Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes + 20 minutes resting time

Serving: 8 people

A Word From The Cook

“The basil leaves add a new dimension of flavours to a classic lasagna.”

Ingredients

Tomato and Meat Sauce:

• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Medium Onions (diced)
• 1 Rib Celery (diced)
• 1 Medium Carrot (diced)
• 1 1/2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Small Can Tomato Paste
• 2 28 oz Can Tomatoes (diced)
• 1 Cup Red Wine
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1/2 tsp Freshly ground Black Pepper
• 1 large bunch Basil Leaves (washed and left whole)

LASAGNA and Fillings

• 1 box Lasagna Noodles (cooked as directed or I use the no-cook GF noodles)
• 1 large Tub 1% Cottage Cheese
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 3 Cups Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)
• 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Instructions

Meat Sauce:

1. In a large sauce pot, heat Olive Oil over medium heat.
2. Sauté Onions, Celery, Garlic, and Carrots until softened (about 5 minutes)
3. In another sauté pan cook the ground beef and drain the excess fat.
4. In a large stock pot, combine the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, oregano, red wine, salt and pepper.   Bring to a slow boil.
5. Add the sautéd vegetables to the stock pot and the drained ground beef.
6. Simmer with the lid off, stirring occasionally.  Sauce should thicken.
7. Discard the bay leaves when finished cooking.

Lasagna:

1. Cook the lasagna noodles as directed
2. Mix the Cottage Cheese, Eggs and Pepper in a small bowl.
3. Prepare the Mozzarella Cheese and the Basil Leaves

Construction of Lasagna:

1. Spread 1 to 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce on bottom of 9 x 13 glass baking dish.
2. Cover with Noodles.
3. Cover the noodles with another 1 cup of sauce and add the Cottage Cheese and basil leaves .
4. Cover with Noodles.
5. Cover this layer with another cup of sauce,  1/2 the Mozzarella and the spinach leaves .
6. Add 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce.
7. Cover this with Noodles.
8. Add the remaining Mozzarella Cheese and 1 cup of sauce.
9. Cover this with Noodles.
10. Add another 1 cup of meat sauce.

Baking Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven to 375°
2. Cover the lasagna with tin foil.
3. Bake covered for 45 minutes.
4. Remove the tin foil, sprinkle with 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese.
5. Continue to bake for 15 more minutes (cheese will brown slightly).
6. Remove from oven loosely cover with foil and let stand for 20 minutes prior to cutting.