Pioneer Woman's Lasagna

I've loved lasagna for as long as I can remember. I can be kind of critical sometimes though, I hate big chunks of onion in my sauce because nobody ever seems to be able to cook them right so I can't tell they're there. So while I love lasagna, I don't eat it very often.

Ree says on her website that this is The Best Lasagna Ever (and was quickly shut down by food snobs) and well, maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But it was fantastic. And the ingredients are really easy to get ahold of. So let's make lasagna, shall we?

Here's what you need: Ground beef, hot jimmy dean's sausage, two cans of tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried basil, two cans of tomato paste, cottage cheese, kraft parm, eggs, a pound of mozzarella, and lasagna noodles. Oh and garlic. Can't forget the garlic.

See? Basic stuff here.

First, you cook up your ground beef, sausage and garlic. Man did that smell good. I love garlic. Sometimes when I go to use my cutting board I just smell it before putting it down because I've cut up so much garlic on it, it permanently smells like it.

Drain off most of (or all of) the fat. I left a little bit because I was feeling naughty and I bet it made it taste better. Then add in all your other stuff! Tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, basil, salt, pepper. The original recipe called for 2 cans of whole tomatoes, I used one can of whole and one can of diced.. I'd probably use two of diced next time, but I don't like large chunks of tomato all THAT much.

Simmer that for 45 minutes. That sounds like a long time but it really is the longest part of the recipe and the resulting thick meaty sauce is delicious. But boy, it's pretty thick so you may have to mess with your temp a bit, it kind of doesn't simmer so much as it poofs up until some air can escape, then it deflates. But not in a messy way. Just cook those tomatoes down, is what I'm saying. I think.

While that is cooking, or after it's done, put your cottage cheese, salt, parm, eggs and parsley in a bowl.

And mix it up!

Num. Cottage cheese makes me think of my Auntie Ruth, who is no longer with us. She used to make me wagon wheel noodles and cottage cheese when I would stay at her house when I was little. I miss her dearly.

45 minutes later, your meat sauce is cooked down a bit!

Yum, and boy is it tasty. Mine had a hint of spice cause I went a little heavy on the pepper. But you could add red pepper flakes if you wanted. Oh and I threw a little onion powder in too, just for kicks.

Also while your meat sauce is cooking, you should probably have been boiling your lasagna noodles. I took a look at my pan ahead of time, decided how many noodles I would need, then made a few extra in case some broke or ripped. I didn't boil the whole box of noodles. Though now I have 1/4 box of lasagna noodles and don't know what to do with them. Anyway, add a tablespoon of oil to your water so they don't stick. Lay them out on some foil when they're done so they're ready to go and not sticking!

Begin assembling! I used a 9x13 glass baking dish. Put a layer of noodles on the bottom of the dish, it's okay if they overlap.

Next, half of the cottage cheese mixture.

Then half a pound of your mozzarella cheese.

And finally half of your meat sauce.

At this point, I was starting to worry that it might go over the top of the dish.

Then repeat your layers again, layer of noodles on the meat sauce, the last of the cottage cheese on the noodles, the other half pound of cheese on the cottage cheese layer, then the last of the meat sauce on top. Then cover the top in a generous layer of Kraft Parm!

Mine was a little more generous than intended, but I was just finishing off my container of cheese.

Look, it fit perfectly!

And then you bake it in the oven for 35-45 minutes till it is hot and bubbly. Watch your topping if you wind up going closer to 45, mine was starting to brown around the edges when I took it out.

Yum.

And then EAT IT!

Sorry about my messy plate. That was my second piece. Oh, don't forget to let it sit for 10 minutes before you cut it of it'll fall apart. Moreso than usual.

It was so great. Cheesy, savory, just packed with flavor. And if you think you don't like cottage cheese.. you won't even know it's there.

Make it today! But not for two people, we ate it for days and still couldn't eat it all!

Pioneer Woman's Lasagna (original recipe found here)

• 1-½ pound Ground Beef
• 1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
• 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• ½ cups Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese (I used grated)
• 1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles
• (add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.

In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.

Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.

Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.
------------------

Now that was some lasagna, folks. Do yourself a favor and eat some. And be happy!