I always like winter recipes that make me feel warm and satisfied.

And this one does not disappoint.

It’s a different take on the typical lasagna recipe. It’s got arugula and spinach mixed in with tasty ground beef.

Try this one on those freezing, wintry nights!

Beef, Arugula and Spinach Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1-1/4 tsp. salt, divided
• 3/4 tsp. pepper, divided
• 4 cups prepared pasta or spaghetti sauce
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby arugula (about 1-3/4 oz.)
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach (about 1-3/4 oz.)
• 1 container (15 oz.) fat free ricotta cheese
• 2 egg whites
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
• 9 uncooked, oven-ready (no boil), lasagna noodles
• 1-1/2 cups reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Heat oven to 375°F. Brown ground beef with garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8-10 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink, breaking up into 3/4-inch crumbles. Pour off drippings; season with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Stir in pasta sauce. Set aside.

Combine arugula and spinach. Set aside. Combine ricotta cheese, egg whites, basil, oregano, remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper in small bowl.

Spread 1 cup meat sauce over bottom of 11-3/4 x 7-1/2-inch glass baking dish. Top with 3 noodles, half of the ricotta mixture, half of the spinach mixture, 1/2 cup mozarella and 1-1/2 cups meat sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 3 noodles and meat sauce.

Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in 375°F oven 45 to 50 minutes, or until noodles are tender and sauce is bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake uncovered 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand, loosely covered, 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 6-8.

Suggestions

Oven-ready noodles and prepared pasta sauce makes this a breeze to prepare. Make double and freeze for future meals.

Photo and recipe courtesy of TxBeef.org.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know my sister-in-law Sandy takes every meal to another level of flavor-infused goodness.

Even something like tacos become THE BEST TACOS YOU’VE EVER HAD.

Here, Sandy tells us just what she did to wow our family with a smorgasbord of flavors, colors, and amazing scents — all the things that make a great meal.

Taco Night.  Our first meal in Florida as a large group came together pretty quickly.  Nothing fancy, but everyone really enjoyed it.  I think there were about 14 of us on taco night, and this meal came together in less than an hour. 

I think the secret to good tacos is using good quality beef and cooking it well, without quite as much seasoning as those little packages suggest you use.  Try using a little less (I use only about a third a package per pound of meat) and seasoning the meat with a little salt and fresh ground pepper and your favorite salsa or picante sauce.  This is a super quick meal that is fun for a crowd, and can really be put together very quickly if you get organized.  Do all of your chopping to start, then start on what takes longest.  Get your guests to help – chop garnishes, make margaritas, etc.

0.  Prep Garnishes and/or recruit volunteers to prep garnishes and get drinks going.

1. Begin Rice.  Dice all of the onions needed for the recipes (1 ½) and peel and dice carrot for rice. Start rice pilaf by cooking vegetables, and then adding rice, cooking liquid and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and set timer for 20 minutes. 

2. Begin Black Beans and Taco meat  : chop bacon and add to cold frying pan. Turn heat to medium and cook bacon until brown, add beans and picante sauce and cook over low heat until thoroughly warmed thru and beans are tender.  Meanwhile, heat oil and begin taco meat preparation as directed below. Add liquid to beans as necessary to prevent beans from burning. Mash beans as desired with potato masher, fork or handheld blender.

3. Preheat oven for crispy taco shells when the rice has just a few minutes left.  The taco shells take less than 5 minutes to warm up- don’t let these suckers burn, they go quickly!

Quick Tacos for a Crowd

1 Tbsp Canola or vegetable oil

1 medium onion, diced small

3# Ground Beef, 85%-95% Lean Ground Sirloin or other good quality Beef

1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 pkg taco seasoning (for 1# ground beef)                                                                                

Heat oil over medium/high heat in large heavy bottomed skillet or saucepan until shimmering, then add onion and cook until translucent.  Add ground beef, salt and pepper.  Cook until ground beef is brown.  If there is excessive fat, beef may be drained at this point.  Add taco seasoning and water as directed on package.  Cook as directed, adding salt and pepper and or hot sauce as necessary and to taste.

Scrumptious “Refried” Black Beans

6 strips bacon, chopped

2 cans black beans or “refried” style black beans

½ cup picante sauce or salsa

½ cup cheddar or Monterrey jack cheese

Spanish Style Rice

2 carrots, peeled and diced

½ onion, diced

1 package yellow rice, plus water for package directions (may substitute ½ cup picante sauce for ½ cup of the water called for on the package directions)

Taco bar Condiments:

Shredded Lettuce

Diced Tomatoes

Salsa

Diced Avocado or Guacamole

Shredded Cheese

Crunchy Taco Shells

Tortilla Chips

With the inauguration of President-Elect Obama coming up, I got to thinking, what does one eat at an inaugural ball?

In later years, it seems to have gotten out of hand, these balls. At last count, the Obamas will be attending 10 official inaugural balls.

I’m so confused. We need 10 of these?

There’s no way they can eat at all of them.

So I decided to check out the menus from simpler days. You know, when they only had ONE inaugural ball to attend.

Here’s President Lincoln’s inaugural ball menu. So cool . . .

Did you see all those beef choices? And what is beef a la mode? Or beef a l’anglais?

Whatever they are, they sound delectable. Perhaps one could spread some Calfsfoot and Wine Jelly on them? 

Back then there was no tofu or soyburger in sight.  I always knew I liked that Lincoln.

Menu courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.