BIG JEFF'S JUMBO LASAGNA

Big Jeff's Jumbo Lasagna image

Provided by Food Network

Time 7h45m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 35

4 pounds whole milk ricotta
3/4 pound shredded mozzarella-provolone mix (50/50)
1/4 pound grated Romano
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons ground black pepper
5 eggs
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
26 lasagna noodles, cooked to al dente
24 ounces Nana's Sunday Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound cooked and sliced Italian rope sausage
6 cooked Nana's Giant Meatballs, recipe follows
1/2 pound sliced provolone
1/4 cup grated Romano
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 pound pork neck bones
1/4 pound pork rib tips
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
3 pounds canned crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
3 pounds tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
6 ounces breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 egg
1/2 medium diced yellow onion
Extra-virgin olive oil, for rolling meat

Steps:

For the cheese filling: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella mix, Romano, parsley, pepper and eggs in a large bowl.
For the lasagna: Coat bottom of a 9-by-13-by-3-inch baking pan with the olive oil. Layer 14 lasagna noodles overlapping each other in bottom of pan. Add 8 ounces Nana's Sunday Sauce spread evenly over pasta, then pour in half of the cheese filling. Evenly spread all of sausage on top of the cheese filling and add 7 more lasagna noodles. Add 8 ounces Nana's Sunday Sauce and the remaining cheese filling. Crumble Nana's Giant Meatballs over cheese filling and add 8 slices provolone to cover the meatball layer. Cover the provolone with remaining lasagna noodles. Spread the remaining Nana's Sunday Sauce over noodles and top with Romano. Cover with foil and bake for 3 hours.
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven and add neck bones and rib tips. Sprinkle with garlic salt and brown the meat, about 15 minutes. Add garlic, parsley and onion and cook until translucent, about 15 minutes.
Add crushed tomatoes and basil. Cook down, stirring continuously, about 20 minutes.
Add tomato paste, salt and pepper and 26 cups water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until reduced by a quarter, about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix beef, pork, breadcrumbs, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, egg and onion in a bowl and form into 4-ounce balls. Roll in olive oil and place on a sheet pan. Bake until roasted to golden brown, about 20 minutes.