Kittencals Four Cheese Lasagna Recipes

KITTENCAL'S EASY LASAGNA

Steps:

• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
• In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion until no longer pink; drain fat.
• Add in garlic (if using) and continue to cook until the meat is slightly browned (about 8 minutes).
• Add in pasta sauce; bring to a simmer over medium heat stirring.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 40-45 minutes or even a little longer stirring occasionally, and seasoning with salt and pepper towards the end of cooking time (if you are making ahead cool to room temperature cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, heat the sauce on top of the stove or in the microwave until hot before using for the lasagna).
• Meanwhile in a bowl mix all the filling ingredients together until well combined (taste the mixture and if so desired you may add in more seasoned salt and black pepper to suit taste).
• TO ASSEMBLE; spread 1/3 meat sauce into the bottom of the dish, then place 3 uncooked noodles lengthwise on the sauce (if desired you may use another noodle at the end of the dish facing across but you will need to snap off a bit of the end to fit in the dish).
• Dollup then spread half the ricotta cheese mixture on top of the noodles leaving about 1-inch space from the edge of the dish (the cheese mixture does not have to cover the noodles completely).
• Repeat with 3 noodles, remaining cheese mixture, then 1/3 of the meat sauce.
• Top with remaining 3 noodles then remaining 1/3 meat sauce.
• Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top then 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Using a small spoon drizzle the water all around the edges of the pan at the same time slightly pushing the edges of the lasagna inwards to make room for the water.
• Place onto a baking sheet to prevent any spills (your pan will be very full).
• Set oven to 350 degrees F (oven rack set to bottom position).
• Cover tightly with a double layer of foil and bake for 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Allow to stand for 20 minutes before serving.

KITTENCAL'S FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Prepare this sauce a day ahead.
• For the MEAT SAUCE; in a large heavy pot cook the sausage meat with crushed chili flakes and onion until the meat is lightly browned breaking up the meat while cooking; drain any fat from the sausage meat.
• Add in garlic, basil and oregano; cook stirring for about 3 minutes.
• Add in tomato paste; cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.
• Add in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, 1 tablespoon salt, black pepper and 1 tablespoon sugar; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours stirring occasionally and adjusting the salt and sugar to taste.
• Cool sauce to room temperature and refrigerate overnight or up to 5 days.
• For the CHEESE FILLING; heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add in onion with dried Italian seasoning and saute until just lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes (adding in the fresh garlic after the last 2 minutes (do not brown the garlic).
• To the bowl add in ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, soft cream cheese, eggs, seasoned salt and black pepper; mix well to combine (at this point you may cover and refrigerate for 24 hours).
• In a large pot of boiling salted water cook the lasagna noodles until they are just al dente (do not over cook the noodles as they will cook more in the oven, cooking time for the noodles should be a little less time than stated on the box).
• Carefully remove the noodles then place into a large bowl of very cold water, shake off any excess water before layering in the dish.
• Grease a large pan with high sides or a lasagna pan.
• TO ASSEMBLE; spread about 2-1/2 to 3 cups meat sauce evenly to cover the bottom of the pan (I just use 2 ladles full it will depend on the size pan that you use).
• Over the meat sauce, going lengthwise down the dish arrange 6 noodles overlapping slightly, then place 2 noodles at the end of the dish going the other way cutting off one end to fit in the dish.
• Spread HALF of the ricotta mixture over the noodles (the ricotta does not have to cover completely, it will depend on how large your pan is).
• Top the ricotta with a THIRD of the mozzarella slices, then spoon about 3 cups sauce over the slices.
• Repeat the layers using 8 noodles, remaining HALF of ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese slices and 3 cups sauce on the top of the cheese slices (do not add on the remaining mozzarella cheese until the end of baking).
• If your pan is very full then I advise to place onto a large baking sheet to catch any spills.
• Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 1-1/2 hours or until the ricotta cheese mixture is set and firm and the lasagna is bubbling hot.
• Remove from oven and top with remaining mozzarella slices then 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; return to oven and bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and bubbly (about 8 minutes).
• For easier slicing allow the lasagna to sit for about at 30 minutes even more.

FOUR-CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Brown meat with onions in large skillet. Meanwhile, mix Neufchatel, cottage cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan and egg until blended.
• Drain meat; return to skillet. Stir in pasta sauce, tomatoes and oregano; simmer 5 min. Remove from heat. Spoon 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1 cup cheese mixture and 1 cup meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan; cover.
• Bake 50 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 40 min. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.

KITTENCAL'S SPINACH & FOUR-CHEESE MANICOTTI (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• In a skillet, saute onion (if using) in oil for about 4 minutes or until softened (adding in the garlic the last 2 minutes).
• In a mixing bowl combine the ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cup mozza cheese, cream cheese, 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning; beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and well combined.
• Season with white salt or seasoned salt and black pepper to taste.
• Stir in onion mixture and spinach; mix well to combine.
• Spoon into cooked and cooled manicotti shells.
• Pour half of the pasta sauce into the prepared baking dish.
• Arrange shells over sauce (at this point you may cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or continue with the recipe as follows).
• Top with the remaining sauce, use a spoon to spread the sauce over the shells (the sauce does not have to cover the shells completely).
• Sprinkle about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (or to taste) over the sauce.
• Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
• Uncover and top with mozzeralla cheese (any amount desired).
• Bake 5 mins longer, or until cheese is melted.
• Let stand 10 mins before serving.
• Note; If desired the spinach can be omitted completely.

FOUR-CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain. In a blender, process the tomatoes until smooth. Stir into beef mixture along with mushrooms, tomato paste and seasonings; simmer 15 minutes. , In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan, cheddar, 1/2 cup mozzarella and eggs. Spread 2 cups meat sauce in the bottom of an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Arrange half the noodles over sauce. Spread cheese mixture over noodles. Top with remaining noodles and sauce. , Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Return to the oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

PERFECT FOUR-CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef with onion and garlic over medium-high heat until browned, 5-7 minutes; drain. Stir in herbs and tomato sauce. In a bowl, mix eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese., Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; layer with 4 noodles, cottage cheese mixture, an additional 4 noodles and half the remaining meat sauce. Repeat last 2 layers. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and remaining mozzarella cheese., Cover with greased foil; bake until cheese is melted, 50-55 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked lasagna. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake lasagna as directed until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, increasing time to 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

EASY FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a blender or with an electric mixer, blend tomato sauce and cottage cheese together until smooth. Spoon a little of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Place a layer of cooked noodles over the sauce, and sprinkle a portion of the mozzarella, the cheddar and the parmesan over the noodles. Repeat layering of sauce, noodles and cheese; finish with a cheese layer.
• Bake in preheated oven 30 to 45 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.

FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• Add pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes (you want them to be slightly undercooked); drain.
• In a blender or with an electric mixer, blend tomato sauce and cottage cheese together until smooth.
• Spoon a little of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan or dish.
• Place a layer of cooked noodles over the sauce, and sprinkle a portion of the mozzarella, the cheddar and the Parmesan cheese over the noodles.
• Repeat layering of sauce, noodles and cheese; finish with a cheese layer.
• Top pan with foil and place in the freezer.
• When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight.
• Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden.