Speedy Mini Lasagna Stacks with Pesto and Marinara Sauce

How would you like a super fast way to make lasagna?  I know I do a lot of pasta making from scratch on this site and I wanted to show you guys a really fast way to make lasagna without having to make or boil noodles and that would cook up much faster than regular lasagna.  This is also a much lighter lasagna - it doesn't have any bechamel or ricotta cheese in it, just a little sprinkling of mozzarella on top to finish it off. And it's incredibly delicious. In fact, I think it's maybe my all time favorite lasagna.

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Salmon Ravioli

 

I have some upcoming pasta classes in the next few weeks and it's always fun to demonstrate to students how easy it is to make homemade ravioli.  There's so many ways to make ravioli, but my favorite way is to use this mold.  I can make ravioli so fast with this thing.  All you have to do is to roll out the pasta sheets, press into your mold, place a little filling in each well and lay another sheet on top.  Flip the mold over, cut and separate the ravioli.  It's fun.  The mold enables you to make nice uniform ravioli, which will cook up evenly.

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Pamela Sheldon John's Pork Rolls Stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach

Cucina Povera is an expression in Italian cooking that literally means "the poor kitchen".  It is used when referring to peasant cooking and having to make do with what you have and not wasting anything.  I was recently sent a copy of "Cucina Povera", Pamela Sheldon Johns' beautiful new cookbook in which she has shared just these kind of dishes from Italy.  She has a number of interviews with her Tuscan friends who recall what it was like to cook and eat through hard times. It's a very interesting book to read aside from the great recipes it has in it, like classic Ribollita, Farro Salad and a cookie I love - Ugly but Good (Brutti ma Buoni).  

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