Trying to be Pioneer Woman

      My husband is doing field tiling with his uncle for a couple weeks this summer, about 2 hours away, and he told me that  I could make some food to send with him when he heads down every Monday. I asked him what he would like, and he named a few things, and one of them was lasagna. I have always wanted to make and taste PW's lasagna, but I tend to have the bare minimum ingredients around, so I never could make her's. I decided that since this would be for my hard hard working hubby (that I will only get to see Saturday evenings, and Sundays for the next 4 weeks) and co-workers, I would splurge and just go get all the ingredients needed.

I boiled 12 lasagna noodles in water with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, and salt. Then when they were still somewhat firm, I removed them and placed them on foil, like PW says to do. Then fry up 1 1/2 lbs ground beef, and 1 lb hot breakfast sausage. Drain the grease, and PW says to add 2 14.5oz cans of whole tomatoes, juice and all. I had 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes, so I decided not to go buy canned whole tomatoes. Also to add 2 6oz cans of tomato paste, and simmer on low for 45 minutes (I doubt I Simmered mine for 45 minutes, I just simmered it, until I was ready to use it.)

Next combine 3 cups of cottage cheese, 2 eggs (that were layed yesterday! HA! Beat that PW!! ;-) and 1/2 cup of PARMESAN cheese, NOT mozzarella, like what I thought, if you do, just pick out the mozz cheese, it's not that bad :)

Now here is where I kind of slacked, PW says to get fresh parsley and basil, well I didn't I just used dried that I had on hand.... I don't know how much I put in of each, but I just did what I thought looked like what was in her picture, when it was all mixed up.

                                      

Now layer, noodles........

Cottage cheese mixture, then sprinkle mozz cheese over the cottage cheese.........

Simmering beef mixture :).........

 And repeat, then sprinkle more parmesian cheese on top of the last layer of beef. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until bubbly. (By the way all these dishes, and some from this morning and last night, can all be washed, dried and put away before it is done baking!!!!! (I NEVER get that done, so I had to brag a tiny bit :)

I got to thinking that I have never had PW lasagna, and I wouldn't if I sent ALL this down to Roseburg with Hubby. I will admit, I was kind of jealous they would get it all and I wouldn't.... but since I had 2 extra noodles left, I decided to save a little bit of each layer to make my own mini PW lasagnas. I couldnt think of anything small enough to cook them in, then I remembered these CUTE barbed wire designed ramekins? rumikens? however you say them, sute little round dishes with barbed wire on the side, that my sister-in-law's parents gave us for a wedding gift. How perfect!!!

Here is my little mini lasagnas...

 And I had to get a picture of the design.......

 And TA-DA! A generous sized meal for the guys, and 2 little ones for me. !