Scratch.Love Lasagna

The key to good lasagna is quality ingredients. Homemade sauce, homemade noodles and the highest quality ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Don't forget to use fresh parsley- that really makes a difference. This dish is perfect for feeding a large group. This recipe is tailored for my large All-Clad lasagna pan (length is 14.5 inches, Width is 12 inches and the depth is 2.5'). Quantities might be slightly different for a smaller pan. My family just loves this homemade lasagna, and I love making it for them. I make it every year as a wonderful Christmas tradition.

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Homemade Pasta Dough

There is absolutely nothing like homemade pasta. I do not make it too often because of the time investment and because I do not usually use white flour. I know you can make pasta with whole grain flour but I am never really too impressed with it. So, I just save the pasta for special occasions. Making homemade pasta dough is easy, but it is also a little time consuming (and more so when you have two little curious kiddies underfoot). The result is worth the effort! In my fathers Italian family they call homemade pasta "homemades". You know it is a special occasion when the homemades are being served. I am not an expert pasta maker, nor do I claim to be. I am sure others may make it differently but this is how I make mine.

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Scratch.Love Meatballs

My Grandmother, Antoinette, made the best meatballs. Oh, how I loved them! Every year she would come on vacation with our family to the Jersey shore, and every year she would bring meatballs. They would be gone in a day or two around my family! My Grandmother has long since passed away and the meatball making has become my responsibility. I never got my grandmothers recipe (I doubt it really was a recipe, just a little of this and a little of that) but this is how I make them. You will notice that instead of pan frying these I am cooking them in the oven. I am not exactly clear about why, or when she started doing that- all I know is it is certainly cleaner and easier (and absolutely no difference in taste that I can perceive)! It gives me great pleasure to continue this tradition. Last year I made 15 lbs of meatballs for our yearly beach trip. Insanity! Of course our crew has grown from 7 back then to 12 now. Here is my recipe, I hope that you enjoy it and I hope that if my Grandmother was still here with us that she would approve. These meatballs are amazing just on their own but are also great on top of pasta, spaghetti squash or tucked into a meatball sandwich.

PS- I just got off the phone with my cousin who told me that my Grandmother used veal, pork and beef in hers and that she did not use onions. Interesting! Come to think of it, I do remember that she used all 3. I think at one time I did as well, but laziness and frugality must have led me to only using beef.


PSS- Memory is such an interesting thing. I just spoke to my Uncle who thinks (but is not sure) that Grandmom did use onions. I also spoke to my Aunt who said my grandmother puts the veggies into the blender so that there are no chunks in the meatballs. She is calling me back with more details later.

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Scratch.Love Marinara Sauce

Italians take their marinara sauce (or "gravy" as my Grandmother called it) very seriously. It seems like everyone has their own recipe and they are all different. Some are kept top secret, some are shared with friends or anyone who asks. This is my version and I am happy to share it. This is very similar to the one that my mother makes (which is my favorite of all time!). Homemade sauce is so easy and delicious, there is no comparing homemade to the stuff you get in a jar at the grocery store. It also freezes beautifully so I always keep some in my freezer. Good marinara sauce is key to making other Italian dishes delicious, so do not skip this step if you want fantastic meatballs, lasagna, etc!

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White Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas! I hope that you all had a wonderful day filled with love and laughter. We had a lovely day here at the Scratch.Love House, and we have so much to be thankful for.  It was an especially beautiful Christmas because it was also a White Christmas! So beautiful to have snow! The only thing that could have made this Christmas better would have been if the entire extended family could have been together.

I usually cook an Italian meal for Christmas and there was no exception this year. We had homemade  marinara sauce, lasagna, "homemades" (which is what my family calls homemade pasta), meatballs, garlic rolls and asparagus with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette. Look for the recipes soon! January will be my Italian recipe month, I have lots to show you! I will also be taking a little breather and enjoying the family so there may not be quite as many new posts in January as there have been the past two months. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see on the blog or any questions you would like answered.

After the jump I have a few pictures from this December when we went to the tree farm and cut down our own Christmas tree and then the tree decorated. Enjoy!

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