Cottage Lasagna

    After being unable to locate my mom's lasagna recipe this week, I went off on a quest in search of a tasty lasagna that I could jazz up a tad and call my own...
The deed has been done...introducing my "Cottage Lasagna."  This lasagna dish has a mildly spicy flair while incorporating cottage cheese rather than the usual Ricotta, giving it a tad lighter of a texture!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

1 lb. hot Italian sausage

2 tsp. jarred minced garlic

2  14.5 oz. cans diced Italian style tomatoes

2  6 oz. cans tomato paste

dried parsley

dried basil

salt

3 cups small curd cottage cheese

1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1 1/2 lb. sliced or shredded Mozzarella

10 oz package lasagna noodles

oil

First place your two types of meat, and the garlic, in a large skillet and brown thoroughly, breaking it up small.

    

                                                           

Drain some but not all of the drippings. Next add your tomatoes and paste, mixing thoroughly, then add 2 T. each of dried parsley and dried basil, and a tsp. of salt. Simmer the mixture uncovered for 45 minutes.

Start your water and when it boils, cook your lasagna noodles. Depending on the size of your lasagna pan you'll need 8-12 noodles. Add some salt and a tsp. oil to the water to help prevent sticking. Cook them Al Dente, meaning they are still firm in the middle. When done rinse with cold water and lay them out on foil or wax paper to make them easier to work with.

While your pasta is cooking you will prepare your cheese filling. In a mixing bowl combine 3 c. small curd cottage cheese, 2 beaten eggs, 3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese, 2 T. dried parsley and 1 tsp. of salt. Mix it well.

Now you are ready to layer your lasagna!

First, a single layer of noodles...

Then evenly spread a layer of cheese mixture using 1/2 of it...

Next you will place a layer of Mozzarella. I used shredded, but I would have preferred sliced...

Then an even layer of a little bit less than half of your meat mixture. Now you repeat the layering process all over again, finishing up all your items.

Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with the other 3/4 c. of grated Parmesan cheese. Place in the oven uncovered and bake for about 30 min. and until bubbly...

Enjoy enjoy!!! Even better heated up the subsequent couple days!

(pictured with a portion of "Bloomin Onion Cheesy Bread)

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