Classic Lasagna

Classic lasagna is a fairly simple concept--you stack up some noodles with spaghetti sauce, maybe some meat or veggies, and some cheese, and you bake it. Everyone has their own little twist on it though. Some people don't pre-boil their noodles, and some do. Some people use beef, some use sausage, and some use mushrooms or eggplant. That's why everyone loves lasagna--it can be so easily tailored to suit your tastes. This is what I do when I make lasagna.


Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
16 oz part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 c grated paremsan cheese
2 tbsp Italian seasoning 1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper
2 c mozzarella cheese, divided
12 lasagna noodles, boiled and drained
2 1/2 c spaghetti sauce, divided (I used my mom's this time.)


Directions

Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain well. In a large bowl, combine beef, ricotta, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, onion powder, pepper, and 1 c mozzarella cheese. Mix well.

Place three lasagna noodles across the bottom of a 9" x 13" casserole dish. Top with 1/3 of beef mixture, followed by 1/2 c spaghetti sauce. Spread to evenly cover noodles. Repeat the layers of noodles, beef, and spaghetti sauce two more times. Top with remaining 3 lasagna noodles. Cover with remaining 1 c spaghetti sauce, and spread to coat evenly. Sprinkle remaining 1 c mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.


Servings: 8