Once Upon a Time, Season 2 Episode 10 – The Cricket Game
Henry: I’m glad you came.
Regina: Me, too. (to Leroy) Oh, I made lasagna.
Leroy: What’s the secret ingredient? Poison?
Regina: Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick.
Those of you who know the story of Snow White, and more importantly the Evil Queen, know that she has a thing for apples. Ok, more like just one apple. A poisoned one. Fans of Once Upon a Time will know that apples go a little further with Regina. She has a “special” apple tree in her back yard, has apples in a bowl, gives them in a basket and makes them into a giant turnover (the poison part is questionable).
“Oncers” may have also noticed that Regina has a special affinity for lasagna. It might not be quite as evil as the apple, but it showed up a few times in the early seasons, and usually before she was about to do something naughty. Like the time she tried to seduce David (aka Prince Charming) with a home cooked meal, it was lasagna. When she made dinner for the strangers to Storybrooke, Kurt and his young son Owen, and then tried to steal Owen away, dinner was lasagna. So when she brings it to a pot luck at Granny’s, you can understand Leroy (Grumpy) being a little skeptical. Her lasagna history is not great.
This lasagna is great. It’s more than great, its perfection. In fact; it so good it’s almost evil.
Regina’s Lasagna
serves 10-12 (depending on your portion size)
*The original lasagna recipe I used is from The Pioneer Woman, and I really didn’t change much*
Ingredients:
1-1/2 pound Lean Ground Beef
1 pound Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage
1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes, roughly chopped (my daughter hates whole tomatoes)
2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried (or fresh) Parsley
2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried (or fresh) Basil
1-2 Tablespoons red Pepper Flakes (for some kick)
3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
2 whole Beaten Eggs
1/2 cup Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Salt
1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
1 package (10 Ounce) Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
Directions:
- In a large skillet, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain the fat.
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, red pepper flakes and salt. Stir and simmer for about 45 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside.
To assemble:
- Arrange 5 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary.
- Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.
- Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
- Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

- 1-1/2 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 pound Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage
- 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
- 2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried (or fresh) Parsley
- 2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried (or fresh) Basil
- 1-2 Tablespoons Red Pepper Flakes (for some kick)
- 3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
- 2 whole Beaten Eggs
- 1/2 cup Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Freeze Dried Parsley
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 package (10 Ounce) Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
- In a large skillet, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain the fat.
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, red pepper flakes and salt. Stir and simmer for about 45 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside.
- Arrange 5 lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary.
- Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.
- Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
- Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.
