Christmas Lasagna

Kate & Jeremy visited the day after Chrstmas(with their 4 kids in tow). I had made a meat sauce 2 days earlier( recipe stolen from Amie) with the idea of making lasagna sometime after christmas eve. This seemed like the perfect time to use it until I remembered their family are vegetarians. This turned into the perfect opportunity for a Frank & Ora collaboration. To follow is their creation, which all agreed ( except the kids) was fabulous. Grandma liked it better than the "regular" stuff. We all gathered at a long table in the kitchen, drank wine, ate bread and enjoyed the 2 lasagna choices. Meaghan and 3 of her friends joined us just as we were sitting down. Time for yet another Christmas gathering...bring it on.


The recipe seems complicated, but its really not- easier than regular lasgna where you have to make a meat sauce and cook it for a couple of hours.


Christmas Veggie Lasagna
(Created by Frank & Ora 12-26-09

Cauliflower Layer
I head cauliflower
Olive oil
Salt/pepper to taste
¼ - ½ teas of curry

Cut the cauliflower into slices ¾ inches thick and brush with salt/pepper/olive oil , spread on cookie sheet and sprinkle with the curry powder. Roast at 375 degrees until ALMOST tender- 15-30 minutes?
While cauliflower is roasting, prepare the other layers, chop parsley and grate parmesan cheese. Cauliflower can be roasted ahead and set to cool on counter.

Cheese Layer
12 oz of ricotta cheese
1 egg
½ teaspoon of basil
½ teaspoon of oregano

Mix recotta cheese, egg,oregano and basil together in bowl and set it aside.


Misc . ingredients
½ cup of finely chopped parsley
12 oz of grated mozzarella cheese
½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
1 pkg of lasagna noodles


Onion Layer
2 medium onions
1 tb olive oil
1tb of butter
1 ½ teas of paprika
Salt/pepper to taste

On high heat sauté onions in butter and olive oil, season with paprika/salt/pepper. Sauté until they are tender and set aside

Béchamel Sauce

8TB of butter
3 cloves of garlic (pressed)
6 TB flour
1 cup of milk
½ -1 cup of heavy whipping cream
½-1 teas of curry powder
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Salt/pepper

Melt butter in saucepan over medium high heat and then sauté pressed garlic until tender. While maintaining heat sprinkle flour over garlic/butter mixture and whisk to blend until the mixture browns. Turn heat to low and slowly add the milk and whisk, then add enough cream to create a creamy consistency( make sure it is not too thick). Keep warm until you are ready to put lasagna together



Prepare lasagna in a 9 x13 pan in the following layers:


1st : 1/3 of Béchamel sauce
2nd :1/3 of the mozzarella cheese
3rd: Lasagna noodles
4th: ½ of cheese mixture with ¼ cup of parmesan cheese sprinkled on top
5th: ½ of roasted cauliflower
6th: 1/3 of Béchamel sauce
7th: ½ of parsley
8th: 1/3 of Mozzarella cheese
9th: Lasagna noodles
10th: ½ of cheese mixture with ¼ cup of parmesan cheese sprinkled on top
11th: ½ of roasted cauliflower
12th: 1/3 of Béchamel sauce
13th: ½ of parsley
14th: remaining Mozzarella cheese

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes with foil covering pan. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until top is golden.
Remove from oven and let it set for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.