Exploration 1: It's All About Meat in This One!*

I'm back in Georgia, back in the kitchen, &
back in the apron.

Alright, I am back in central Georgia, getting back into the swing of things. With that, let's drive right into this...

Just like it's been said that someone who's an alcoholic can't take just one drink because by doing so they open up a dangerous road that quickly escalates into being wildly intoxicated. An alcoholic can't stop. This also holds true for me in regards to meat. What started out as an innocent by product of beloved foods, in no time at all snowballed into multiple cheeseburgers, steak, ground beef, and chicken. Even yesterday, with all my will power, I ended up reaching over and helping myself to a friend's chicken wings in addition to my meat-less salad.

I know. I'm something of a disappointment right now. Vegetarian gone bad!

I figure, since I'm already in this downward spiral I might as do it big. What WILL be the end of this run away food cart, is the World's Best Lasagna. It might sound like I'm over promoting this entree, but I'm not - that's actually the name of it. True to form, however, it probably is THE WORLD'S BEST lasagna. Back when I first started this blog, I mentioned that this day would come and well, today is that day.

I found this recipe the fall of 2012. Back then I was living with another sister and niece in Spokane, Washington. Haven't not yet found a job, it became my unwritten duty to cook for the three of us. I enjoy cooking a rather lot, so I assumed the challenge. One night while looking for something to try, I stumbled across this. If you peak at the recipe, the ingredient list looks decadent and just as intimidating.

Fennel seed? Italian Pasta? How many cans of tomato product? Do what with what cheese? How exactly does this get assembled? Three hours?!

I know. Trust me, I know. But, for whatever reason, I found myself up for the challenge and I didn't shy away from it. I think the name "The World's Best" is what invoked my curiosity. Was it really? I had to know.

Yes.

Since then, it's become something something of a personal tradition of mine to prepare it once a year - usually during the winter. It is a tad expensive, I think the average grocery bill comes up to about $40, more if you don't have all the spices. It's also a heavy dish - literally. If you do make this for yourself, you'll notice as you lift it from the counter into the oven, it weights like 10 lbs. I don't even want to know what the calorie count for one serving would be - let alone four or five. Trust me, you won't be able to stop at one.

One year, when I was living back home with my dad, I prepared this for my dad's birthday. My dad, being something of a short-tempered, vocally critical, dry humored man, harassed me about how much money I spent on this dish.

"Dad, trust me, it is worth it. You will love it. I promise."

"Smells pretty good in here," he said during a pass through the kitchen as the sauce was doing whatever magical thing it does after you've assembled it. You'll notice it sits on the stove, simmering for 90 minutes. I'm not sure why it needs that long, but it does. Don't rush it. In fact, one time I over cooked it, it sat on the stove for nearly 2.5 hours and all it did was make it that much better. I even heard that if you take the sauce and let it sit over night in the fridge, it will be even MORE AWESOME.

It's pretty awesome, I just don't even know where'd you go, what would happen? I might literally die from my mouth being that turned on. So in consideration of my safety, the safety of others, and the mere fact I've never been able to wait that long for the finished product - I will never wait until the next day to get this dish in the oven.

My cooking space, may not be pretty, but hey
it gets the job done! 

Side note, most of the exquisiteness of this dish, is in the sauce. I'm reminded of the famous line in the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes"...."Secret's in the sauce."

In no time at all, you're house will radiate with the delightful smell of heaven. Even last night, when my sister and her boyfriend emerged into the living room the first thing they both said was, "It smells really good in here."

My dad loved this birthday gift, so did his girlfriend - between the three of us, we nearly ate the entire thing. They couldn't stop. I think after her third helping, my dad's girlfriend finally said, "Put it away! I can't eat anymore, but I want to."

Another time, when I had a boyfriend back in Boise, Idaho, I made this for him, his cousin, and his cousin's girlfriend. Within a matter of minutes, the small apartment became satisfyingly silent as we all ate what I believe is heaven found in food. lol

Fennel seeds, I've made it both with and without - it doesn't make that big of a difference. But it does taste slightly better with it. Sometimes I leave it out because, like I said, I make this once a year and fennel seeds aren't exactly cheap. It's the only thing that I ever make calling for it so I don't really see a point in buying one each year to use a fraction of the container.

The first time I made this, I did as the directions...well, direct, and I boiled the noodles. Although the flavor was there, the lasagna didn't hold together all that well. It was mush. So now, about 30 minutes prior to assembly, I run hot water from the tap in a large dish and let the noodles soak in it. It seems to do the trick, perfectly.

I also double the amount of Ricotta. The sauce, at first, seems like over kill. Even after six years of making this, I still think that I'm not going to use all of the sauce. You will. You also will quickly realize, you don't have enough ricotta. So, double the cheese. Be mindful, since you did that - use 2 eggs, not one. As for the parsley, it doesn't much matter what you do it with it so knock yourself out.

Other than that, it's pretty straight forward. Invite a few friends over, so you're not left scarfing down the entire thing alone - you're stomach and pant lining will thank you.

Last night was my annual Lasagna day (I should designate an actual day for it. That could be fun. lol) As soon as the dish came came out of the oven, we set it on the counter and headed to the town over to meet up with a friend. A couple friends of ours, finished their shift a bit early (they're cops) so I told them to make themselves at home and dig in.

Upon arriving home, I opened the door to the both of them, still in uniform awfully quiet.

"How is it?" I asked.

One just nodded his head in approval, the other, "This is really good. Like REALLY good. I hope you don't mind, but I got seconds."

I already knew that would happen because like I said, it's hard to stop once you start when it comes to this meal.

I approached the counter and pulled back the kitchen towel that was draped over my little cloud of joy. Nearly half of it was gone. I laughed, yeah, they definitely had one or two more past seconds. So I got my food and joined them at the table. Conversation soon became about the lasagna and how good it was. My sister, still having not have tried it, poked fun at our remarks.

Finally she got some herself, along with more cheese to put on it.

"Why are you going to put more cheese on something that already has three types of cheeses in it?" I asked.

One of the officers laughed, "She's going to make it a five cheese lasagna."

"I guess, you won't need it."

Soon she dug in and upon finishing, got up to help herself to one more. At which point she noticed her cell phone was missing. My sister, I love her to death, but she ALWAYS has her cell phone. It never leaves her side. She's one of those people who, if she doesn't answer your call, you know it's because she ignored you - not that she didn't know you were calling. lol I have seen her do some pretty wild and wacky things just to have her cell phone in her hand at all times.

"Where's my cell phone?" She asked. Soon after one of our friends calls it. We all all become silent. Nothing.

"It's probably still in the car," I suggest.

She stops to consider that it is for just a second then sits down saying, "I'll go get it in a second. Let me eat this first."

I look at the guy next to me and say, "Did you hear that? This lasagna is SO good, she actually isn't going to get her phone until AFTER she eats it."

Then we both, at the same time, say, "Wow!" lol "It's that good."

They LOVED it!

I encourage you to try this feast. It really is quite amazing and I'm certain you won't be disappointed. I wrote this over two slices of what remains for lunch. Starting at dinner tonight, I'll get back on my vegetarian journey. I also need to get my ass back to the gym. lol

Up first, probably stew and we'll make it using our very own, homemade vegetable broth. It's finally ready! I'm excited and you should be also.

If you'd like to try this recipe, please do - because it very much is, The World's Best Lasagna.