INSTRUCTIONS:

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU ORDERED MULTIPLE KITS PACKED TOGETHER, ADD A FEW MINUTES TO THE TIMES FOR HOT FOOD.

I'd serve the focaccia and artichoke pesto along with the romano beans and mozzarella as a first course, and then serve the lasagna with the zucchini.  The focaccia is TECHNICALLY for the artichoke pesto, but if some of those romano beans and mozzarella end up on some focaccia, something even better might happen. The lasagna is great and has lots of flavors going on, and that magic is even more pronounced when served with the zucchini dish.  If you break this into smaller meals, I would still recommend having the lasagna along with the zucchini.


First, do this:

• heat your oven to 350 degrees

• leave the artichoke pesto, romano beans, and soft mozzarella out at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before serving

• store the polenta cake (if ordered) wrapped and at room temperature

• store the bread at room temperature... if you aren't using it today or tomorrow, FREEZE it and then allow to thaw before following the instructions below.

FOCACCIA WITH ARTICHOKE PESTO
350 degree oven, 12-15 minutes for the bread, room temperature for the artichoke pesto
uses the yellow-greenish artichoke pesto

Leave the artichoke pesto out at room temperature for a bit before serving.

You've got 2 options for the focaccia: heating that chunk whole for a soft-bread result, or slicing the focaccia before heating for firmer pieces. I like the whole-chunk approach, but if you want the slices more toasted then slice before placing into the oven and follow the heating directions below (or toast the slices in a toaster oven for an even toastier result.)

Place the focaccia onto a foil-lined baking tray, and warm in the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are crispy. Allow the focaccia to cool for 5 minutes, then cut into thumb-thickness slices and serve warm or at room temperature. Serve with the artichoke pesto on the side, spreading the pesto onto the slices of focaccia to eat.

ROMANO BEANS & SOFT MOZZARELLA
room temperature
uses the chunky white soft mozzarella

Stir the beans in their container a little, then spoon the dressed beans onto a sharable plate, leaving behind the liquid for now. Put a gigantic scoop of mozzarella in the center, using it all (do multiple 2-person plates if you're serving more than one kit at once to more than 2 people.) Pour the liquid from the container over the mozzarella, then sprinkle the mozzarella with a pinch or two of salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature, making sure to get some bites with both the dressed beans and the soft mozzarella.

REAL DEAL LASAGNE BOLOGNESE
350 degree oven, 30-40 minutes

Grab a baking tray and line it with foil. Spray well with cooking spray. While the slices of lasagna are still cold from the fridge, remove them from the container and place them onto your foil-lined-and-sprayed baking tray (if you ordered multiple kits packed together, the lasagna slices are probably in a metal container, and they can be heated in that.) Leave a little room between the slices. Spray the top of each lasagna slice with a little cooking spray, then place the tray into your preheated oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top of the lasagna is crispy and the bottom is sizzling. The slices should be soft on the inside when you poke them, and quite hot. The slices SHOULD stay standing, but its not a big deal if they end up leaning over a bit.

Remove the tray from the oven and, using a spatula, transfer each slice onto individual plates. Serve hot, preferably alongside the zucchini.

ZUCCHINI "IN CARPIONE"
room temperature

Stir the zucchini gently, then serve at room temperature. If you're serving this on a small shareable plate, pour the liquid over the zucchini... if you're just putting it right onto individual plates, leave the liquid behind.

"AMOR POLENTA" CAKE WITH MARINATED STRAWBERRIES (if ordered)
room temperature
uses the saucy strawberries

Store and serve the cake at room temperature. Lay a slice flat on a plate, then put a nice scoop of those saucy strawberries on top.