Deliciously Simple Lasagne
This is one of the crazy weeks for me when I simply don't have a lot of time. The list is long.
Early yesterday morning, I decided to make a lasagne right away. I needed to get dinner checked off the list. The lasagne needed to be assembled in minutes so boiling and drying the noodles before assembly was out of the question. Hence, I reached for the Barilla no-boil lasagne noodles sitting on the shelf in the pantry!
These noodles are an amazing time saver and yesterday they pulled through once again. Within just a few minutes, I assembled a large savory lasagne, covered it with nonstick foil, and set it aside for dinner. (The recipe on the back of the box is a great guide that I have used numerous times.)
When I got home late in the afternoon, I turned on the oven and shoved the lasagne into the oven on baking sheet. I raced out to the post office, the bank, Sears, and the grocery store and then came home to a big bubbly casserole. Served with some garlic bread and a big Caesar salad, dinner was exceptionally convenient, affordable, and tasty last night.
So, if you think lasagne is too difficult or time consuming to make, think again. Head for the pasta aisle at your grocery store and reach for a box of no-boil lasagne noodles. They are, indeed, something to be thankful for!
--Melissa A. Trainer
Bill on February 02, 2012 at 08:31 AM
Lasagna has to be one of my favorite Italian dishes. However, you are right in that most people assume it is a time-consuming and difficult dish to prepare. I am going to try this dish sometime soon. Thanks for the post.
Bill Graze
http://socialgraze.com
Mike on February 02, 2012 at 04:07 PM
Have made lasagna for years and NEVER pre-cooked / boiled the noodles first. Just use plain old lasagna noodles all the time. What is so special about no-boil noodles?
Donna C on February 03, 2012 at 05:31 AM
Mike is right! Just make sure to add extra liquid to the sauce and cover the pan during the first 30 minutes or so of baking! You have to compensate for the water the noodles would absorb if you were pre-boiling them. Oh, and make sure the top layer of noodles is completely cover with sauce so you don't wind up with little raw, crunchy corners sticking up above the sauce!
Ricka Doerr on February 03, 2012 at 06:17 AM
I used the no boil lasagne noodles and didn't feel they had the same taste as the regular noodles.
Marcella Hazan on February 03, 2012 at 07:13 AM
What a dismal, discouraging post, Melissa. There are scores of delicious dishes that one can make in a short time, but lasagne is not one of them. It is one of the most satisfying, and elegant dishes produced in any of the world's cuisines, and admits of no shortcuts. Why not wait until you have the time to make it right? There was a piece in the NYTimes about the owner of a brewery in Brooklyn who makes it on Sunday, faithfully following my recipe. Moreover, I understand the commercial thrust of this blog, but why choose to promote such a mediocre product as Barilla pasta?
Melissa Trainer on February 03, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Marcella,
Thank you, as always, for your feedback! I do, however, have to stand by my decision to recommend Barilla, which by the way is a product of Italy as stated on the box.
I think it's an excellent product and I like the way it performs in my home kitchen. Indeed, I spend a lot of time cooking on Sundays but lately our American economny has forced me to work longer and harder. This means that I'm writing articles and running my own biz as well as helping my husband run his. In addition to this, I strive to help my teenagers stay on honor roll, which considering the state of our educational system is no easy task.
So, I do believe that Barilla No Boil lasagne has a role in life...my life at least but maybe not others. That lasagne was very good on Wednesday and it was head and shoulders above any nasty and expensive take out meal that I could have ordered from a local joint.
Be well! And, again, we do enjoy your feedback, Marcella.
Missy Trainer
www.melissatrainer.com
Erin kate on February 03, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Awesome Recipe! I can't wait to try this. :)
Mr. Bingley on February 06, 2012 at 04:24 AM
I never precook the lasagna noodles; as was noted above if you have a sauce that is just a little more liquid then the noodles cook perfectly...and nicely absorb the flavors of the sauce as a bonus.
The Barilla boxes say "Italy's Favorite" or some such but the Barilla sold here is 99.99999% made here; they have two big factories in the US.
And Marcella Hazan is as close to the Divine as we mortals will ever come whilst still enveloped in this Earthly shroud.
Michelle M. on February 11, 2012 at 07:57 AM
Perhaps because I have had the pleasure of eating many of the dishes prepared by Melissa Trainer that I am compelled to respond to Marcella's post. Despite her hectic schedule, Melissa always strives to provide delicious foods to her family. She is a perfect example of how we busy moms can offer our families good food without spending excessive time in the kitchen. I see her use of the no-cook pasta as part of time management.
As freelancer, wife of a spouse deployed to Afghanistan, and a mother to five children all still living at home, I applaud Melissa's use of the no-cook pasta. Getting a fresh, home-prepared meal on the table these days is no easy task. And the alternative is take-out or frozen alternatives that are tasteless and full of a variety of preservatives among other things. The no-cook pasta buys me a little time in the prep stages and offers me the helping hand I need daily to ensure my family eats well.
Simply stated, a full life with a large family often dictates the use of shortcuts in the kitchen. That's just reality.
Using a short cut in the kitchen doesn't have to mean a sacrifice in the taste or integrity of the dish.
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Allie on February 16, 2012 at 05:00 PM
I have to agree with Marcella Hazan - the quality of the pasta makes a huge difference in the taste and texture of a dish, and no-boil lasagne noodles just don't have the same taste or texture. Using good quality noodles is important, and it really doesn't take that long to boil them before making the lasagne. I'd rather spend a few extra minutes than create an inferior dish. I also feel that if most people look at what they spend their time on, they realize they could spend a little more time on important things if they prioritize.