Lasagna

Lasagna is our favorite meal to bake when we invite friends or family over for dinner. We found this recipe on allrecipes.com and after a few tweaks here and there..... perfection! This particular recipe is one we highly encourage you add and subtract amounts of ingredients to fit your own taste palette. The following recipe with our tweaks lends towards the sweeter side from the mild italian sausage and increased amount of basil. Fresh Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese along with the sauce makes a perfect blend to make your mouth water and you wanting more than one piece.

Original Recipe from Allrecipes.com World's Best Lasagna

1. In a large saucepan, or dutch oven, cook

-1 lb Italian sausage (we used mild but if you like a spicier taste we suggest trying hot Italian sausage)
-3/4 lb ground beef
-1/2 cup minced onion
-2 garlic cloves, crushed

over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess grease.

2. Stir in

- 2 medium chopped tomatoes or 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
- 2 (6.5 oz) cans canned tomato sauce----- we use our own homemade tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water

3. Season with

- 4 tablespoons fresh basil
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

*if following the original recipe, we found 1 tablespoon salt was too much, as was 2 tablespoons sugar

4. Simmer, covered, for around 90 minutes, stirring every once in awhile
* To increase the flavors we make the sauce the night before so the spices have time to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

5. Cook 12 lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8-12 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.

6. In a medium mixing bowl combine 16oz ricotta cheese with one egg, 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

8. Assemble lasagna

-spread 1 1/2 cups meat sauce in the bottom of a 9X13 inch pan
-arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over the meat sauce
-spread half the ricotta cheese mixture on top of the noodles
-top with 1/4 lb mozzarella cheese sliced or shredded and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-Spread 1 1/2 cups meat sauce
-arrange last 6 noodles lengthwise
-spread remained ricotta cheese mixture
-top with 1/4 lb mozzarella cheese sliced or shredded and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-Top with remained meat sauce mixture
-Top with remainder 1/4 lb mozzarella cheese sliced or shredded and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

9. Cover with foil.
*Make sure foil does not touch the cheese, or spray foil with with cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking.

10. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and sauce is bubbling.

11. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

12. Enjoy!

Calories 448     Total Fat 21.3g     Cholesterol 84mg