Saturday, February 21, 2015

Comfort Foods, What I learned from Carmella Soprano



Lasagna is a wonderful comfort food, gooey, cheesy, warm, filling. It is also a great dish to take when you need to bring a casserole or to feed a crowd.

After watching the Sopranos, the episode when they are eating lasagna, Carmella and Tony are saying how good it is with a layer of spinach, I now add spinach to my lasagna. Who knew Carmella Soprano could give recipe tips?

The spinach gives it a nice color layer so it is visually appealing. I will use ground beef and sometimes ground pork together. I always add onions and mushrooms. Since I have a huge garden and make tomato sauce and tomato paste, I use them into my sauce for the lasagna. I layer with Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella cheese and it all smells wonderful while it is cooking.


I usually make 2 medium lasagnas at the same time so I use all the noodles at once. If I don’t have to give one away, the spare casserole goes into the freezer for future use.
Do you have a favorite comfort food to make, share or eat?


Carmella Soprano Lasagna
1-2 pounds ground beef or combination of beef and pork, 5% fat on the beef
1 large onion sliced thinly
½ pound mushrooms sliced
Pan fry all together with salt, pepper, basil and parsley

In a separate pot heat tomato sauce and paste to make at least 3 cups

Add salt, pepper, garlic, basil and parsley

Mix 16 ounces Ricotta cheese with 2 eggs
Grate 16 ounces Mozzarella cheese
Measure ½ cup Parmesan cheese
8 ounces baby spinach

Boil or use no boil 16 ounces lasagna noodles

Spray 2 lasagna pans and start layering starting with and ending with sauce.

Bake 350 for 45 minutes.

14 comments:

Joy Weese Moll (@joyweesemoll) said...

Your lasagna recipe looks fantastic! I've had vegetarian lasagna with spinach but never thought of adding it to a meat lasagna.

With my overeating tendencies, my comfort food is tea! Anything else is likely to turn into something that isn't all that comforting.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Yum! I love putting spinach in things - I usually put it in my omelets too... it is easy and healthy.

Carol Cassara said...

Yep, my culture is full of comfort food. I do love any kind of lasagna, including spinach-filled. We often eat spinach ravioli.

Haralee said...

Thanks Joy. Tea can be a good comfort food too, I agree and less regretful!

Haralee said...

Thanks Shelia. Spinach wilts so nicely and like you say is good in lots of dishes like omelets giving a nice color and some taste interests.

Haralee said...

Spinach Ravioli is yummy too Carol you are right!I made my own ravioli once and it is a true labor of love.

Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com said...

Thanks Haralee! I wasn't even hungry until I read this recipe. it's been ages since I had any Lasagna and now I probably won't rest until I have some.~Kathy

Lisa at Grandma's Briefs said...

Yum! I love spinach in Italian foods. My husband hates it any ANYthing. So... I never add it to lasagna. Maybe if I tell him this is Carmella's recipe and Tony LOVED it, he (a Sopranos fan) would be more likely to eat it. Maybe. Doubtful, though, so can I come to your place? :-D

Haralee said...

Enjoy Kathy!! I hope I am not a bad influence but a little lasagna is just so comforting.

Haralee said...

Lisa come anytime and I will make the lasagna! Tony likes it just not enough, it happens.

My New Happy said...

I think pasta is the perfect comfort food. Thanks for this recipe - love the idea of adding spinach.

Haralee said...

Thanks Lana. Spinach is a yummy addition!

Salvage Sister & Mister said...

That's so funny. I can remember watching programs on TV as a kid and remembering cooking tips (not cooking shows). I guess I was always born to cook.

Haralee said...

That is funny, I remember more than just from the Sopranos too.