Homemade Lasagna!

Dylan and I made some yummy homemade lasagna a few weeks ago and I had to share this awesome recipe!! This one comes to us from The Neely's.  If you aren't familiar with this spunky couple, check 'em out on the Food Network {or here}.  Their show, Down Home with the Neely's, airs on Tuesday mornings at 10 am so DVR away!

This was a great dish to make together, much like our fun pizza nights, since it's so interactive and process oriented.  Simple enough for two people to make, albeit complex enough to taste delish and professional! 

Let's get started!  The full recipe is found {here}

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for pan
• 1 pound ground beef or turkey  {we used beef this time}
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced  {I did 2 cloves bc we love garlic}
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, chopped
• 1 (8-ounce) jar tomato sauce
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (8-ounce) box no-boil lasagna noodles  {definitley get these no-boils}
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt  {we used sea salt instead}
• 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella
• 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Cheddar  {mild cheddar is best}

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray pam/non stick spray on the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish.


The rest described in pics and captions below.

HUGE TIP: Make sure to buy oven ready pasta!! Ronzoni brand is what we went with and Publix carries it.

 

Fuzzy pic : (  This is how to chop garlic.  Lay your kife out flat over the garlic clove and with CAUTION,
with the palm of your hand, lift up and smash down on the flat knife to remove the peel from the garlic.
Then you can dice away! Dice your onion as well.



Heat one tbsp of olive oil in saute pan.  Add the meat, onion and garlic. 
Drain the mixture when the meat is browned and back into the saute pan. 







Add the stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste {the paste gives that yummy injection of intense flavor!}
Cover the saute pan and let simmer for about 15 mins.  Stir quite often.

 

TIP:  We added a few generous dashes of rosemary, basil, and italian seasoning.  Although the recipe doesn't call for this, we wanted that herby flavor that we're accustomed to in meat sauce.  Finished meat sauce pic below....

 

In a large bowl, combine whisked eggs, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper.

Get ready to assemble the lasagna!! My favorite part!  : )

Meat sauce down first {only enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish}.



Next layer, is half the package of no boil, oven ready noodles.

Next layer, half of the cheese and egg mixture. 



Sprinkle half the cheddar and half the mozzarella on top.

 

Repeat each step in the exact same order!

 



Notice sneaky Abbey in the background.  Always waiting for a morsal of food to drop from the counter. : )

 

 

 Bake for 30-35 mins until the sauce is all bubbly and the cheese has a nice light brown crust on top.

YUM!!! Enjoy!