{"id":4095,"date":"2018-12-05T21:53:51","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T02:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=4095"},"modified":"2018-12-05T21:53:51","modified_gmt":"2018-12-06T02:53:51","slug":"lasagna-amore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2018\/12\/05\/lasagna-amore\/","title":{"rendered":"Lasagna Amor\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nI have a friend, Gina, who prepares\u00a0amazing<\/em> Italian dishes. Because she has been cooking since she was a young girl, she feels very comfortable in the kitchen. In fact, Gina barely needs to consult her recipes. Like any good Italian cook, she can “taste” when the sauce needs just a touch more basil.<\/p>\n

So when I decided to make lasagna for an upcoming party, I checked my DinnerTime Recipe Box, found some great choices, and called Gina for advice. She said the first ingredient is l<\/em>ove<\/em>, and the first step is to pour myself a glass of wine! \u201cA happy cook makes a better lasagna.\u201d She said the rest is all about the layers.<\/p>\n

I get it. The layers make lasagna unique. Other pasta dishes are tossed, not layered.\u00a0Not only are there layers of different ingredients, but then each tier is repeated multiple times. Lasagna is visually exciting. My taste buds anticipate the delicious blend of flavors as my fork slices through the beautiful layers.<\/p>\n

Not only do I love to eat lasagna, I love that I can make it ahead and, in one pan, serve so many guests. It takes up-front effort, but the ease on the day I serve it is worth it. Usually I make more than one pan at a time, and will freeze the extra pan or separate it into smaller dishes, and share with friends.<\/p>\n

DinnerTime has recipes that are quicker versions of a classic lasagna for time-sensitive days, but purists, like Gina, enjoy dedicating several hours to create lasagna. Gina describes the experience as a connection with her family. She makes the sauce from scratch that she learned from her grandmother. She blends the cheeses with the herbs and spices her family has always used. Gina loves that the lasagna she learned to make as a child is a favorite with her own children.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

No two pans of lasagna are exactly alike. It all\u00a0comes down to what you put in your layers. You can even use different ingredients in the layers from pan to pan. My favorite is this Hearty Vegetable Lasagna<\/a>, which includes mushrooms, peppers and onions<\/a>. Gina makes a classic meat lasagna. You can follow the basic principles of her tips, and use whatever layers and sauce that suit your taste.<\/p>\n

Gina’s key tips for lasagna layers:<\/h3>\n