Best Lasagna. Ever

1½ lb. ground beef

1 lb. sausage

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans (14.5 oz.) whole tomatoes

2 cans (6 oz.) tomato paste

2 Tbsp. dried parsley

2 Tbsp. dried basil

1 tsp. salt

3 cups low fat cottage cheese

2 whole eggs, beaten

½ cup grated parmesan

2 Tbsp. dried parsley

1 tsp. salt

1 lb. sliced mozzarella cheese

1 package (10 oz.) lasagna noodles

(add ½ tsp. salt And 1 Tbsp. olive oil to pasta water)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.

In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:

Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.

Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra parmesan.

Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

This recipe can be found here.

Lasagna Roll Ups

20 whole lasagna noodles

Sauce:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 whole onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs.  ground beef or Italian Sausage or any combination of similar meats

2 can spaghetti sauce

1 (15 oz.) can of diced tomatoes

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. basil

 Filling

30 oz. cottage cheese

2 eggs

3/4 cups parmesan cheese

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. basil

2 cups grated mozzarella

Preparation Instructions

Boil lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and lay flat on a sheet of foil.

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the meat and stir it around, cooking it until totally browned. Drain excess fat, then add spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Make the filling by combining cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Stir to combine.

To assemble, spoon a layer sauce into the bottom of disposable foil loaf pans. Spread 2-3 tablespoons the cottage cheese filling on each noodle, and then roll them up. Lay them sideways in the pans (4 will fit in the loaf pans.) Top with remaining sauce, plenty of grated mozzarella, and some grated Parmesan.

If baking immediately, bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

If baking from a frozen state, bake, covered in foil, at 350 for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes, or until lasagna is done.

This recipe is a variation of the one found here.

Stuffed Shells with Sausage and Mushrooms

1 (12 oz.) box jumbo pasta shells

1½ Tbsp. butter

8 oz. cremini mushrooms caps, diced

1 (15 oz.) container ricotta cheese

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

¾ tsp. oregano

2 tsp. basil

¼ tsp. kosher salt

¼ tsp. pepper

12 oz. Italian turkey sausage

6 cups fresh spinach (or 1 9 oz. box of frozen spinach, thawed)

2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1½ cups Parmesan cheese

1 jar spaghetti sauce (26-32 oz.)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook shells according to package instructions.

Heat a medium skillet to medium heat.  Melt butter and add mushroom caps.  Sauté 3-4 minutes.

Place ricotta in a LARGE mixing bowl.  Add eggs and seasonings.  Stir to combine.  When mushrooms are cooked, add those and return skillet to stove.

Remove sausage from its casing and add to skillet.  Break up with spatula and cook until browned and crumbly.  Add this to the ricotta mixture.

Roughly chop spinach and add to ricotta mixture and fold together.  Add 2 cups of mozzarella and 1 cup of Parmesan to the mixture.

Spread spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 9X13 pan.  Fill each pasta shell with 2 rounded tablespoons of filling and nestle snugly in the pan on top of the sauce.  It will fill 24-26 shells.

Top with remaining cheese.  Cover with foil and bake 50-60 minutes.  Remove foil about 10-15 minutes before the end of baking time.

This recipe can be found in Savoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites.  You should buy a copy!

Italian Sausage Lasagna

1 lb sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp basil

1 can (16 oz) tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

12 lasagna noodles

1 carton cottage cheese

½ cup parmesan cheese

1½ tsp oregano

2 cups mozzarella, grated

Cook sausage, onion and garlic in skillet; drain.  Stir in sugar, basil and tomatoes; break up tomatoes.  Heat to boiling; simmer uncovered 45 minutes.

Cook noodles; drain.  Mix cottage cheese, ¼ cup parmesan and oregano.

Spread 1 cup sauce in 9X13 pan.  Top with 4 noodles.  Spread 1 cup cheese mix, then 1 cup sauce.  Sprinkle with 2/3 cup mozzarella.  Repeat.

Cover and bake 30 minutes @350°.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes more.  Let stand 15 minutes.