Monday, November 13, 2006

a sunday night classic

"I'm not into 'this' food, or 'that' food, I just like good food."
-From my Real Simple Book


After taking something of a sabbatical from petitpoule, I'm back, and I'm hungrier than ever. I have been on the campaign trail, with almost no time at all on my hands. We braved the campaign trail 7 days a week - I had all but forgotten about weekends.

Imagine my delight upon my return when I woke up last Sunday! No doors to knock on! No dogs to fight!

No, I hit the 'snooze' button and slept til eleven. Then I went to Starbucks and got a $5 peppermint soy latte to celebrate the return of Starbucks red holiday cup. I love that cup! I took my time drinking that latte, reminding myself with each sip how nice it was to drink coffee because I enjoy it.

I decided to do some exploring in a very hungry state...and stumbled upon one of Arlington's best kept secrets for a cibo-phile like myself! "Cibo" means "food" in Italian. The place is called The Italian Store, a shocking little discovery sandwiched in between a CVS pharmacy and a Giant food store. Oh, forgotten gem!

You can visit the website, www.italianstore.com, but you won't find anything there. Yes, in true Italian style these folks have kept things offline and in-person. When you go in, it doesn't matter if you want 1 slice of pizza or 4 ounces of 9 different kinds of meat -- average wait time once you take a number is about 20 minutes.

They carry all kinds of imported meats and cheeses, first-press olive oils, fresh pasta, a selection of wines from the many regions of Italy, Mamma Mia! It's enough to make me swoon. And the prices -- you won't believe this -- they're at or below what I would pay for food at an average food store. I had to do it, I just couldn't resist -- I bought all kinds of ingredients, and made Lasagna Rolls to celebrate.

Lasagna Rolls
Prep time: 40 minutes
Bake time: 40 minutes @ 300 degrees
Yield: 12 rolls, will feed 6 normal people, or 3 hungry Tringes.

Serve with: Salad and red wine.
Dessert: Lemon sorbet.

For the lasagna, you'll need:

Flour (2 tbs).
Milk (1/4-1/2 cup)>
Butter (3-4 tbs).
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
Tomato Sauce (I always favor using the crushed variety)
Lasagna Pasta (I like Barilla, the long kind, but short works just as well!)
Mozzarella (I like buffalo mozzarella, about 3-4 balls)
Pecorino-Romano (grated, +/- 1 cup)
Ricotta (whole milk, 16 oz.)
1/2 lb Provolone
Chopped Frozen Spinach
4 oz. Prosciutto di Parma sliced thin
4 oz. Genoa Salami

This takes about another 4 ounces of coordination, so...here's what I did which seemed to work out:

1) Thaw the spinach in your microwave, put on defrost for about 5-6 minutes.
2) While spinach is defrosting, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil, and take another smaller pot out.

Now you'll want to make the roux, keep focused on this, it should take about 10 minutes:
3) Use about 1/4 stick of butter in smaller pan, melt on low.
4) When the butter is melted, whisk in about 2 tbs. flour, gradually. It will make a paste. Allow it to get golden but not brown!
5) Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk, whisk.
6) Add pecorino-romano cheese, whisk until melted.
7) Add about 3 tbs. tomato sauce, just to make the roux a light pink color. You can add pepper to taste, but will not need salt with all the cheese!
8) Pour the roux into the bottom of your lasagna pan. It will just hang out for a while until your rolls get started...

By this time, your water should be boiling. It's best to cook lasagna noodles a few at a time. I usually do 4 at a time, but be sure there's sufficient oil in the water and on the plate where you'll put the cooked ones, or else you'll be sad when your noodles rip.
9) Add 4 noodles to your boiling water.
10) A hint: Set a timer for 9 minutes every time you put a new batch of pasta in to boil, just to help your busy mind remember your noodles so you don't end up with lasagna dough.

While your pasta is cooking, take your spinach out of the microwave and drain it...get a medium sized bowl ready and add your ricotta cheese to it. Mix in the drained spinach.

11) Check your pasta! If it's done, take it out and put it on an oiled plate, add 4 more pasta noodles to your boiling water

Next:
12) Take out your and cut it into little strips, about 1 cm. thick.
13) Mix your salami in with the ricotta and spinach.
14) Tear up the prosciutto and put it in the ricotta mix, try to get an even a mixture as you can, but it might be hard depending on how thinly the prosciutto was sliced.

15) Check your pasta! If it's done, take it out, put more in...

Now the fun begins.
16) Take out your provolone.
17) On a plate, put one lasagna noodle, and tear provolone slice in half and line your lasagna noodle with it.
18) Put two tablespoons of your ricotta/spinach/salami/prosciutto mixture on each noodle.
19) Roll it up!
20) Repeat 11 times, until you have 12 little rolls, or your mixture runs out.

You should have a neat little bundle of lasagna, which should fit neatly in a pan, in rows, when you get done. If they're less than neat the first time, not to worry! You've got eleven more chances to perfect your perfect lasagna roll style. Now...

21) Take some more tomato sauce and put a tablespoon on top of each roll, just enough to cover the roll -- don't drown it!
22) Slice the mozzarella in about 1 cm slices, place on top. It will be very pretty!
23) Salt and pepper on top, if you want. Fresh mozzarella can be kind of bland when baked...
24) Put it in the oven and FUGGEDDA BOUTIT! ...for40 minutes. Go have a glass of wine and a good conversation and when you come back everyone will be very happy that they know you because you will have made them a wonderful dinner on a Sunday night!

Enjoy! Due baci e amore...

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