Cheers to a new year, all! Now that it is January 24th, 2021, some blog related observations are hereby made:
"A Brief History of Nino's Block*" is the most viewed post from this blog ever. 😊 This is exceptional, not only because it demonstrates interest in the history of the events considered, in comparison to all of the other topics deliberated by this blog, but also because today is 314 years since "the first recorded capital crime in Queens County, New York" give or take 11 days, or possibly a year and 11 days.
We are also a year into the pandemic. Thus we are a year into re-envisioning all aspects of our existence, including perhaps, most significantly, details and circumstances we may have formerly performed rotely.
In about three weeks it will be time for the Lunar New Year, Year of the Ox, as well as Valentine's Day, and Fat Tuesday. Of course, as with any important day, the question is, what will we be eating to commemorate the occasion?
In the spirit of sharing friendly healing vibes in a time of mass strife, the decision was made to share this recipe. The recipe subject of this post was devised and happily consumed in Queens on Fat Tuesday in 2020. While not a completely traditional lasagna, it does reflect a lifetime of influences. By sharing this recipe now, you have some time to try it out, and if you like it you can include it on your own menu for one or more of the upcoming fun and festive occasions.
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Recipe Ingredients & Components:
1 box oven ready lasagna sheets
1.5 cups red marinara
4 cups béchamel (flour, butter, egg) with 1/2 cube chicken bullion and 1 beaten egg
1/3 cup mozzarella diced
2 cups chicken breast
1/2 cup turkey breast
1 tin sardines in oil
1 large yellow onion sliced
1 tomato
1 stick butter
Process:
Butter a 9x 11 baking dish
Cover w/ 3 sheets lasagna
In a deep frying pan combine marinara and sardines, and ladle over 1st layer of lasagna, reserving about 1/3.
Cover w/ 3 sheets lasagna
In a deep frying pan combine yellow onion and tomato, and add 2 tablespoons butter. When soft, add poultry, cubed. When the mixture begins to caramelize, add a few tablespoons of water or white wine to deglaze. Combine mixture, remove heat, and ladle into lasagna pan.
Cover w/ 3 sheets lasagna
Add reserved marinara sardine sauce into dish
Cover w/ 3 sheets lasagna
Add 4 cups béchamel with beaten egg mixed in, and sprinkle with cubed or grated mozzarella.
Cover with foil and bake for 35 min at 350. Remove foil and bake for an additional 7 min.
Remove from oven, let cool (10 - 15 min) and serve.
If you try the recipe you will hopefully find it uncomplicated to execute. For most cooks the most challenging aspect of the recipe is whipping up the bechamel, which is merely a matter of practice. Also, if you want to try to make a particularly latin bechamel, replace the traditional flour used in making bechamel with the kind of flour that comes inside boxed buñuelo mix. Buen provecho!
