Yesterday was a trying day. So, in search of comfort I made comfort food. There is something about making lasagna that makes me so keenly aware of how much I love being in the kitchen. Maybe it’s the redundant process of layering? Or the fact that as I layer the not so synced placement of the food draws to me, a closet OCDer. Whatever the cause of contentment the need for comfort was all I needed.

No Boil Lasagna. I don’t even think that’s really what it’s called but in either case I don’t boil the noodles. I don’t know where I learned that trick from, I want to say it was from my hanai family but who knows.  The trick with the no boil though is you need it cheesy and saucy enough to soften the noodles. That’s where the layering is important.

Cook the hamburger good. Like when I say good I mean good. It’s odd that I can eat a medium steak but I refuse to eat a hamburger cooked anything but well done. I once had E. Coli and I will vehemently tell you that crap is bat sh*t crazy. Okay, so I’ve been sicker with the swine flu but I don’t want E. Coli ever again. Ever. Never. Ever. So, all of that to say, I cook the ground beef pretty darn well. When I add the sauce I also add a half bottle of wine. Trust me. It adds flavor and gives it a little more liquid. It’s definitely needed for no boil.

I don’t know if spinach is really a thing with lasagna but it is in my husband’s family and now I can’t do lasagna without. Mixed with the feta cheese it’s to die for. Again, trust me, will ya?

When you first start layering drop some tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan. If you are really doing the no bake you CAN’T miss this step. Add some tomato sauce and sprinkle some Italian Seasoning. You can’t go wrong with Italian Seasoning so go for the gusto. I love my Italian Seasoning and it has never made anything off. Place the noodles over the sauce. Then the meat sauce. Then the feta and spinach mix. Then the cheese. Repeat over and over until your pan is fill.

Your house will smell amazing when you have it cooking. And the hubster will adore you when it’s cooked. At least mine does. He never waits to dish him a piece – even if it was just taken out of the oven seconds ago. Even if the cheese hasn’t set and everything is falling apart. He doesn’t care. It’s his entertainment. Bless his fatso heart.

So, here’s my favorite dish to make for my favorite person. This is also great with a homemade strawberry milkshake. xoxo

No Boil Lasagna

Ingredients: 

1 lb hamburger
Half bush spinach, torn to pieces
1 small container feta cheese
Mozzarella and cheddar cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 medium onion, diced
2 tablespoons garlic cloves, diced
Italian Seasoning
Wine
Box Lasagna noodles
Tomato Sauce

Directions:

  1. Cook ground hamburger half way, then add garlic, onions and italian seasoning to taste. Continue to cook until fully done.
  2. In a medium bowl combine feta cheese and spinach
  3. Preheat over at 325º F.
  4. Add jar of spaghetti sauce and half jar of wine to hamburger mix. Let cook for 5-10 minutes.
  5. In a baking dish, spoon half of the tomato sauce onto bottom of pan. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning.
  6. Start to layer: add noodles.
  7. Add blotches of feta/spinach mix.
  8. Add blotches of meat mix.
  9. Add a layer of cheese.
  10. Repeat steps 6-9.
  11. Last layer: before cheese, pour rest of tomato sauce. Try to hit the edges of the pan as the meat sauce and cheese will keep the noodles moist in the middle.
  12. Drench with cheese. 🙂
  13. Enjoy