Lasagna Rollups with Alfredo...

Grab a bucket, hurry!  Your drool will short out your keyboard!  Got it?  Ok.........good.
 



Really?  Are there even words for how amazing this looks?

Happy Halloween!  What is left of it.  What did you dress up as this year?  I dressed up as myself again, it is always very scary for the children.....and adults.  I figure its effective, keep going with it!

So as most of you may have read, today is mine and my husbands 9th wedding anniversary.  Why you ask did I agree to being married on the MOST pagan holiday of all time?  It was the next date open for the mayor who we wanted to marry us because he was a preacher as well.  The clerk laughed, and said, "well I have next Thursday, but it's Halloween", before I could object my husband responded in typical male fashion, "AWESOME".  My wedding cake had Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein on it.  I wish we had a photo, but I don't think we do.  My mother will never get over that fact I got married in BLACK.  *Charcoal gray suit mother*.  Regardless, it has been the most adventurous 12 years of my life with this man.  Oh the things we have done, been through and things we have experienced.  I could write a book, and for those who really know me, you can attest to this.  So this year, we decided no gifts.  We decided to do something for each other we love best.  My husband gave me a 2 hour pedicure, we are talking ped-egg, lotion, painted toenails, massage, the whole bit.  *no, he has no available brothers*  I in turn made him one of his favorite meals.  It was a double whammy, I could make it AND then blog it!  You should all know that when I blog something, I have generally made it 5,000 times.  I just never paid attention to what I put in it, so I have to make it and measure everything.  It still is strange for me, I feel like a total conformist when I measure things appropriately!  But, if it means you being able to make it, and experience it and LOVE IT...I will do ANYTHING! teehee

So, when I first got this idea, I had seen something similiar on HSN.  Advertising a set of baking dishes.  I thought about it, and decided the concept was amazing but their recipe, or combination was heinous and I needed to make it new.  I stole the method, but the recipe is mine.  It may seem labor intensive, but it isn't. It is just alot of "steps" and will be so worth it you will wonder how you ever lived without me in your life.

Lasagna Rollups with Alfredo

1 1/2 lbs of ground meat.

(beef, Italian sausage, turkey, chicken or a combo) I used 1 lb ground beef and 1/2 lb of turkey Italian sausage, if in casing remove)
1.  Brown and drain, set aside to cook while you move on to the next step

2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/4  cup grated mozzarella
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
1 egg
2.  Combine all ingredients thoroughly.  Stir in drained and cooled ground meat

3.  Cook 15 lasagna noodles in oiled and salted water according to package directions.  Drain and run under cold water immediately lay out on sheet pan to prevent sticking.

(Red Sauce/Gravy)
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
1-2 cloves of garlic finely minced
1/2 large onion also finely minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried basil or 5-8 leaves torn into sauce
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
4.  Add olive oil, onion and garlic to saucepan, cook for 2-3 min stirring constantly until onions are cooked slightly, add in tomatoes, oregano, sugar, salt, and basil.  Cook on low until ready to top dish *if using fresh basil add at the very end of cooking*

Alfredo Sauce (the nontraditional way)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk/cream/half and half
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
5.  Melt butter and add flour, let cook for 2 min and whisk in milk, salt and parmesan cheese.  Stir constantly until thickened.  Set aside.

Now you have all the components made, a red sauce, a cheese/meat mixture,  alfredo sauce and the cooked pasta.





Pour alfredo into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Take a piece of pasta, spread the cheese mixture on it, starting at one end, roll it up, stick a toothpick in it to hold it and stand it on end in the alfredo sauce.

Spread filling on and roll up!  You can lay them on their side or stand them on end in the pan!

Repeat with all noodles.  When you have your pan full, pour red sauce over all roll ups, making sure each top is covered well, use ALL sauce.  Top with remaining mozzarella and parmasen cheese.  Bake in a 375 oven for 20-30 minutes.  Remove when you see cheese is beginning to brown.  

Before baking!

You will love these!!  Do not let the recipe scare you, you all know I am terrible at writing recipes, so I wrote this one in the order you can make it, it seemed easier.  I served some great crostini and a salad.









A few more hours of Halloween left!  Go watch a scary movie after you put the kids to bed,  Make sure to lock your doors............!!!!

Your "Halloween Wedding" chefwannabe

Chris