Cathy Lowe Chef Recipes

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the soup and cream and bring to a simmer. Add the Cheddar and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the green beans and toss to coat.
• Butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish, spoon in the green bean mixture and top with the fried onions. Bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

SUPER CHEESY HOMETOWN LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the meat sauce: In a stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the beef (do not brown first), tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic salt, bay leaves and onion. Add 2 cups water. Mix until combined. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir in the vinegar and simmer for another 30 minutes.
• For the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl combine the ricotta, basil, parsley, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, if using, and egg and stir until well blended.
• Spread 2 cups meat sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place 4 noodles over the sauce-it is okay if they overlap slightly. Dollop 2/3 cup of the ricotta mixture on the noodles, then spread it in an even layer. Top the ricotta with 4 slices ham, then 4 slices provolone. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella over the provolone. Repeat the layering-sauce, noodles, ricotta, ham, provolone, mozzarella-twice more. Top with another layer of noodles, then the Parmesan and the remaining mozzarella.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake until the dish is bubbling and the noodles are cooked (you can test by poking with a sharp knife to make sure the noodles are soft), about 50 minutes. Remove the foil and return to the oven until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, another 10 to 15 minutes. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes, then serve warm.

CATHY'S BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan, or two 7x3 inch loaf pans.
• Combine banana and sour cream. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and banana mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; stir into the banana mixture. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan or pans.
• Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.