Lasagna Muffins

My friend, Heather, always comments on my “pretty food”. So, I laugh and usually tag her in all of my “pretty food” Facebook photos. I like pretty food. It is nice to look at, you want to eat it, and most importantly, other people want to eat it (like my kids). Pretty food is also necessary if you want people to actually visit and interact with your food blog. But, pretty food has to taste as well as it looks. Pretty food is useless if it sucks, right? So I was so very happy tonight when my supermodel pretty food had hall of fame taste! WOW! When I say hall of fame taste, I’m talkin’ grand-slam H-O-M-E-R-U-N in the 9th inning of the World Series taste! So, naturally I am excited to share.

I made lasagna “muffins” or “cupcakes”. Whatever you call them, they were awesome! Now, I cannot take credit for this idea. It is all over Pinterest, and if you Google it, a million recipes will appear–Food Network, LOTS of blogs, Pinterest… the list goes on. So, why am I bothering to post? Well, when I looked at the other recipes, they were missing taste, so I took the time to blend this creative technique that others have already shared (why re-invent the wheel?) and I added the flavors that I integrate into my homemade lasagna. That is what makes mine different from all of the rest– the “better mouse trap, so to speak.

Lasagna Muffins

The Sauce: (you can use jar sauce to save time, but then you compromise the flavor)

• 1/2  lb. of ground beef
• 1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes 
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 Tbsp. of sugar
• salt & pepper (to taste)

1. Brown ground beef, drain, & set aside.
2. In the same pan, sautee fresh minced garlic for 1 minute.
3. Pour tomatoes into the pan and simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Add sugar, salt, & pepper.
5. Add beef and simmer for 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

The Cheese:

• 16 oz. of ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup of fine shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 small dash of nutmeg
• 1 dash of salt & pepper

1. mix all ingredients, blending well.

The Rest:

• 1 pkg. of square wonton wrappers. (about 3 inch squares)
• 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of finely shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil, chopped
• cooking spray

1. Grease a muffin pan with cooking spray.

2. Place 1 wonton wrapper into each cup.

3. Add a small spoonful of cheese to cover the bottom of the cup.

4. Add a small spoonful of sauce.

5. Top with another wonton wrapper. 
6. Add another layer of cheese, then sauce
7. Top with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese

8. Bake at 375 degrees for about 18 minutes.
9. Let them rest in the pan, undisturbed, for at least 5 minutes. (if you cheat, they will fall apart)

*** AWESOME VARIATION***

If you want to make these as an appetizer, or if you have extra wrappers, cheese, & sauce, make them as a single layer in a mini-muffin pan. They are like the cutest little one bite appetizers!

Picture-less version:

Lasagna Muffins

The Sauce: (you can use jar sauce to save time, but then you compromise the flavor)

• 1/2  lb. of ground beef
• 1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 Tbsp. of sugar
• salt & pepper (to taste)

1. Brown ground beef, drain, & set aside.
2. In the same pan, sautee fresh minced garlic for 1 minute.
3. Pour tomatoes into the pan and simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Add sugar, salt, & pepper.
5. Add beef and simmer for 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

The Cheese:

• 16 oz. of ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup of fine shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 small dash of nutmeg

1. mix all ingredients, blending well.

The Rest:

• 1 pkg. of square wonton wrappers. (about 3 inch squares)
• 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of finely shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil, chopped
• cooking spray

1. Grease a muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. Place 1 wonton wrapper into each cup.
3. Add a small spoonful of cheese to cover the bottom of the cup.
4. Add a small spoonful of sauce.
5. Top with another wonton wrapper.
6. Add another layer of cheese, then sauce
7. Top with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese
8. Bake at 375 degrees for about 18 minutes.
9. Let them rest in the pan, undisturbed, for at least 5 minutes. (if you cheat, they will fall apart)

*** AWESOME VARIATION***

If you want to make these as an appetizer, or if you have extra wrappers, cheese, & sauce, make them as a single layer in a mini-muffin pan. They are like the cutest little one bite appetizers!