A VERY SPECIAL LASAGNA (ACTUAL NAME, I SWEAR!)

A VERY SPECIAL LASAGNA (ACTUAL NAME, I SWEAR!) image

Yield 8 people

Number Of Ingredients 28

MEAT SAUCE:
1/2 pound lasagna noodles
1 pound ground beef (I use 1.5 pounds!)
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
1 T olive oil
3 pounds tomatoes (6-7) (or you can use diced in cans)
1 1/2 t salt
2 T chopped parsley
1 t basil
1/2 t oregano
1/4 t ground pepper
BECHAMEL SAUCE:
1/2 cup butter
4 T flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 chicken boullion cube
1/8 t salt
RICOTTA FILLING:
1 egg
1/2 pound ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/6 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
CHEESES:
1 1/2 cup grated parmesan
8 oz mozzarella, sliced

Steps:

MEAT SAUCE: Cook noodles al dente. Drain and keep in cool water until ready to use. Saute ground beef, onion and garlic in olive oil until meat is no longer pink. Peel, seed and chop tomatoes (or drain canned tomatoes). Add tomatoes, salt, and remaining spices. Cook at a fast simmer until sauce is thick; 30-40 minutes. BECHAMEL SAUCE: Melt butter. Add flour and cook, stirring with a whisk for 1 minute. Slowly add milk and broth. Bring to boil, stirring with whisk. Add boullion and salt. RICOTTA FILLING: Beat egg in bowl. Add cheeses and spices. Stir well with fork. ASSEMBLY: Layer in order in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish...a little meat sauce, half of noodles, half remaining meat sauce, 1/2 cup bechamel, 1/2 cup parmesan, half of mozzarella and ricotta filling, remaining noodles and meat sauce, 1/2 cup bechamel, 1/2 cup parmesan, remaining mozzarella, ricotta, bechamel and parmesan. Dot with butter. At this point, dish may be covered and refrigerated or frozen. From room temperature, bake at 400 degrees, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes or more; until bubbly.