Wherein I learn that I am a cooking newb

[greybeta]

My mom had a root canal done on Tuesday so her tooth's been sore. I made spaghetti for her, and she wanted me to make more spaghetti today. Hmmm, I preferred to cook something else in so short of a span. So I asked if she ever had lasagna before, but she said no. I volunteered to cook lasagna and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. I seem to remember making lasagna at some point in the past...

Well, I cheated a bit and bought the oven ready noodles, since the less things I have to keep track of the better chance that the lasagna will come out okay. The only problem was that I could not find the risotto cheese in the cheese section. I even asked one of the grocery store workers who pointed me out to the deli section. I was walking over to the deli when the worker came over and handed me a container of risotto cheese. It comes in a container similar to that of cream cheese.

I had made the mistaken assumption that all cheese used for Italian cooking needed to be of the solid kind. Sigh, I have so much to learn about basic cooking.

Comments

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

Ricotta cheese is an odd animal.

I wouldn't recommend using any no-fat or low-fat cheeses in lasagna, by the way.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Curses, I picked part-skim Mozarella cheese. I'll keep the recommendation in mind for next time.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

Make sure you slice it thin. I have found that part-skim mozarella doesn't melt very well, and becomes rather rubbery, if you cut it thick.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

In a stroke of luck I did happen to buy shredded mozarella. I'll know in a few hours whether I'm good or not! ^_^

[ronin-kakuhito.livejournal.com]

they sold you the expensive risotto. There is probably also some in the milk section right above the cottage cheese.

[ronin-kakuhito.livejournal.com]

er ricotta

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for next time!

[wldntulk2knwwho.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm lasagna and mashed potatoes?? Sounds like an interesting combination. I have to admit the only experience I have with lasagna can be summed up in one word: Stauffers. My grandfather makes a pretty mean lasagna from scratch, though, so maybe I should hit him up for the recipe sometime.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Lasagna and mashed potatoes make a weird combination until you get a root canal. Didn't we make lasagna out of the box that one time? I may be thinking of something else though.

I took a brief look on cooks.com for some lasagna recipes from scratch and quickly decided that I wasn't ready yet. I think we can both admit there may be another presence in your household better suited to make use of your grandfather's recipe. ;-P