Alright, let’s talk about makin’ that there vegetable lasagna, the one they call Stouffer’s, yeah? I ain’t never bought one of them fancy frozen things, but my neighbor, she told me about it, and I figured, heck, I can make somethin’ like that, maybe even better, you know?
So, first things first, we gotta get our stuff together. Don’t go runnin’ to the store for them fancy noodles, just use what you got. But if you wanna be all high and mighty, go ahead, get them “lasagna noodles,” whatever that means. I use regular old noodles sometimes, broken up, works just fine. Boil ’em till they’re soft, not mushy though, nobody likes mushy noodles, I tell ya.
Now, the veggies. This is where you can get creative, or just use what’s in the garden. I always got carrots, ’cause them rabbits don’t eat ‘em all, and some broccoli, if the bugs ain’t got to it first. You can use them frozen ones too, ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. Just chop ‘em up small, so they cook nice and even. And you know, I sometimes throw in some spinach, if I got it. Makes it look pretty, and it’s good for ya, so they say.
Then comes the cheese. Now, don’t skimp on the cheese, that’s the best part, right? You need that stringy stuff, mozzarella, they call it. And some of that ricotta, the creamy kind. Mix it up in a bowl, maybe add an egg or two, to make it stick together better. And don’t forget the salt and pepper, gotta have flavor, you know?
- Noodles: Cook ’em till they’re soft.
- Veggies: Chop ’em up small, carrots, broccoli, whatever you got.
- Cheese: Mozzarella, ricotta, mix it up good.
Next, the sauce. You can buy that jar stuff, if you’re in a hurry. But I like to make my own, it’s tastier that way. Just some tomatoes, crushed up, some onions and garlic, if you got it. Simmer it on the stove for a while, till it thickens up. You can add some herbs too, like basil or oregano, if you’re feelin’ fancy. But honestly, most times I just use what I got, ain’t got time for all that fancy stuff.
Now, the puttin’ it all together part. Grease up a pan, any pan will do, don’t gotta be nothin’ special. Put down a layer of noodles, then some cheese, then some veggies, then some sauce. Do it again, and again, till you run out of stuff. I like to put a good layer of cheese on top, so it gets all bubbly and brown in the oven.
Bake it in the oven, till it’s hot and bubbly, and the cheese is all melted and golden. How long? I don’t know, till it looks done, I guess. Maybe an hour, maybe more, depends on your oven. Just keep an eye on it, you don’t want it to burn.
And there you have it, homemade vegetable lasagna, just like that Stouffer’s thing, maybe even better, who knows? It ain’t rocket science, folks. Just good, simple food, made with love. And that’s what matters, right? You can add all sorts of things to it, mushrooms, zucchini, even some ground meat if you want. It’s your lasagna, do what you want with it.
My grandbaby, she loves this stuff. Says it’s better than anything you can buy at the store. And that’s good enough for me. I ain’t tryin’ to win no prizes, just feedin’ my family, that’s all. And you know what? It’s cheaper than buying that frozen stuff, and it tastes a whole lot better too. So, there you have it. Go make yourself some lasagna, you won’t regret it.
One more thing, someone told me this Stouffer’s stuff ain’t exactly healthy. Too much salt, they say, and who knows what else. Well, when you make it yourself, you know what’s in it. Fresh veggies, good cheese, that’s all you need. And a little bit of love, don’t forget that.
And don’t be scared to experiment, that’s the fun part. Maybe add a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Cooking ain’t about following rules, it’s about making something good, something that people will enjoy. And that’s all there is to it.
Tags: [Lasagna Recipe, Vegetable Lasagna, Homemade Lasagna, Easy Lasagna, Stouffer’s Copycat, Comfort Food, Dinner Recipe, Family Meal, Cheesy Lasagna, Pasta Dish]
