Food Traditions

I have so many traditions with the holidays, and this year I wanted to do something special for my step-kids who do not live with us. I have been taught their dad's lasagna (he still checks every batch to make sure I am on track) and I froze one for each of the kids not living with us... well that got me thinking about the need to put it down on paper and so this is the start... I cannot give out the sauce part as that is the family secret (but I have passed it on to the kids)

Dad’s Lasagna (makes 2 pans)

Triple batch Mom Bronson’s pasta sauce (this is a meat sauce)

Large container Ricotta Cheese

2 lbs Mozzarella

1 can grated Parmesan (you might not need it all)

1 large box lasagna noodles

1 box chopped spinach (optional)

Cook noodles, drain and rinse with cold water (place in cold water so they do not stick, I use the pot)

Mix Ricotta and spinach

Place mozzarella in freezer for 45 min then grate (much easier to grate, you can use a food processor for this as size and shape does not matter so much)

Assembly:

Start with a about 1 cup of sauce in the bottom then a layer of noodles (most dishes take 3 across)

Top with ricotta mixture, grated mozzarella and some parmesan then more sauce (about 2-3 cups)

Repeat 2 more times on the top of the last sauce add more mozzarella and parmesan.

Cooking:

Heat in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 min – 1 hour, until the top is brown and the sauce bubbly (it is a good idea to place on a cookie sheet or line the oven when cooking)

If frozen allow to thaw as much as possible then add 30 min- 1 hour to cooking time if still frozen at all.    

At my house we always made gluten stakes for holidays (as growing up I did not eat meat) and I still love them. and we all had a little different way of making them but the memories of cooking with my mom are great!

I also have a wonderful cookie from my Ex mother in law (still love them, no ill feelings on my end) but I did not get to making that this year (I forgot until to late, as they need to sit for 6 weeks) sorry I do not have permission to pass that one on :) but I will say that I have given it to the my step-kids.

My step kids have also given some to me, they shared their grandmother's brownies (the best out there and simple!!!) and other traditions like having stew on Halloween (and their Grandmother's recipe for stew!) but again I do not share what I do not have permission to. What I did with those was make sure they are on the computer and I wish to make a book out of them for the kids at some point (even if I print it simple)