November 24, 2019 - dinner

For November 24, 2019 we will be preparing 3 giant lasagna pans of lasagna (2 veg, 1 non-veg) and, depending on if it is required at least 1 additional small pan of special dietary need lasagna (gluten free, vegan). Although we are calling this lasagna it is actually uses pasta rather than lasagna noodles (less expensive and less fiddly). This is a substantial and flavourful lasagna using lots of cheese (cottage cheese, cream cheese and mozzarella).

Ingredients for 3 giant pans of 'regular' lasagna (veg and non-veg):

1. 900 gram packages of pasta (penne, fusilli, rotini) - 3
2. 1 kg of cream cheese - 1
3. 1 kg of mozzarella cheese - 1
4. 500 gm of cottage cheese - 4
5. 1 lb of extra lean ground beef - 1
6. medium sized onion - 6
7. eggs - 4
8. 640 ml jar/can tomato sauce - 6
9. spinach bunch - 3 (or packaged equivalent)

Tasks:

1. dice all 6 onions
2. brown ground beef with 2 diced onions
3. grate mozzarella - set aside 1/2 of the mozzarella
4. soften cream cheese
5. cook and drain pasta (it will continue to cook in oven so it can be a bit underdone)
6. prepare pans (grease)
7. rinse and spin spinach (if using bunches)
8. create cheese mixture - mix softened cream cheese,  1/2 of the grated mozzarella, cottage cheese and 4 diced onions
9. assemble 3 pans of lasagna (see below)
10. cook for 40 minutes and then remove foil and cook for 10-15 more minutes

Assemble Lasagna

1. pour one jar of tomato sauce into prepared pan
2. add a layer of cooked pasta
3. add a layer of spinach 
4. add a layer of cheese mixture
5. repeat 2-4
6. add a final layer of pasta
7. sprinkle mozzarella on top
8. pour over enough tomato sauce to cover the pasta (so that it won't burn)
9. cover with tin foil

Side Dishes

We are going to prepare a big, yummy, colourful salad to accompany the lasagna as well as garlic toast. Here are the ingredients:

1. heads of lettuce - 6 (or packaged equivalent)
2. carrots - 3 lbs 
3. radish bunch - 3
4. bell peppers - 4 or 5
5. loaf of garlic bread - 5 
6. salad dressing 475 ml bottle - 5-6 assorted kinds

Tasks

1. rinse, spin and shred lettuce
2. peel, wash and grate carrots
3. wash, top and tail and slice radishes
4. wash, seed and slice peppers
5. combine in two giant lasagna pans

Details of ingredients and tasks for the 'special dietary needs' lasagna TBD once we know the requirements of the group.

Shopping/Contribution List

1. 3 900 gram packages of pasta (penne, fusilli, rotini) - 3
2. 1 kg of cream cheese 
3. 1 kg of mozzarella cheese 
4. 4 500 gm containers of cottage cheese 
5. 1 lb of extra lean ground beef - 1
6. 6 medium sized onions
7. 4 eggs 
8. 6 640 ml jar/can tomato sauce (already purchased)
9. 3 bunches of spinach (or packaged equivalent)
10. staples to have on hand - olive oil, 1 litre
11. staples to have on hand - salt - 1 box
12. staples to have on hand - pepper - 100 gm (bulk barn or save-on perhaps)
13. staples to have on hand - tin foil, 1 box
14. staples to have on hand - 1 kg white sugar
15. staples to have on hand - 20 giant lasagna pans (if you donate give to us with receipts so that if we end up not needing them we can return and exchange for something else)
16. staples to have on hand - set of plastic or metal measuring cups
17. staples to have on hand - set of plastic or metal measuring spoons 
18. 5 loaves of garlic bread
19. 6 heads of lettuce (or package equivalent)
20. 5 lbs of carrots
21. 3 bunches of radishes
22. 4 or 5 bell peppers (red, orange, yellow)
23. 475 ml bottle of salad dressing - 5 or 6 different kinds