Wisconsin Lasagna Food

THE BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the beef in a large bowl and "pull" it apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and loosening the meat without compacting it.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a large bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Spread the beef in an even layer in the same pot and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps and scraping up any browned bits from the pot, until the meat is browned and completely cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the browned meat with a slotted spoon to the bowl with the pancetta, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, half the garlic, the bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it's very fragrant and brick red colored, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid is very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved pancetta and beef, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Add the basil and Parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce resembles sloppy joes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There shouldn't be any rapid bubbles while cooking. Instead, the ragu should release occasional small bubbles. If the ragu reduces too quickly, add 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking. Repeat if necessary. The ragu needs the full 2 to 2 1/2 hour cook time to develop the flavors.
• Discard the bay leaf, basil and Parmesan rind. Break up any remaining clumps of meat with the back of a spoon, making an even textured sauce. Season with salt and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally and separating them to prevent sticking, until softened and bendable but are still hard and chalky in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl of cold water and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Stir together the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Lightly oil a 13-by-9-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread 1 cup of the ragu evenly in the bottom of the pan. Lay a single layer of noodles over the ragu (if you're using long noodles, you will need to cut some noodles to fill the gaps). Spread 1 1/2 cups of the ragu over the noodles. Dollop 3/4 cup of the ricotta mixture over the ragu and spread lightly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, followed by another layer of noodles. Repeat with the remaining pasta, ragu, ricotta mixture and mozzarella, creating 4 layers of pasta and ending with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (The lasagna should come just above the top of the pan but it will sink down slightly as it cooks.) Top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Lightly oil a piece of foil and cover the pan. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake the lasagna until bubbling gently around the edges, about 1 hour.
• Remove the lasagna from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Remove the foil and then continue to bake the lasagna until the top is browned and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

WISCONSIN CHEESE GARDEN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter bottom of 9x13 pan.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute, 1 - 2 minutes.
• Add rest of vegetables; saute stirring fequently 4 - 5 mintues.
• Stir in herbs and vinegar; set aside.
• In a bowl, stir together Ricotta, 1/2 cup parmesan, egg, salt and pepper; set aside.
• Place a layer of noodles (4 pcs) on the bottom of prepared pan.
• Spread 1/2 of Ricotta mixture over noodles, top with 1/3 of vegetable mixture, 3/4 cup Mozzerella and 1/2 cup Provolone. Repeat.
• Last layers of noodles, remaining vegetable mixture, Mozzerella and Parmesan.
• Bake for 35 - 45 minutes. Let stand 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

WISCONSIN LASAGNA?

Steps:

• 1. Add cubed processed american cheese in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• 2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes.Drain noodles,and rinse with cold water.
• 3. In a medium mixing bowl,combine whipped cream cheese,ricotta cheese,egg,parsley,crushed sun-dried tomatoes and 1 cup parmesan cheese.Mix well.
• 4. To make Four Cheese Sauce:in a medium saucepan,combine heavy cream and margarine.Bring to a simmer over medium heat,stirring frequently.Gradually stir in shredded sharp cheddar, monterey jack cheese and mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese.Reduce heat to low,and continue to stir just until all cheese is melted.
• 5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• 6. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over american cheese cubes.Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.Spoon 1 1/2 cups cheese sauce over ricotta cheese mixture and sprinkle with shredded pepperjack cheese.Repeat layers,and top with crumbled blue cheese and remaining shredded parmesan cheese.Cover with foil.
• 7. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.Remove foil,and bake an additional 25 minutes.Cool for 15 minutes before serving.