Centennial State News

Winter on the ranch in Colorado demands resilience and hard work, with tasks like breaking ice on water troughs and feeding hay to cattle. The hearty beef lasagna recipe, shared by the Eastern Plains Cowbelles, aims to replenish energy for these demanding activities. This dish combines Italian culinary traditions with local cowboy flair, featuring ingredients sourced from Colorado's top agricultural products: beef, cattle, and calves.

The Eastern Plains Cowbelles are known for supporting Colorado's vibrant cattle industry through education and promotion. They also raise funds for families in need within their communities. Their featured lasagna recipe is part of the Colorado Proud initiative, which encourages residents to explore local farmers' markets and connect with producers via the Farm Fresh Directory.

Loutzy’s Colorado Proud Beef Lasagna offers a substantial meal that serves 12 people. It requires 30 minutes of preparation time and an hour of cooking time. Ingredients include locally sourced ground beef, Italian seasoning from High Plains Spice Company, mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes from Disanti Farms or canned alternatives, lasagna noodles, fresh parsley, garlic salt, salt, and pepper.

To prepare this dish: preheat the oven to 350°F; brown the ground beef in a skillet; add seasoning; mix in marinara sauce and tomatoes; simmer; layer meat sauce with noodles and cheeses in a baking dish; bake covered for 45 minutes; uncover for an additional 15 minutes until golden.

For beverage pairings: try Teroldego wine from Sauvage Spectrum Winery or Curious Elixors Curious No. 8 Black and Blue Amaro if preferring non-alcoholic options.

Visit ColoradoProud.com for more recipes that highlight local produce.