Q: Make sure you keep the entire lasagna noodle from breaking, as you will need unbroken sheets when you layer the dish later. Add a pinch of salt to the pot right before you add the noodles and let them cook according to the time on the box, usually 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally, every 1-2 minutes. When they are done, drain the water and set aside the noodles to cool. You will likely need you biggest pot, filled 2/3 with water, to fit the noodles. As you wait for the water to boil and noodles to cook you can move on to making the filling, however. Some companies sell "Oven Ready" noodles that don't need to be boiled, so be sure to read the box to check. Do not move on until the oil is shimmering. This means it is hot, and adding ingredients too soon can lead to soggy, oily food. Translucent simply means that the edges of the onions have begun to turn clear. You do not need the onions to be fully cooked just yet. Looking to get more vegetables in your lasagna? Add 1/2 cup chopped carrots, celery and/or green peppers here as well for a heartier sauce. If you do, allow the vegetables to cook and extra 1-2 minutes. Mix the meat in with the onions and garlic, stirring well, and cook on medium heat until completely browned. Add salt and crushed black pepper, to taste, as it cooks. If you have time, cook the meat in a separate pan, though this is not necessary. If you are using sausage, cut the casings off so you only have the ground meat inside. You can also take this time to add 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano, basil, or rosemary, or simply 1 tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning. The pot needs to be big enough to hold your sauce and tomatoes as well. This is a good time to check on your noodles if you've forgotten them. They should be pliable and soft, but still firm. Pour your 28 ounces of sauce, 12 ounces of crushed tomatoes and 6 oz of tomato paste to the meat and vegetable mixture and stir well. Raise the heat to medium until the sauce comes to a low simmer, when occasional bubbles break the surface of the sauce. You can substitute 36 ounces of pre-made pasta sauce instead of the three different tomato products for a simpler sauce. Take this time to add any additional spices you want, such as garlic powder, sugar, or more seasoning, 1 teaspoon at a time. Many cooks like sugar to balance out the natural acidity of the tomatoes. Lower the heat if it is bubbling too much, you only want a low simmer. The longer the sauce has to cook, the richer it will be. Stir it regularly, being sure to get down to the bottom so that nothing burns. When you're ready to build the lasagna, remove the sauce from heat and let it cool gently. The sauce does not have to be cold to move forward, but letting it cool slightly will make it easier to handle. Whip up one egg with a fork, as if preparing scrambled eggs, and then mix it in with the ricotta. The egg will help the cheese bind with the layers of pasta, keeping your whole dish together when it is done cooking. You want something with tall sides, such as a 13x9x2" or 2-quart baking dish. Spread the sauce evenly, enough to cover the entire bottom of the dish. You should be able to get three noodles vertically layered over the bottom, slightly overlapping. While a little overlap (1" or less) is fine, feel free to trim the noodles with a clean pair of kitchen shears if need be. You want the entire bottom surface covered with noodle. Spread a nice layer of the ricotta over the tops of the noodles so that every bite will be nice and cheesy. Be sure to save the other 2/3 -- you'll need it for the rest of the layers. Get your filling into the pan, spooning it generously over the lasagna. This final layer of cheese will complete your first layer of lasagna. Coat the top enough that the sauce is only poking out in a few places underneath, or use less for a slightly healthier option. The top and final layer should be mozzarella. Just keep layering your lasagna like this to end up with your final, glorious lasagna. Top with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese before putting in the oven. Put a layer of aluminum over the lasagna before it goes into the oven. To prevent the sauce from spilling over the edge as it heats up, you can also place the entire dish on a baking tray to keep the sauce from getting on your oven. [citation needed] Since the dish is technically already cooked, putting it in the oven is meant to melt the cheese and let the flavors meld deliciously. That said, you can take it out when you feel like it is hot and ready to serve. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to brown and bubble the cheese on top. This lets the cheese re-solidify, just a bit, which will keep the layers from sliding off of one another when you serve the lasagna.
A: Cook the noodles in boiling water. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add a diced medium white onion and 2 cloves of chopped garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start becoming translucent. Add the 1lb of ground meat to the pan and cook until browned. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a large sauce pot on medium-low heat. Add the sauce and tomatoes to the saucepot and bring to a simmer. Cook the sauce on a low simmer for 10-15 minutes. Whip your ricotta together with the beaten egg. Spoon a thin layer of sauce into the bottom of a large, oven-safe dish. Lay lasagna noodles over the entire bottom of the dish. Spoon 1/3 of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce over the ricotta. Top the sauce with a generous coating of mozzarella. Continue layering in this pattern --noodles, ricotta, sauce, mozzarella-- until you run out of noodles. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 375, covered with aluminum foil. Let the lasagna sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Q: Keep your mixing time to no less than 1 minute and no more than 2. When plaster isn't properly mixed, it has a tendency to separate. On the other hand, overmixing can cause bubbles to form, which may decrease the strength of the plaster or ruin the smoothness of the finished wall. Perfectly-mixed plaster will be opaque, creamy, and free of lumps, bubbles, or grit. A splash of vibrant color can make walls pop. Stir dry powdered pigment into a container of water to create a slurry, then add the slurry to the plaster bucket just prior to mixing. This will make for effortless blending and help you sidestep common issues like spotting and clumping. When incorporating pigment, you can add up to 10% of the total weight of the plaster you used, or until you reach the desired depth of color. Colored plasters allow certain paint shades to show up better. For instance, royal blue paint will stand out boldly over a blue-tinted plaster base without the need for as many coats of paint as you would need for plain white plaster. They can also be quite attractive on their own, providing a more earthy, natural look to a room. right away. Once it's been mixed, pour the plaster onto a damp spot board to prepare it to be scooped onto a hawk. Depending on the working time of the plaster, you'll have somewhere between 5-45 minutes to get it onto the wall before it begins to harden, so don't delay. For best results, always mix your plaster just before you smooth it on. Plaster spreads and sticks best when it's fresh.
A:
Avoid under- or over-mixing. Add pigment for bolder colors. Apply the plaster