Little Package/Big Treat!!
I know I am way behind in joining the "Cupcake" craze. I don't object to eating a really good one, of course, but why take the time to repeat the effort a dozen times, when one big cake will do and be stunning!
I did embrace the Meatloaf Cupcake a while ago. The inspiration came from a blog by my friend Susan Filson, stickygooeycreamychewey. The recipes are great and the writing informative, entertaining and often humorous. It is one of my favorites!
Anyway, I made the meatloaf from my own recipe and topped the mashed potato "frosting" with brown gravy to mimic "chocolate" sauce! We loved them and even had a few left over to freeze for another day. It was a whimsical and fun meal, and one that could be prepared "sola", because of the ability to freeze some for later. Try diluting ketchup for a "berry" sauce look!!
Lasagna is time consuming to put together, and is generally prepared in a large quantity. The benefit is that once the work of preparation is done, it is simple to bake, it feeds a crowd and everyone loves it!
For a person living alone, the large pans of lasagna (it's hardly worth making a small pan!) get cut up into freezable portions which exist in the freezer forever if you do not want to eat lasagna frequently.
Enter Lasagne Cupcakes center stage...
No, they're not new and you will find recipes all over the internet, but since they do have special appeal to the "sola" person, (and are really good!) I need to give you a recipe.
They too, are labor intensive, even if you use the won ton wrappers I suggest for the pasta. The plus side is that, as a "sola" you can control your portions, have a simple bite of lasagna when you wish, or even have some with a friend, if so minded. There are no huge portions in the freezer to either tempt or repulse you!
The truth is, you can make savory "cupcakes" out of any layered casserole dish you enjoy; taco cupcakes, eggplant parmesan or moussaka cupcakes, seafood or vegetarian lasagne cupcakes, etc.
They all have great appeal to us as "sola" meals for the same reasons as above. Get creative and
get to work! Vary the proteins, veggies and cheeses and have fun. How about spinach and feta lasagna, or shrimp, dill and alfredo lasagna, or chicken pot pie lasagna with phyllo, for example?
BASIC LASAGNE CUPCAKES (12)
1/4-1/2 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
salt, pepper and Italian herbs to taste
olive oil
1 1/2 cups marinara or good tomato sauce
1/4 cup beef broth
(1 cup chopped portabella mushrooms - optional, for some!)
24 won ton wrappers* (really!)
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 1/4 cups grated Parmigiano cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 cup chopped fresh basil (or parsley or spinach)
dash of nutmeg
For the sauce:
*you can use cooked lasagna noodles and cut them to fit the muffin tins..more work, your choice.
Check out my Kuri Squash Ravioli with Sage and Pecans made with won ton wrappers jdcater-adventuresofahappycooker.blogspot.com ADVENTURES OF A HAPPY COOKER, my other blog. 10/26/10
Anyway, I made the meatloaf from my own recipe and topped the mashed potato "frosting" with brown gravy to mimic "chocolate" sauce! We loved them and even had a few left over to freeze for another day. It was a whimsical and fun meal, and one that could be prepared "sola", because of the ability to freeze some for later. Try diluting ketchup for a "berry" sauce look!!
Lasagna is time consuming to put together, and is generally prepared in a large quantity. The benefit is that once the work of preparation is done, it is simple to bake, it feeds a crowd and everyone loves it!
For a person living alone, the large pans of lasagna (it's hardly worth making a small pan!) get cut up into freezable portions which exist in the freezer forever if you do not want to eat lasagna frequently.
Enter Lasagne Cupcakes center stage...
No, they're not new and you will find recipes all over the internet, but since they do have special appeal to the "sola" person, (and are really good!) I need to give you a recipe.
They too, are labor intensive, even if you use the won ton wrappers I suggest for the pasta. The plus side is that, as a "sola" you can control your portions, have a simple bite of lasagna when you wish, or even have some with a friend, if so minded. There are no huge portions in the freezer to either tempt or repulse you!
The truth is, you can make savory "cupcakes" out of any layered casserole dish you enjoy; taco cupcakes, eggplant parmesan or moussaka cupcakes, seafood or vegetarian lasagne cupcakes, etc.
They all have great appeal to us as "sola" meals for the same reasons as above. Get creative and
get to work! Vary the proteins, veggies and cheeses and have fun. How about spinach and feta lasagna, or shrimp, dill and alfredo lasagna, or chicken pot pie lasagna with phyllo, for example?
BASIC LASAGNE CUPCAKES (12)
1/4-1/2 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
salt, pepper and Italian herbs to taste
olive oil
1 1/2 cups marinara or good tomato sauce
1/4 cup beef broth
(1 cup chopped portabella mushrooms - optional, for some!)
24 won ton wrappers* (really!)
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 1/4 cups grated Parmigiano cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 cup chopped fresh basil (or parsley or spinach)
dash of nutmeg
For the sauce:
Saute the onion in olive oil for a few minutes, add beef and brown, add garlic. Season with salt,
pepper and herbs. Cook until beef is no longer pink. Add beef broth and tomato sauce and simmer for about 5minutes. (you can use a good quality jarred sauce of your choice, or your own tomato sauce).
pepper and herbs. Cook until beef is no longer pink. Add beef broth and tomato sauce and simmer for about 5minutes. (you can use a good quality jarred sauce of your choice, or your own tomato sauce).
- Cook the mushrooms in a little olive oil, slowly, until browned and no longer exuding liquid.
- Mix the ricotta with egg, 1/4 cup Parmigiano, nutmeg and chopped basil.
Won Ton Wrappers, Ricotta with Eggs and Basil, Mushrooms, Tomato Meat Sauce
Now the experiment begins. Some recipes call for cutting the wrappers or lasagna noodle into circles with a biscuit cutter, and some call for using the squares as is. I tried both to see which I prefer. The remains of the cut outs I froze for use in soup.
Spray the muffin tins with cooking spray. Press the wrappers into the tins. Sprinkle with parmesan, add about 1 tablespoon of ricotta mixture, a few mushrooms, about 1 tablespoon meat sauce and some mozzarella.
stages of the process
The first two are one layer completed. Then, one with the cut out for the second layer. Then 3 with the second layer on top of the circle.
The next row is the second layer with the full won ton wrapper.
Here are the completed little cuties being put into the oven
I know these 2 little bites look lonely but..
I wanted to show you the difference. The one on the left is the circle pasta, the other one is the double layer of the whole won ton wrapper. Both were easily picked up and hand held or cut with a fork, but the whole wrapper was a nicer overall package. The ends were crispy and the proportion of filling to pasta was better.
As with all casseroles, soups and stews, they were more delicious the next day!
OH, and I forgot the best part...they are NOT MESSY!!
OH, and I forgot the best part...they are NOT MESSY!!
Worthwhile work..."Sola Gina"
*you can use cooked lasagna noodles and cut them to fit the muffin tins..more work, your choice.
Check out my Kuri Squash Ravioli with Sage and Pecans made with won ton wrappers jdcater-adventuresofahappycooker.blogspot.com ADVENTURES OF A HAPPY COOKER, my other blog. 10/26/10
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