Lady Di's Lasagna

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb sweet italian sausage (ground beef or lamb sausage can be used if italian sausage is not available)
• 1 medium diced onion
• 1 diced green pepper
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce (or 4 cups of in search of the ultimate spaghetti/pizza/pasta sauce)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh basil (1 teaspoon if using dry)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon mccormick spicy steak seasoning (omit if using spiced italian sausage or you do not want it 'kicked up a notch')
• 12 ounces no-boil lasagna noodles, or
• 1 lb homemade fresh lasagna noodles (perfect egg pasta)
• 1 egg
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese (in a pinch cottage cheese, with the excess milk drained off can be used, or make your own recipe #34)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (in mexico, asadero or chihuahua can be used)
• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese (cotija, also called queso anejado can be used)

Recipe

• 1 meat sauce:.
• 2 sprinkle italian sausage with steak seasoning (if desired).
• 3 brown sausage, onions, garlic and green peppers in olive oil.
• 4 do not over cook, just until meat is no longer pink.
• 5 drain any excess grease.
• 6 add spaghetti sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thick.
• 7 cheese filling:.
• 8 in medium mixing bowl add ricotta cheese, egg and 3/4 cup parmesan cheese (save other 3/4 for layering).
• 9 mix by hand until smooth (mixture should be a little fluffy).
• 10 spray large baking dish with non-stick cooking oil.
• 11 spread 1/2 cup of sauce on bottom.
• 12 place noodles in single layer on top, breaking and piecing together to make fit in pan.
• 13 spread 1/3 of sauce evenly over noodles.
• 14 evenly spoon on 1/3 of parmesan mixture.
• 15 sprinkle with 1/3 mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of remaining parmesan.
• 16 place second layer of noodles and repeat sauce, parmesan mixture and cheese.
• 17 repeat again for final layer.
• 18 cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
• 19 remove lid and bake additional 15 minutes.
• 20 allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.