The Ultimate Lasagna

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3/4 lb sweet italian sausage link
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6 1/2 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 lb mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 in a dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. drain and return to pot.
• 2 stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce,and water. season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley.
• 3 simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• 4 bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• 5 cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. dry noodles on some paper towels.
• 6 in a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• 7 preheat oven to 375 degrees f to assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• 8 arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
• 9 repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• 10 cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
• 11 bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• 12 remove foil, and bake an additional 15 -20 minutes.
• 13 cool for 15-20 minutes before serving. this makes for easier slicing.