Lasagna

Recipe Name:  Lasagna

Story:  I started making the classic lasagna from the back of the pasta box and over the years have modified it. I have made this since the boys were young so one of the modifications I have made is to add spinach to increase the nutritional value. Sometimes I even made it without meat but I think the families preferred method is with both meat and spinach. It is one of Dustin’s favorite meals.

Years you've been making it:  At least 25 years

Submitted by:  Suzy/Mom

Ingredients:

• 1 package Lasagna noodles
• 2 jars Tomato sauce ( I usually use organic tomato basil sauce)
• 1 lg. container of ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2  8oz pkgs. shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 2  5 oz. pkgs. shredded Parmesan cheese (you can also use a combination of Romano and Parmesan cheese)
• 1 frozen pkg. of shredded spinach
• 1lb ground beef
• ¼ medium onion chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic minced or 2 tsp. prepared minced garlic
• Olive oil
• Wax paper
• Glass pan 8x11.5

Directions:

1. Cook the frozen spinach for 4 minutes in the microwave. Place in a colander to drain and squeeze as much moisture out as possible
2. Sauté ground beef, chopped onion and garlic. Drain and let cool
3. Fill a large pot of water and begin bringing it to a boil. 
4. Prepare the cheese mixture: beat the two eggs, mix with the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
5. Lay out wax paper on the counter and brush a thin layer of olive oil on it.
6. When the water starts to boil add about 1 Tb.s of olive oil, then begin adding the noodles alternating the direction, cook for about 5 minutes or until flexible
7. Remove the noodles with tongs onto the wax paper. 
8. Heat the oven to 350 degrees

Constructing the lasagna

1. Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of the pan enough to spread a thin layer
2. Place 3 noodles on the bottom of the pan, slightly overlapping
3. Take a tablespoon and put dollops of cheese mixture on the noodles with a small space between each dollop
4. Sprinkle half the ground beef, then half the spinach over cheese
5. Pour half a jar of sauce over everything
6. Sprinkle ½ cup of mozzarella and a ¼ cup of parmesan cheese over the sauce.
7. Top with another layer of noodles
8. Repeat as above
9. Top with last layer of noodles, half a jar of sauce, ½ cup of mozzarella and ¼ cup of parmesan cheese

Bake:

1. Cover with tinfoil and bake for 1 hr. 
2. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes
3. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes before serving

Notes:

You will not use all of the cheese mixture.

Sometimes I add some oregano or parsley to the ground beef particularly if I have fresh herbs.

Today they have non-stick tinfoil which is best to use or else some of the cheese will stick to it. 

This makes a lot easily for 6 people but what is left over can be frozen for latter.