Pumpkin, Sage and Leek Lasagne; and A Very Bad Girl!

I was a bad girl this weekend.

A very bad girl.

I'm likely to be chastised most properly.

What did I do?

I made noise during quiet time.

You remember the leaves that fell on Saturday.

After careful consideration, I realized that my little leaf vacuum was not up for this job.  So mon mari kindly got out the big guy...the Wood Chipper!

After spending the morning raking the leaves into a huge pile on the terrace it was time to make mince of them.

That's when I screwed up.  You see, in my joy at having so many leaves to send to the compost pile, I,  apparently, forgot it was Saturday.  I turned the chipper on at 2:00.

Here, in the back of beyond, the provincial nowhere land, deep in the heart of farm country, out in the sticks, we have quiet time.

We are meant to be quiet between 12:00 and 2:00 Monday through Friday.  It's extended until 3:00 on Saturday, and on Sunday, we can only be noisy between 10:00 and 12:00. 

Food is sacred here in France.  Naturally, mealtime is correspondingly so.  One is meant to spend an hour enjoying the, de rigueur, 3 course meal in peace.  Noise is simply not acceptable.

And then the hard working farmer is expected to have his hour nap before going back to work; this being a rather a good practice, what with the wine and all consumed at lunch.

I disturbed the peace.

Mon mari pointed out that our farmer neighbor often starts his tractor up before 2:00 - but he's the  local farmer, son of our next door neighbor and cousin to the rest of the hamlet.

I, on the other hand, am not.

I'm going to have to apologize.

Maybe I'll take them a Pumpkin Bread.... I have enough in the freezer....

Sigh.....

I did find another use for some of my lovely pumpkin.

Now that winter is upon us it's time for comfort food: Lasagne!

I've seen wonderful pumpkin ravioli recipes on Presto Pasta Nights, founded and hosted by the lovely Ruth, of Once Upon A Feast. 

I thought about it.

Then I thought some more.

I opted for the easy way: lasagne!

Pumpkin, Leek and Sage Lasagne

1 onion
2 leeks
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1 cup pumpkin (8oz, 250gr)
15 - 20 fresh sage leaves
1 slice deli of baked ham, 8 oz (250gr)
1 tsp butter
1 cup shredded cheese (4oz, 125gr) Swiss, Gruyère, Emmenthal
Béchamel
3 tbs butter
1/4 cup flour, (2oz, 60gr)
2 cups milk - 16 oz, (500ml)

9 - 10 sheets 'no-cook' lasagna noodles
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, (1oz, 30gr)

Leeks and Onions:  Thinly slice the onion and leeks.  Heat oil and butter in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add onions, leeks and sauté, stirring, for 1 minute.  Cover the pan, reduce heat to medium low and let the onions and leeks cook for 10 minutes.  Uncover, increase heat to medium and continue to cook until onions are golden and tender, about 10 minutes.  Add the pumpkin and stir well to combine and heat through.
Sage and Ham: Cut the ham into thin strips, then the strips into smaller squares.  In another skillet heat 1 tsp butter.  Add sage leaves and sauté until starting to get crisp.  Add ham and sauté until heated through and dry (it can give off a bit of water).
Béchamel:  In a medium saucepan heat the butter over low heat.  Add flour and stir with a whisk for 1 minute.  Add a little (1/4 cup) of the milk and whisk to combine.  Turn heat up to medium and keep adding milk, a little at a time and whisking.  You should have added all of the milk in a minute or 2.  When all of the milk is in, bring to a boil (should almost be there), whisking.  Then remove from heat.

Now you are ready to assemble: in a 9 - 10" (22 - 25cm) square baking dish, or so...make the following layers:

~1/3 béchamel sauce
~2 noodles, you may have to break a third one up to get good coverage
~1/2 onion, leek, pumpkin mixture
~2 noodles or so
~1/3 béchamel sauce
~all of the ham and sage
~1/2 of the shredded cheese
~2 noodles or so
~1/2 onion, leek, pumpkin mixture
~2 noodles or so
~1/3 béchamel sauce
~1/2 of the shredded cheese
~Parmesan

Cover and bake 425F (215C) for 20 minutes, or until noodles are done.  Test in center with a sharp knife.  Uncover and bake 5 minutes longer to brown cheese.  Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.  Cut into squares (or oblongs) and serve.

Don't forget to search your closet/pantry for skeletons - especially over Thanksgiving.   Remember, confession is good for the soul.  It can be an actual recipe, or just the description of the, um, food or any food and holiday related debacle/story/mishap.... Really, any dirty little secret you feel like sharing!   Click for details!

Come on, tell!  Share the pain...you'll feel better!  And so will we!

There are still a few days left (through the end of this week) to sign up for Seasoned Eatings!  More fun!

Oh, yeah, I have a really, really big compost pile!  And I didn't loose any fingers, or gloves in the chipper.  Did you'all see 'Fargo'?

Don't forget to visit Once Upon A Feast on Friday for all of the yummy pasta dishes.

Comments

[Genie]

Wow...THIS looks amazing... I'm definitely going to have to give this one a try.

[Freya]

I have so much to catch up on...
I love any modification to the traditional lasagne and this one is particularly to my husbands liking (except he'd probably add some cottage cheese and spinach too!!)!

[Peter]

Katie, nice addition with the jambon. I too enjoy this type of lasanga.

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Yes, I think I would add spinach to this already lovely lasagne!
Happy Thanksgiving to you. So happy to hear you left no fingers in the chipper! Loved Fargo!

[Yellow House Cook]

Amazing recipe. I have most of those ingredients on hand. hoorah!

[Amanda]

My cousin bought a house in France, he got married in the village this Summer. It's going to take him years to work out what's right and wrong and how to behave. Saying that, he's never been one to behave so I don't suppose it really matters. The lasagna looks really good.

[Lydia]

We have "quiet time" here in Rhode Island, too, but it's not as formalized. No shredders or chain saws before 10 am on the weekends. That's about it!

[michelle]

I still can't believe that happened to your beautiful her garden! (which, by the way, I am insanely jealous of - without the leaves). You may have to apologize to the neighbors my dear, but I certainly don't blame you! Your pumpkin recipes all sound fabulous - I'm especially drawn to the savory ones like this lasagna!

[Laurie Constantino]

Very funny story -- you have the knack for humor -- and delicious sounding lasagne. Thanks for making my morning better (albeit at the expense of your poor neighbor's quiet time)...

[Katie]

Genie, Thanks, and I hope you do...and I hope you love it!

Freya, I was trying to practice self- control - thus, no cottage cheese...The spinach, tho, yeah, that would be good!

Thanks, Peter, I really like ham with squash and pumpkins...and sweet potatoes!

And a Happy T-Day to you, too, Tanna! I almost lost a glove....

Yellow House Cook, perfect if you can cook from the pantry!

Amanda, our neighbors are usually very kind and diplomatic when they point out the error of our ways...

Lydia, it really is a pain because that is exactly when I like to be out working...Esp in winter when it takes until noon to get warm enough! Shops all close for the 2 hours,too - one really is supposed to eat!

Michelle, it was very strange - the kiwifruit vines dumped as well - fortunately the fruit was okay

Laurie, happy to oblige - a grin and a chuckle is the best way to start the day!

[sandi @ the whistlestop cafe]

Once I decided that a wood chipper would be a good way to clear away some cedar trees... we had a huge mess (and an unhappy husband) Just one more of my Brilliant ideas! ~=D

[Pam]

Oh, I love that there is quiet time! I wish we had it around here. The pumpkin lasagna looks unbelievably fabulous! So rich!

[Christine]

Funny story, Katie! When we were in Paris we stayed in an apartment that had a fussy washing machine and dryer so we hung clothes out to dry on the balcony, not having a clue that one cannot air one's laundry in that manner. Luckily, our neighbors told us before the laundry police came knocking on our door.
That lasagna is a knockout!

[Anh]

Katie, I hope the delicious pumpkin bread will make things for the better! And seriously, your pumpkin lasagna sounds so good, I want to make it someday.

[joey]

Quiet time? As I type there is construction work going on right outside my window and a jack-hammering that has been going on since I got up this morning! Maybe I should move to the "back of beyond" next door to you :) I'll let you use you wood-chipper if you give me a bit of that lasagna! It looks beyond delicious! :)

[Julie]

That sounds sensational. If I was looking for a vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving this year (and I'm not only because we're being guests this year instead of hosting), I'd make this minus the ham. It would be perfect.

Wow, a quiet hour. Life is very different there, isn't it?

[Maryann]

Your lasagna looks so creamy good! Have a Happy Thanksgiving :)

[Deb]

No quiet time in my part of the world! I have to go to Ohio in mid winter to get any quiet time. Food or wine always brings forgiveness. When you show up with your "peace offering" I am sure they will not even remember the noise!
Happy Thanksgiving Katie!

[Nora]

Hi Katie,
what a funny story! All these rules... I would have trouble remembering all the "proper" etiquette. This lasagna looks delicious!

[Katie]

Sandi, mon mari doesn't allow me access to his toys without supervision. He's just no fun at all!!!

Pam, quiet time is nice - If I'd ever remember to be quiet....

Christine, yes, one must be careful about airing the laundry... although, a lot of the 'laundry' rules are pretty recent.. And Thanks!

Thanks, Anh. All I have to do is convince them the pumpkin isn't pig food!

Joey, it's a deal! Although there's nothing like the sound of a jackhammer in the morning!

Julie, life is, indeed, different here. The lasagne would be perfect with out the ham. Mon mari needs his meat, though....

Thanks, Maryann, you, also ;-)

Happy T-Day to you Deb. It may not be quiet but it's warm..and usually sunny... with ocean breezes... It's been raining and cold here all week!

Nora, as you can see, so do I! Thanks!

[arfi]

I'm not so much about cooking pasta as my kids are having eczema. I am trying to make pasta or ravioli from gluten-free baking mix, but the results are not representative! I wonder if there are some recipes to make gluten-free lasagna? Your lasagna looks great! I'm still disorganized with events, are you hosting the seasoned eatings?

[Shayne]

I have made the pumpkin ravioli with walnuts a few years ago and it was great but it was a ton of work, I think that using it like this is much better and as you know I always love your menu.

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Is there anything not to LOVE about this lasagna? It's fabulous, Katie. Truly.

[Susan]

Hmmmm. What would your village make of the bozo who blow leaves at 22:00 across the street from us? Gone are those long ago days when you could burn your leaf piles in barrels, when the neighborhoods smelled of fireplaces on high.

"Fargo" was a riot, probably my favorite Coen film. That's some yummy lasagna, too.

[Ruth]

I always love your stories and this time was no different. I'm still laughing,but it's only 1:30pm here so I'm whispering ;-)

Thanks for sharing a terrific lasagna for Presto Pasta Night.