Comfort Foods from Grandma G

Lasagna

I asked my daughter for an idea of what she thought folks might like to have this week and she said "How about your Lasagna". It looks long and complicated but it isn't. I'm sure you all have made it before and you  just might like to add something different to your dish. I do that a lot.  It's a good dish that can be cut in half and frozen for another time too.  I got this recipe from a neighbor before Ellen was born. This lady really knew how to cook and I have added a few of my own tweaks to it over the years but hers was the main idea. It's really tasty and filling. Serve it with a tossed green salad and Garlic Bread and you have a hearty meal for any time of the year. 
                                       Lasagna 
Meat Sauce:

 l lb. Ground Chuck, plus ½ lb. Ground Italian Sausage

 ½ half Green Pepper, diced fine
 I large Onion, chopped
2 cloves of Garlic, chopped
A couple of Tbs. Oregano, to your taste
Salt and Pepper
Fry above and drain well. Set aside.

Pour into a large skillet:

1 jar Prego or Ragu Sauce 32 oz. [which ever you like]
2 Tbs. Sugar
1 can sliced Mushrooms
1 large can Tomato Sauce [I'm talking 15oz.]
Add the drained meat mixture to this sauce and simmer about 30 minutes. You want his sauce thick, not runny.

Cheese Filling:

3 Cups Cream Cottage Cheese [you may have to drain it]
½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbs. Parsley
2 eggs well beaten
Salt and pepper to taste [don’t go nuts tho]
Mix this up and set aside. [Looks horrible but it will be fine]
2-6 oz. Packages of sliced Mozzarella Cheese  
1-2 cup Package of Grated Mozzarella Cheese
1-2 Cup Package of Grated Cheddar Cheese

Lasagna Noodles 

Heat to boiling 3 qt. Water [don’t salt before, it takes longer to boil]
Add 1 ½ tsp.  Salt when it’s boiling.
Gradually stir in noodles. I use the whole package because some of them tear up. You will need about 10 or 12 depending. Cook about 10 minutes and then blanch in cold water. They will stick together, so be sure everything else is ready to put together.

Spray a 13 X 9 ovenproof pan. Place a small amount of sauce on the bottom, then 4 noodles. They will overlap but that’s okay. Spread with meat mixture sauce, then ½ cottage cheese mixture then sliced Mozzarella. Then noodles again,4, meat sauce, the rest of the cheese sauce and Mozzarella cheese. Now cover the top of the cheese with noodles. Be sure the top is covered with them. Add remaining meat sauce and spread it over noodles.  Cover with foil and put into a 375 oven for about 30 minutes until cooked through. Remember you have eggs in there.  

the last 5 minutes remove foil and top with the Grated Cheese’s.
This needs to stand for at least 10 minutes before cutting or it will not look editable. I always had a fight on my hands when I wanted the famiy to wait because it always slops all over the plate. You want it to cut evenly. [duh!]
Anyway it didn't look too hot to me but they didn't seem to care they were always starved!