients:

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
2 cans spaghetti sauce
1lb. ziti pasta
1 1/2 c sour cream
 8 oz package of provolone slices
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 c parmesan cheese

1. Brown 1 lb of hamburger with some chopped onion.
Add 2 cans of spaghetti sauce.

2.  Boil 1 lb. of ziti pasta and drain

3. Layer:
1/2 cooked ziti
cover with provolone cheese slices
1 1/2 c sour cream
1/2 spagetti sauce
rest of ziti
cover with grated mozzarella cheese
rest of spaghetti sauce
top with Parmesan cheese

Bake 30 minutes

Meat Bean Potato Casserole

Meat Bean Potato Casserole

1 lb hamburger

1/4 c chopped onion

1 t garlic salt

1 can green beans

5-6 potatoes

1 can cream mushroom soup

1/4 c milk

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown hamburger with onion and garlic salt. Mix browned hamburger with green beans and put in the bottom of a 9x13. Peel and thinly sliced potatoes. Layer potatoes on top of bean/meat mixture. Mix milk and cream of mushroom soup together and spread it on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 45min-1hour until potatoes are fork tender. 

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken:
2 lbs or 6 breasts of chicken
Cut into bite-size pieces and saute.

Sauce:
Sauté in 2T butter until tender:
2 cloves garlic
1⁄2 inch fresh ginger grated or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 large onion

Blend:
sautéed ingredients 
1 T fresh lime or lemon juice
1⁄4 - 1⁄2 c chopped cilantro or to taste
2 t turmeric
1 T cumin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T Garam Masala
1- 6 oz can tomato paste
1 small can of tomatoes with chilis,  mild

Simmer in pan for 10 minutes.

Add 1 cup of cream (or half n' half).  and cooked chicken to sauce and simmer 15 to 20 min.

Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste.

Thicken as needed.

**Add 1⁄2 teaspoon of red pepper if you like hotter food.

Serve over basmati rice. If you like add fennel, peas and shaved carrots to the rice.

Sprinkle with fresh cilantro


Variation:  Butter chicken:  add 1/4 cup butter