The Lemon Tree

[allousa 1]

A whole frickin' thread about lasagne? Where the hell have I been?

Yeah, where the hell have you been!

I'd never read the Lemon Tree and I didn't want any spoilers so I stayed out. Then I noticed that there were waaay too many posts in here to be about a book. Or else there was a good fight.

:lol: :lol:

[allousa 1]

My grandfather was Italian, but I didn't learn any of my cooking skills from that side of the family. I really am self taught, I guess. I really love to cook and have come up with my own stuff the last 15 years or so. Hicham is just as good a cook as me though. Before getting stuck in Maroc, he and I would be eating seriously well. He worked in restaurants to put himself through school so that's where he learned. His specialty is seafood though. He swears that I married him for his cooking skills....

ONE of the reasons, but not the only one.

[mybackpages 0]

My older sister is friends with this couple who are italian. Every sunday all the family comes over like most italians but my sister went there about a month ago when it was still warm and the two grandmothers were all in black with the black stockings and the black orthopedic shoes and while everyone was sitting around the pool having fun they went and picked the tomatos and the basil and oregano from the garden and then went back in the kitchen and made the gravy nice and fresh for everyone. Then they even did all the dishes after!! They come over every Sunday and do this. They're both about 90+ years old. They make their own wine in the cellar too! lol

Is this them?

Seriously- I need to move to Boston.

[sara535 15]

I like that Barilla sauce too, its by far the best of the 'prepared' sauces.

When I make lasagne I thaw out a square of the chopped frozen spinach and squeeze it REALLY well to get all the water out then stir it into the ricotta/egg mixture. Also a pinch of nutmeg in there.

Adnan swore for a few months that he did NOT like lasagna and he didnt want to even try any if I made it. Finally I broke down and made some for me and my son one weekend and of course Adnan shoveled it wildly. then he confessed to me that the only other time he had it was when his sister made some but she didnt boil the noodles first nor did she use the no-boil kind, so they were crunchy. LOL. Now its one of our favorites. In fact, I think I might have to make a big batch this weekend and put one in the freezer for one of those crazy post-baby evenings.. MMMM...

[doodlebug 3]

My older sister is friends with this couple who are italian. Every sunday all the family comes over like most italians but my sister went there about a month ago when it was still warm and the two grandmothers were all in black with the black stockings and the black orthopedic shoes and while everyone was sitting around the pool having fun they went and picked the tomatos and the basil and oregano from the garden and then went back in the kitchen and made the gravy nice and fresh for everyone. Then they even did all the dishes after!! They come over every Sunday and do this. They're both about 90+ years old. They make their own wine in the cellar too! lol

Is this them?

Seriously- I need to move to Boston.

Is that the North End? It used to be common to see the older folk sitting in those chairs outside their appts and even *more* common to see those very chairs on the street to save their parking spots. God help you if you touched the chair. Now it's more yuppyish which is sad 'cause it's losing it's character. There's a nursing home there that is one that we manage and althought it's transitioning to be more TCU patients there still are nursing home patients on the top floor. I went on that floor to take a look around once and I kid you not you see everyone sitting outside their rooms in their wheelchairs and God help you if someone takes their wheelchair spot!!!

It was odd because I was reviewing the food items and there wasn't any italian food that is common served, like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagne, etc. I asked the chef why, since all of the nursing home patients are Italian and he gave me a *look* and told me that the last time they served "gravy" there was a fist fight because they were absolutely miffed at the way it was made. They then had a cook off of sorts and another fight ensued so since then no gravy has existed there.

I like that Barilla sauce too, its by far the best of the 'prepared' sauces.

When I make lasagne I thaw out a square of the chopped frozen spinach and squeeze it REALLY well to get all the water out then stir it into the ricotta/egg mixture. Also a pinch of nutmeg in there.

Adnan swore for a few months that he did NOT like lasagna and he didnt want to even try any if I made it. Finally I broke down and made some for me and my son one weekend and of course Adnan shoveled it wildly. then he confessed to me that the only other time he had it was when his sister made some but she didnt boil the noodles first nor did she use the no-boil kind, so they were crunchy. LOL. Now its one of our favorites. In fact, I think I might have to make a big batch this weekend and put one in the freezer for one of those crazy post-baby evenings.. MMMM...

Oh spinach and some cinnamon or nutmeg sounds GOOD!!!!!!! I had a greek friend who always put cinnamon in her sauce.

[allousa 1]

Alright....here you go! I was going to get a pic of it all pretty and right out of the oven, but people started cutting away on it before I could get to it! It was pretty good!

Sara, I'm going to send you some...cuz we are definitely going to have some left over!

BEHOLD....THE POWER OF....CHEEEZZZZZEEEEE!!!!!!

Edited October 20, 2007 by allousa

[~Jackie~ 30]

Hey Amal! Lasagna! I like the Barilla commercial. I want that guy to leave some noodles outside my door.

Jackie

[sarah and hicham 3]

Alright....here you go! I was going to get a pic of it all pretty and right out of the oven, but people started cutting away on it before I could get to it! It was pretty good!

Sara, I'm going to send you some...cuz we are definitely going to have some left over!

BEHOLD....THE POWER OF....CHEEEZZZZZEEEEE!!!!!!

Yummmmm! We're about to dig in here!

[PetraPerson101 0]

When I make lasagne I thaw out a square of the chopped frozen spinach and squeeze it REALLY well to get all the water out then stir it into the ricotta/egg mixture. Also a pinch of nutmeg in there.

The water in the spinach!!

*smacks self*

Thanks.

I like that Barilla sauce too, its by far the best of the 'prepared' sauces.

You mean, it's by far the best of the prepared "sauces".

Or thick red manufactured substances claiming to be "pasta sauce".

My crowning glory - is when I took 5 lbs of roma tomatoes and turned them into the most incredible sauce I've ever had.

Like I'd be able to do that again. Turned to tomato soup the 2nd & 3rd tries. LOL! ( Mainly, because I'm impatient. Like hell I've got all afternoon to wait for dinner to cook. 20 minutes prep time is too long for me. I'll stick with cans & cheating w/diced & chopped tomatoes lol )

Edited October 20, 2007 by KyanWan

[MrsAmera 41]

Sara - Your lasagna story about your husband is sooo totally my husband! He "hates" pasta - but when I made some lasagna for my Ramadan dinners he finally broke down and tried it - he's been asking me to make it again ever since. So I use the no boil noodles however my little sauce twist is to add half alfredo and half marinara - makes it more creamy, and I find with using the no boil noodles they seem to soften up more when I use both sauces(not sure why that is). Sooo looks like I'll be making this for dinner tonight LOL. I am really picky about sauces and also came from a heavily Italian family so I was making pasta and sauce from scratch by the time I was 8! Let's just say with two kids, going to school, a job and a husband that doesn't happen too often anymore - but I am considering whipping out the pasta press and making some today. We'll see how motivated I get (heck the grocery is just down the street if it doesn't work out LOL!)