22, 2024
I dug back into the archives to find Ree Drummond’s first-ever recipe.
She posted this Pioneer Woman lasagna in 2007!
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Ree Drummond, aka the Pioneer Woman, is one of our favorite food celebrities.
Did her first recipes taste just as good as themillion dollar dipshes cooking up now?
The recipe looked a bit unconventional to me, but I was ready to try it.
So lets see how this flashback recipe stacks up more than a decade later!
Anyone can make this, anywhere, anytime.
I was able to find all I needed at my local grocer without any trouble.
Kraft Parmesan from the jar instead of fresh?
Cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Breakfast sausage instead of Italian sausage?
Even the butcher asked me if I was sure about Rees choice of sausage.
But the Pioneer Woman has never led me wrong before.
I mean,her go-to comfort foodsare practically a list of my favorite meals.
Once the meat is cooked through, strain away about half of the grease.
Let this simmer away on top of the stove for about 45 minutes.
The whole tomatoes will start to break down and form a great sauce.
Youll want the pasta to be al dente since it will continue to cook a bit in the oven.
And dont forget:season the water first!
The filling is just as easy as the meat sauce.
Im trusting her on this one!
Im going to trust her on her recommendation to use Kraft Parmesan, too.
If the thought of that is just too much for you cheese-lovers, you might use freshly grated parm.
Putting the Lasagna Together
The next step is putting all the pieces together.
Then, as she instructs, layer four noodles across the bottom of the pan.
Cover this with half the mozzarella slices.
Top with half the meat sauce.
This time finish it off with a generous sprinkle of that grated Parmesan.
Pop it into a 350oF oven for 20-30 minutes.
How Does the Pioneer Woman Lasagna Taste?
While this Pioneer Woman lasagna doesnt taste authentically Italian, it was comforting and satisfying.
I was pretty nervous about the cottage cheese, but Ree was rightI didnt notice it much.
What the cottage cheese did provide was an exceptionally creamy texture.
And I got plenty of that gooey cheese I love with the slices of mozzarella.
And the breakfast sausage?
It was a nice addition!
Plus, there was more than enough of the meat sauce in this lasagna which made it especially hearty.
A smallside saladwith this lasagna is all you need.
Next, I might have to tackle one ofRees most-loved potluck dishes.
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