Homemade Lasagna


Last night I pulled the heaviest pan of lasagna out of the oven, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it had to weigh at least five pounds. This isn’t just a dinner, it’s a full-on event — the kind of meal that makes the whole house smell amazing and leaves plenty for the next day. My cousin is the one who hooked me on ZENB pasta, and I instantly fell in love with their Yellow Pea Lasagna Sheets. They bake beautifully, hold up to all the layers, and my kids absolutely love them. Best of all, they’re oven-ready, which means no boiling required. Sadly, ZENB has decided to stop all sales to the United States. Their website says products are still available in some retail stores while supplies last, but it’s only a matter of time before they’re gone. Luckily, I can still find the lasagna sheets at Ocean State Job Lot here in town, though who knows for how long. Even if you can’t get your hands on them, don’t worry — just use any lasagna noodles you have on hand. If you’re using regular noodles, you’ll want to start by cooking them in salted water until they’re just tender, then toss them with a little olive oil so they don’t stick.

The best part about making lasagna is that it’s two dinners in one. I always refrigerate the leftovers overnight, then the next day I cut the lasagna in half. One half goes back in the fridge for quick lunches or second helpings, and the other half I wrap up and freeze for another night. It’s like having a homemade meal ready to go on a busy evening — and that makes all the effort of layering and baking feel even more worth it.

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Gluten Free Fusilli with seasoned beef and alfredo sauce

Tonight I wanted to keep it simple and pasta seemed an easy bet. I was at the Grocery Outlet awhile back and they were selling Gluten Free pasta that I decided to try.

They had Explore Asian’s Organic Thai Brown Rice Pasta Fusilli. I couldn’t resist and grabbed a bag to eventually try. Tonight was the night! It is simply made from Organic Thai Brown Rice, Organic Tapioca Flour and water.

It was very tasty to say the least and went well with the seasoned beef and alfredo sauce!

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Gluten Free Alfredo Sauce

My family isn’t really into traditional tomato pasta sauce… we love Alfredo Sauce. Tonight I threw together what I had in the fridge and every person at my table raved and my youngest even had 2 helpings of pasta… this is a kid who HATES pasta night. So I will take that as I did really well.

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One-pot Gluten Free Turkey Alfredo

I have not been feeling well the last week. I have head congestion that just won’t seem to go away. But no matter how I feel, I am still at it in the kitchen making dinner for everyone, EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT.

Last night I decided that I was going to use up the last of the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers and thought a pasta dinner would be the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE turkey leftovers… but after a week of eating Turkey for dinner — I am kinda done and would like something else regardless of how creative I can get.

Making a dinner that only requires one-pot makes for easy clean up! And not to mention a simple dinner prep.

One-Pot Turkey Alfredo

 

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Gluten Free Stuffed Bell Peppers

When I was growing up my grandmother use to make stuffed bell peppers. Now I will say as a kid I didn’t like the bell peppers, but would devour the stuffing instead. As I grew older I started to like bell peppers and now love the whole meal!

I usually have leftovers and have to say the stuffed bell peppers are even better the next day or the day after that. That is fine with me cause then I know what I will be having for lunch and not have to ponder what should I make.

All though this isn’t quite the exact recipe as my Grandmother’s, I use American Cheese Slices to keep that part of the recipe like the way my Grandma made it. But you can use any cheese for topping your peppers you prefer.

Nevertheless, you will love this recipe as I do.

Stuffed Bell Peppers | Small Town Living in Nevada

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What’s for dinner?

Gluten Free Rice & Potato Gnocchi

What’s for dinner:

Gluten Free Gnocchi with Alfredo sauce accompanied by a GF Caesar Salad is what I made for my family in about 15-20 minutes if that.

I came across Corabella’s rice and potato gnocchi’s that were gluten-free at the grocery outlet yesterday. I bought 3 boxes at $1.99/box. And have to say they were very good and paired well with a gluten free Caesar Salad for dinner!

The down side to the Grocery Outlet is their products don’t stay around for long, so I might have to go back and buy a few more packages to stock up on.

Gluten Free Turkey Alfredo with Veggies

Alfredo Pasta with Turkey and Veggies | Small Town Living in NevadaWhen I make pasta I always need a protein and veggie in it. I can’t handle eating the carbs alone it just feels like something is missing. And I love, love, love Alfredo Sauce and think it is the best pasta sauce out there! Anyhow, here is a fast and easy recipe that you can make in less than 30 minutes tops.

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Gluten Free Homemade Meatballs

 

Gluten Free Homemade Meatballs | Small Town Living in Nevada

The other night I made Loco Moco for dinner and had leftover hamburger that needed to be used up. What better way than to make meatballs.

Growing up with my Italian grandmother, she taught me a lot about cooking and while I took lots of notes over the years, most recipes don’t taste exactly as hers. I believe she had put so much love into her cooking it shone through and through. Nevertheless, I can make most of her dishes come quite close in taste. And at the moment I can’t wait for dinner!

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Gluten Free Seafood Pasta with a Garlic Cream Sauce

I wanted to do something different for Valentine’s Day instead of the usual Steak Dinner. So on Saturday I made a Seafood Pasta that consisted of shrimp and swai white fish.

I decorated the table for the family… because Valentine’s Day is a family affair at my house. And I love place mats and love to break out holiday mats for the occasion! And since my birthday is right before Valentine’s Day I already had the stunning flower arrangement that my parents had delivered to me.

Valentine Place setting

Then i started making dinner. My family loves pasta — and white sauces are my favorite! This recipe is mild so you don’t have a huge fishy flavor which makes it perfect for kids and adults alike. Add a salad with dinner makes it foolproof!

Gluten Free Seafood Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce | Small Town Living in Nevada

Gluten Free Seafood Pasta with a Garlic Cream Sauce

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons garlic, minced
1/4 cup white onion, chopped
2 cups extra dry vermouth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter
1 pound shrimp
2 fillets white fish, cut into 3 strips.
1 pound cooked gluten free pasta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

In a large saute pan, heat 1/4 cup oil and cook garlic and onions until translucent, about 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vermouth and add parsley, basil and thyme and let the liquid reduce by half. Using a fine strainer, strain the reduction into a clean saucepan and add the cream, milk and butter. Over low heat, let the sauce reduce to medium thickness. To the now empty saute pan saute the white fish, cook until opaque and remove to a platter in a warm place. Then use the same pan to saute shrimp just until pink, and remove to the platter. Add cream sauce to saute pan to toss the drained pasta with the cream sauce and seafood. Transfer to a serving dish, and sprinkle with extra cheese and parsley, as garnish. Arrange shrimp and white fish on top.

Adapted from Food Network

I love you sugar cookie

And then later for dessert we enjoyed some Heart Shaped Gluten Free Sugar Cookies topped with Hersey’s Chocolate Syrup. All in all our meal was perfect! Hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day just as we did!

Gluten Free Ravioli Lasagna

As you know, I made gluten free Raviolis for the new year. And since I had 2 ziploc bags full of Raviolis in the freezer I decided to try layering them Lasagna style. My husband said it came out really good and had two helpings… he is finicky so that is actually a compliment coming from him.

Gluten Free Ravioli Lasagna | Small Town Living in Nevada

Gluten Free Ravioli Lasagna

Ingredients:

  • Raviolis, packaged or homemade and prepared according to directions
  • 1 container (32 ounce) ricotta cheese
  • 2 jars (24 ounce each) pasta sauce
  • 1/4 -1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 8 ounce shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

  1. PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease a 9″ x 13″ Oblong Baking Dish.
  2. Spread sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
  3. Place a layer of cooked ravioli, overlapping in the dish.
  4. Spread a layer of ricotta cheese over ravioli.
  5. Sprinkle a nice layer of Parmesan Cheese.
  6. Next pour a jar of sauce over the cheese.
  7. Another layer of ravioli topped with sauce then topped with shredded mozzarella cheese.

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Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.