Dinner Party

Meatball Lasagna


Tonight I'm having a dinner party for six friends, I have been cooking all day. On the menu is a Ceaser Salad with Tuscan Toast Croutons (find recepe for toast in search this blog) and Patsy's Meatball Lasagna, for dessert were having fresh Orange Sorbet (my friend Rosie is bringing the Sorbet, I'll have to get her to share the recipe).

This Lasagna recipe is from Patsy's in New York, it is time consuming but well worth the effort.  I make a full batch of the meatballs and freeze the other half, there the best.

This is so good............

• 2 1/4 pounds (4 inches by 8 inches) fresh lasagna sheets
• Coarse salt
• 10 cups homemade or store-bought pasta sauce
• 1/2 recipe meatballs
• 1 1/3 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 pounds (about 8 links) sweet Italian sausage, broiled and thinly sliced
• 2 pounds fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 2 cups fresh ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; season with salt. Add lasagna sheets, and cook until pliable and al dente, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold water.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pour 1 cup sauce into a shallow baking dish; set aside. Cut two sheets in half lengthwise to make four 2-by-8-inch sheets; set aside.
3. Spread 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Dip half of a reserved cut sheet crosswise in the reserved sauce, and drape over a corner of the baking pan, leaving the sauce-covered end in the pan with the other half hanging over the edge. Repeat with remaining 3 cut sheets and corners. Line edges of pan in the same manner using full-size sheets dipped lengthwise. Finish lining the bottom of the pan with 2 full sheets.
4. In a medium bowl, toss to combine meatballs with 1/3 cup pecorino Romano, and 1/4 cup basil; spread evenly in bottom of dish. Pour over 1 cup sauce, and cover with 2 lasagna sheets.
5. In the same bowl, toss sausages with 1/3 cup pecorino Romano; spread evenly in baking dish. Pour over 1 cup sauce, and cover with 2 lasagna sheets.
6. In a medium bowl, combine mozzarella with 1/3 cup pecorino Romano; spread evenly in baking dish. Pour over 1 cup sauce, and cover with 2 lasagna sheets.
7. In a medium bowl, combine remaining 1/3 cup pecorino Romano with ricotta and egg; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with 1 cup sauce.
8. Center pasta sheets on ricotta within 1/2-inch of the edge of dish. Brush draped lasagna with sauce, and fold over to seal and enclose.
9.  Cover lasagna with a clean, damp kitchen towel. Double-wrap baking dish in aluminum foil. Place an ovenproof plate, upside down, in a large roasting pan; fill pan with 2 inches of hot water. Place lasagna on top of plate. Bake until lasagna reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees to 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 1 1/2 hours to 1 hour 40 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining basil, and serve with remaining sauce, if desired.

Meatballs

• 3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 6 tablespoons whole milk
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, preferably chuck
• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork
• 3 large, whole eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• Dried breadcrumbs, for work surface
• Olive oil, for frying

Directions

1. Place breadcrumbs in a small bowl. Drizzle the milk over and let stand until absorbed.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
3. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   1. Place the ground meats in a large bowl. Add breadcrumb mixture to meats along with the reserved onion and garlic, whole eggs, yolks, parsley, oregano, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until just combined.
   2. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over work surface. Roll 3/4 cup meatball mixture into a thin strip, about 12 inches long; repeat 3 more times. Line strips next to one another; sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Cut strips into 1-inch lengths. Repeat process with remaining meat mixture.
   3. Working in batches, transfer 1-inch pieces to a large sieve; sprinkle lightly with breadcrumbs to prevent sticking. Toss until pieces become round and form meatballs.
   4. Lightly coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil; set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook meatballs until browned and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with additional oil and remaining meatballs.