Our “What’s for Dinner” series is designed to equip you for the weeknight rush, but sometimes – especially this time of year — we aren’t in a rush. We might even have all day to cook — we might play hooky, get a snow day, or stay home with a sick kid, like I did on Friday.

I used the opportunity to start a version of traditional lasagne bolognese — no shortcuts. I slow cooked the namesake sauce, perfuming the house all day; then, on Saturday, I made the spinach pasta; yesterday morning I whisked the béchamel; and last night I put it all together and had some friends over.

In fact you can make the lasagne in one day; spending three days in the kitchen was an imposition on my family and if it hadn’t turned out so well I think my wife would have slow-cooked me. Also, I’m embarrassingly unprepared for the work week now, but I wanted to pretend I lead a leisurely Mediterranean life. I blame all of the glorious Italy content that’s broadcast directly into my eyes and ears.

On Instagram, the photographer Sam Youkilis shares meditative short videos: In Rome, an old man in a nice tan suit is shown eating an ice cream cone like it’s nobody’s business; in Naples, a large family, all in bathing suits, sits at a picnic table eating and passing tomatoes and bread; and in Positano, a soothing orange cream sky radiates over the sea. On Food with Mark Bittman, Rita Sodi and Jody Williams of Via Carota recently shared the simple pleasure they derive from an artichoke in season and good olive oil. On TV, The White Lotus just wrapped up its second season, which is set in Taormina.

Slow cooking a bolognese was as close to Italy as I’m going to get right now. And as I poured the milk into the meat sauce, and gently stirred, the colors swirled from a deep red into an orange cream, like that Positano sunset. 

Below are recipes for Mark’s Lasagne Bolognese — including the meat sauce, Béchamel, and Fresh Spinach Pasta, along with assembly instructions. I recommend doubling the recipe and freezing one entire lasagne.

I’m also including three (faster) dishes that would accompany the lasagne well and will satisfy that Italian itch:

• Broccoli, Cauliflower, or Just About Anything Else, Roman Style

• Endive and Radicchio with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

• Roasted Chestnut Soup

Lasagne Bolognese

Makes: 6 to 8 servings
Time: 45 minutes with prepared sauces and pasta (or up to several hours start-to-finish)

From Mark: You can make all the components of this recipe in advance. I help you with the timing and assembly here, but if you freeze anything, it’s up to you to have everything thawed, properly seasoned, and ready to go before beginning assembly.