BEST-EVER LASAGNA

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Yikes, another lasagna recipe you say? I love all the variations of this Italian classic, but this one is the best I've ever had. I think it's originally from the Taste of Home cookbook series, but I've tweaked it to my family's taste...and hopefully yours too. Note: Allow about 2 hours and 40 minutes from kitchen to table because the sauce needs to simmer for 1 hour and then the lasagna, once assembled, needs to cook for 50-70 minutes and rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Provided by RedhairMac

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 2h40m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 lb ground beef
1 lb pork sausage
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
3 tablespoons capers (they add so much flavor) (optional)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs
3 tablespoons dried parsley
24 ounces small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) carton ricotta cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 lb no-boil lasagna noodles
6 slices provolone cheese
4 -6 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (how much you use is your preference)
1 bunch green onion, chopped (white and light green sections only)
1 (4 1/4 ounce) can black olives, sliced, drained

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a large skillet, brown beef and sausage together over medium heat until crumbly and no longer pink. Drain well.
  • To meat, add tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, sugar, Italian seasoning, capers, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer uncovered for one hour, stirring occasionally.
  • In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add parsley. Fold in cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate until sauce is done.
  • Spray the bottom of a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray. Spread about 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the pan.
  • Place 1/3 of the noodles on top of the meat sauce, overlapping as needed to cover all the sauce.
  • On top of the noodles, layer the provolone cheese slices, 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture and about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
  • Place another 1/3 of the noodles on top.
  • Layer approximately 2 cups meat sauce, the remaining cottage cheese mixture and 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese.
  • Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella.
  • If desired, garnish with black olives and green onions scattered on top.
  • Cover and bake for 50 minutes.
  • Uncover, bake 10-20 minutes longer, just until the cheese reaches a golden doneness.
  • Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
  • Leftovers freeze well.

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