Seasoned Cooking has been published since 1998. And, since we have a soft spot for holidays and seasonal happenings, that means that there's a treasure trove of great articles on special events, like our upcoming year-end holidays. So, this month, I'm offering a quick look back at some Christmas-themed articles from past issues. Won't you join me in exploring everything from gift ideas for cooks to decorating the Christmas tree over the years? To begin, let's start with something new. Here's a recipe for One-Step Lasagna with Fresh Tomato Sauce that comes to you from Victoria Smith:
Crumble the sausage in a 2-quart microproof casserole dish. Cover the dish with a casserole lid and microwave on High, 5 minutes, stirring once during cooking time. Add spaghetti sauce and water; mix well.
Spread one-third of the vegetarian meat sauce in 12x7-inch microproof baking dish. Arrange half the uncooked noodles over sauce. Spread with one-third of the ricotta. Top with one-third of the vegetarian meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella. Repeat the layers, with the remaining noodles, ricotta and vegetarian meat sauce. Top with the parmesan cheese.
Double wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Cook on High for 15 minutes. Cook on 50% power for 12 to 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella. Cook on High 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with more parmesan cheese if desired.
In a large saucepan, fry the onion in the oil for 10 minutes, until soft but not browned. Add the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes, until they are soft but still bright in color and fresh in flavor. Season the sauce with salt, garlic, and pepper freeze until required.
Usually I serve this sauce just as it is, which is fine for pasta and simple dishes, although it can be pureed in a food processor and then strained quickly though a sieve if you want a smooth sauce. Ideally it would be useful to keep both types, the chunky and the smooth, in the freeze.
Yields: 6 servings
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Now that you have an easy new dish to enjoy over the holidays, enjoy the blast from the past!
Momma Gert's Place: Stuff for the Holidays!by Royce Smith There are a lot of stuffed dishes that show up this time of the year and Royce is offering a great stuffing recipe to use.
Ingredient SpotLight: Pecansby J. Sinclair Pecans star in traditional pecan pie and a unique hot turkey salad that will have you thankful for leftovers!
Meet Herb: The Christmas Ladyby Rossana S. Tarantini The story of the "Christmas Lady" and a special recipe for homemade eggnog.
Holiday Desserts: What is Tradition?by Chris Schaefer Get the low down on two beautiful desserts: traditional plum pudding and the famous yule log. These are more than recipes ... these are family traditions.
Happy Endings: Spiced Cider & Gingersnapsby Ronda L. Carnicelli What a delightful combination that makes decorating the Christmas tree as festive as a Norman Rockwell painting!
Happy Endings: Peanut Butter Bon-Bonsby Ronda L. Carnicelli These tasty treats are childhood memories that are tied to the holidays and making sweets with Mom.
Home Style: A Traditional Christmasby Jenny Wojcik Everything from the wreath on the front door to quick ideas for unique gifts is covered in this special holiday column.
Center Stage Florals: Creating a Focal Pointby Jenny Wojcik If making a floral centerpiece seems overwelming, take a look at this simple guide and save yourself a bundle this year!
Holiday Gift-Giving Guideby Ronda L. Carnicelli Everything from themed baskets for the adventuresome to spices as stocking stuffers.
Holiday Gift-Giving Guideby Ronda L. Carnicelli Get gift ideas for the cooks in your life ranging from under $20 to over $200.
Holiday Gift-Giving Guideby Ronda L. Carnicelli Got a coffee nut on your list? How about someone who loves cooking, but has no time? Don't worry, we've got you covered!
Holiday Gift-Giving Guideby Ronda L. Carnicelli Get some great holiday gift ideas for the cooks on your list ... all for under $50.
Holiday Gift-Giving Guideby Ronda L. Carnicelli Everything from silicone oven mitts to a battery-operated milk frother are in this year's gift guide for cooks.
We hope you enjoyed this little journey down memory lane. And, of course, have a very Merry (and tasty) Christmas!!
