Freezer Meat Sauce ~ Lasagna ~ Utilizing Fresh Grown Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Garden Garlic and More

I'm always looking for good, healthy freezer friendly recipe.  It saves time and money in the long run, especially if the organic meat is purchased on sale, and I take advantage of vegetables from the garden and fresh herbs from the herb garden.

I made a trial run, using the alternative canned organic tomatoes to see if we'd like to make a few batches this summer when the tomatoes are ripe.  We found the sauce and lasagna to be very good.  I twist on the dish, but a healthier version.  Here is the how-to, on the meat sauce first.  Make a double batch, and freeze one for a later meal.  The recipe makes a 4 layer, 13 x 9 inch baking dish meal.  You could cut cut the size down to a 9 x 9 or 8 x 8 in, and freeze even more of the sauce.  I just have to figure out how many noodles I need for the smaller pan (for 4 layers).

The meat sauce could be used for other recipes such as stuffed spaghetti squash, spaghetti, stuffed shells, and many other recipes.

Meat Sauce:

1 lb. organic ground beef, browned in organic olive oil and drained

While you are browning beef, quarter 2 onions, place in a food processor, add 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (or 1 Tbsp prepared organic pesto and 1 Tbsp. homemade organic Italian Seasoning).

Add this mixture to the beef, along with:
2 cloves of garlic, minced.  Cook about 3 minutes.

Add:
6 fresh tomatoes, seeded and chopped (or 4 cups organic canned diced tomatoes)

2 cups home canned crushed tomatoes (or purchase organic canned crushed tomatoes).

1 cup organic dry red wine (pick one you like to drink and enjoy the rest of the bottle at dinner)

1 cup organic chicken stock, or homemade chicken stock

1/4 cup home canned tomato paste (or organic canned tomato paste)

1/2 tsp. organic ground black pepper

salt

pinch of organic nutmeg

5 organic bay leaves

Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring of and on until thickened.


The "white sauce" for the Lasagna recipe:

4 Tbsp. organic butter
1/3 cup organic potato starch, 
1 1/2 c. organic milk
2 egg yolks, fresh out of the coop
1 1/2 cups organic shredded Parmesan and/or Asiago cheese
organic ground black pepper

In a saucepan, melt butter, add potato starch and let cook a minute or so, and drizzle in the milk by stirring with a whisk.  Remove from heat,  add a small amount of milk mixture to a bowl of whisked egg yolks, then add the egg mixture back to the milk mixture and return to the burner.

Just heat until a bit thickened, remove from heat, add cheeses and cover to keep warm.


To Make the Lasagna:

Butter a 13 x 9 inch pan.

Layer meat sauce, then white sauce, then cooked organic or non-gmo lasagna noodles, repeat up to 4 times with cheese on top.  

Bake at 400° for 30 minutes covered.  Remove foil, bake 30 more minutes (I added some organic mozzerella 15 minutes of last 30 minute cook time).  Remove from oven and allow to cool 30 minutes before serving.

I used a mix of the two cheeses and it was very good.  I also found a non-gmo potato starch from a health store.

More Rain ~ Tornado

I took advantage of a day with a vehicle and headed to the "big city" to grocery shop and run errands.  Mulch and dirt has to wait.  It rained early morning, but tapered off about 8:30am.  

It sure was nice to put away groceries with a clean fridge.  I got a trip in to the library, gassed up the truck, and other needs.  

I'm so glad I moved a lot of stuff out of my walk-in closet the day before.  Someone was sending me a message that I'd be sitting in it.

Rain was due back again about 3pm, and the forecast was possible severe thunderstorms.  Again.  And we did indeed get them, along with a passing tornado that was heading towards our town. 

(sauce contains wine)

I was literally stirring homemade meat sauce on the stove when I got the warning.  I quickly turned the stove off.  If this sauce is good, I'll share a post about it in the near future.  You bake a double batch, and freeze one.

Anyway...

I got the warning on my cell phone, and as I was running out to shut up the chickens I heard the siren.  Thereafter, I got calls and texts from family warning us we were in it's path.

I was home with our 17 year-old daughter.  We, along with the cat and dog went to my bedroom closet (best place without a basement).  She was very stressed about this tornado.  We kept the radio on and waited it out.  We made it through it safely.  Just lost a limb off one of our trees.

We had more thunderstorms after that, and rain the rest of the night.  Yard is once again flooded.  There's no telling how long it will take to dry out again.

Tuesday Tidbits ~ Who knew that cleaning the fridge would lead to fun?

I had all good intentions to give the coop a good cleaning, but realized that physical work such as that could wait until my sinus infection meds (blech) kicked in.  

I fiddled around on the computer early morning.  Paid bills.

Stuck inside, I decided to check on any laundry first (last good dry day before rain comes again).  Second, dishes.  Then I took a look around and decided it was a good day to clean out the fridge.  Like really clean it out.  Everything went out, shelves scrubbed, unidentified objects tossed, etc.

I finished up in the kitchen, unloaded and re-loaded the dishwasher, then decided the rest of the day was rest time.

Looked out the window to see our friend mowing!  Whew!  Some wet parts will have to wait, but Hubby was very happy to have it get done. 

There I was looking down at a huge pile of washed canning lids and rings, and I had just told Hubby I was resting the rest of the day.

Well, you know me.  I dried the lids and thought "I could use them up again for Christmas ornaments."  I went in search of fabric, scissors, paint, glue and couldn't find my plastic jewels.  Darn kids of mine.  I then sent texts out.  One may have them at her apt.  I hope she has them, because I had a lot and the entire container is missing (keep reading about this part).

I then continued with my project as far as I could go for the day, and him-hawed on how to finish them.  

Then...yes, then I went and drafted up a "how-to" on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot (which has been neglected for a while).  Got photos loaded and such.

Then I was back to staring at my craft supplies and thought, "man that was fun to do nothing but fun stuff for a while."

I then thought, "Hm, maybe the rhinestones are in the closet and just buried in the mess in there?"  Which led me to the start of cleaning the bedroom craft storage/bedroom closet.  Just in case the one daughter didn't have them.  Oh, my Hubby is gonna hate me for a few weeks, but love me after it's done.

Don't worry, I didn't do too much, on account of the fact I was taking a "rest" day.  I just wanted a start, so I would back out later finishing it on rainy days.

I did however, find the exact color of yarn I needed to make a Christmas present for one the girls.  Project list is getting checked off soon.

Our friend was still had been mowing for 6 hours straight, so I walked out with ice water.  It's never taken that long ever.  It's just so tall.

Cold Front

Sunday we got on the Harley and headed to meet up with some friends to head to the very last day of Ohio Bike week.  We got as far as the gas station meet up point, and turned around and went home.  First we waited 1 1/2 hours for our friends, and in that time watched the dark skies to the east, and the wind pick up, and that time gave us time to change plans.  

We headed home, waited the weather out, and ended up staying home.  Too many flooded roads in every direction.  On Hubby's only day off, we ended up playing cards on the porch and retiring early. 

Monday morning we woke up to weather in the chilly 40's, but dry.  We had more thunderstorms Sunday night too.  

I decided, after 4 days of sinus pressure to see a doctor.  I tried everything in the book first.  All this moisture is putting havoc on my sinuses despite using a dehumidifier in our bedroom.   I drove home with a diagnosis of an eye infection in one eye and a sinus infection.  Driving was no fun.  I high tailed it back home to apply a warm compress and text Hubby a very short grocery list.  My to-do shopping was halted.  I'll have to get mulch, a load of dirt, and youngest daughter's nail supplies another day.  I wasn't up to it with one eye functioning and the left side of my face feeling like it'd explode.

(had a visitor in the tomato patch)

Today it'll be up in the 70's.  My sweet potatoes that I planted in the garden look better than expected.  I maybe lost one.  The tomatoes look okay and so do the jalapeno plants.  I'm just not going to be planting the green bell peppers very soon.  Radishes have even sprouted.  Praying for enough dry time to till and possibly plant again.  

On the Upside of things. . .

We had a very bad night of thunderstorms and hail Saturday night.  The most rain (5 inches) and hail I have ever seen in our area, the rain finally let up on Sunday and as of now, today.  Fields are now lakes, but the rain has stopped.  I will wait a few days to check my smallish garden for damage.

I harvested a bunch of plantain (before the rain) since the yard was so tall.  I dried some, and started an infused oil for salve making.  I found a recipe to make plantain "chips" and may try it this year.  Has anyone eaten plantain and has a good recipe to share?

I started my horse chestnut tincture too.

I baked a peach pie.  Hubby's request, and boy did he deserve it.  

Our mower was finally returned on Saturday about noon.  

Rum and Coke Popsicles

I had a bottle of rum, leftover from our anniversary party.  This is another recipe to give along, when you gift homemade Kahlua too.  I decided to make some boozy popsicles, which put me in a good mood.  They are nice for hot days after working outside or taking a long motorcycle ride.  A sweet adult treat.  

You will need to open the bottle of Coca-cola and let it go flat overnight to make these.

Here's how to make them:

1/4 cup Captain Morgan Rum
2 cups (flat) Coca-cola (I used real, made with sugar)
1/4 cup Kahlua (for homemade recipe click: HERE)
Popsicle molds

Mix, pour into molds and freeze over night.  You may need to run water over the mold for it to release.  Enjoy!

Gardening

Friday of all days, was the best and most beautiful sunny and dry day.  Hubby had to work 10 hours, and I worked in the garden. 

I'm starting to realize that I may need to downsize the garden, so not being able to plant the usual, has now been sort of a blessing and reminder.

Even so, I got 54 jalapeno pepper plants in the garden.  I am delayed, in the planting of the rest (of what we can, including green peppers), due to the burden of the mower never returned in time for our friend to mow.  

Now Hubby has to spend 3 hours mowing after working 10 hour days, which puts a burden on him as well.  Never, ever, shall we loan it out.  Nor the tiller, which has been asked to be borrowed now.  Nope.  Nope.  Double triple NOPE!

The coyote is still around. I heard it from the field across the street making noises.  I'm on patrol.  I may have another out back too.  

I had just gotten all my clotheslines completely full, when I took a porch break to see a plane swoop down and drop his poison.  I ran right back out and used my dryer against my will, on a hot, hot day.

I was lucky to find organic/non-gmo dandelion greens and got some in the freezer. 

Mower still isn't back.  It's a topic that you don't dare bring up with Hubby either.  Rain returns today.