Do you have an absolutely perfect pasta dish?

Do you have an absolutely perfect pasta dish?
Oh, God. There are so many, but lasagna bolognese is probably one of the greatest things in the world.

Would you ever open your own restaurant?
I want to, and then my wife looks at me like I’m an idiot. But I really would. It would be very small, tiny and seasonal, practically no menu. Wine on tap. Brown paper on the tables, like an osteria. Like 10 tables. That’s it.

Stanley Tucci, from “Stanley Tucci Doesn’t Think Sweatpants Should be Worn in Public.” The Actor and author of the new book ‘What I Ate in One Year‘.

In Search Of The Holy Grail: Done.

italian, food, recipe,lasagna, pasta

I love lasagna. (Fanatically so.)  My Soul food.  Cheesy, meaty, noodley deliciousness.

Yet, after hundreds of tastings at home, at diners, at mid-range and at high end restaurants – the result is predictable: wildly disappointing. Swimming in sauces that miss. Weird cheese. Overcomplicated meat.  Over medicated with spices.  Too many things. Too Heavy. Outcome? Sigh.

The hunt is over.  A Food Network search for “Lasagna” yielded the discovery here .  Giada De Laurentiis’ Lasagna Rolls recipe ranks #1.  It has over 1400 reviews and earns the reviewers’ top 5-star rating.

It was a smash hit with the family last night. The leftovers marinated over night – and if possible, it tasted better for breakfast (yes, I did) and for lunch (yes, I did). (The streak stops at 3 meals in a row. There was none left for dinner tonight.)

Simple ingredients. Straight forward to pull together.  We honored the recipe with the exception of replacing the prosciutto with 1 pound of ground beef.

Don’t miss a wonderful post at Full Fork Ahead for life size photos during each stage of production along with the complete recipe.


Image Credit: Full Fork Ahead