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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sausage & Goat Cheese Lasagna / Beethoven String Quartet

Lasagna has been one of my favorite dishes since I was little. Every now and then, my Italian mother would indulge us by making her famous version - usually to celebrate a birthday, a satisfactory report card, or the occasional (but very appreciated) "just because." This particular recipe remains a favorite in our house. Adding goat cheese to the traditionally mild ricotta mixture brings the lasagna to a whole new level of cheesy perfection.

{The precise moment my husband announced that "something smells amazing." Needless to say, meat was involved}

The recipe is such a slam dunk as is that I barely make any modifications to it. I usually add crushed fennel seeds and red pepper flakes to the onion, garlic, and sausage mixture before finishing up the sauce.

{Simmering away}


Like many musical masterpieces, lasagna comes together by way of a divinely simple layering process. Though each layer - sauce, pasta, mozzarella, ricotta - is distinct on its own, they all come together to create one deliciously harmonious whole.

{1. Sauce}





















{2. Pasta and 3. Mozzarella}















{4. Ricotta/goat cheese}




















{Repeat layers 1. through 4... and top it all off with some extra parmesan cheese}








So for a relevant musical pairing: here's a bit of one of my favorite Beethoven string quartets. Like this lasagna, it begins with one layer and adds in the remaining three one by one - resulting in something perfectly satisfying and utterly complete. Enjoy!

12 comments:

  1. OMG this looks so unbelievable. Looks like the perfect balance of layers. I absolutely have to try this. I'm so craving lasagna now!

    Maral

    www.letslivelavida.blogspot.com

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  2. You just know it will taste delicious with those ingredients! Great combination.

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  3. I can feel the hydrochloric acid oozing into my gut looking at your last photo. It show how delicious it is. Fabulous!

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  4. Truly a "ravishing" looking dish Maia! :)

    Being a meat lover, I love the look of that meat sauce and any Italian cooking recipe with goat cheese, ricotta and that melting mozzarella is a winner.

    I am honoured such an accomplished musician came to my blog and I look forward to reading a lot more of yours and exchanging music notes :)

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  5. Very good recipe, I also love!
    I really like your blog, I invite you to know mine. If you like, we can follow!

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  6. this looks delicious - I'm so hungry now!

    x. jill
    those ghosts

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  7. looks delicious! great job!

    http://xoxo-carolinalove.blogspot.com

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  8. I usually don't like lasagna but yours looks so yummy ! It must take so much time to make ! Check out : http://nothinlasts.blogspot.com/

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  9. Lasagna are believe it or not, one of my favourites...and that looks incredible
    xoxo

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  10. Exquisite layering of culinary alchemies;-)
    Usually not one of my favourite dishes, but I enjoy it whenever one of my chums make it for me. Must pass on this recipe.

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