olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 28-oz. cans tomato sauce
2 small cans tomato paste
dash of Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. oregano
2-3 tsp. white or brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Pour some olive oil to cover the bottom of a large heavy skillet or Dutch oven. Add onions and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add onion and minced garlic and cook until meat is browned. Drain excess fat and return cooked meat to pot. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, basil, oregano and sugar. Simmer over low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste as sauce cooks. Add more basil and oregano, if needed.
Cheese:
1 large carton ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
4 cups shredded Mozzarella
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a small bowl, stir eggs and parsley into ricotta cheese and set aside.
Noodles:
2 boxes De Cecco No-Boil Lasagna Noodles
or
2 boxes lasagna noodles (boil according to package directions before using)
Assemble:
1 large baking or roasting pan
2 boxes of lasagna noodles
1 recipe of sauce
1 recipe of ricotta cheese mixture
4 cups shredded mozzarella
Spoon sauce to thinly coat bottom of lasagna pan. Make Two Layers using ingredients in the following order and then repeating: lasagna noodles (overlap slightly), sauce, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese. Finish with a final layer of noodles and sprinkle with a small amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover lightly with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese melts and begins to brown slightly - about 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and remove foil. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Slice and serve.
Lasagna may be baked, cooled, covered and refrigerated. To reheat: cover with foil and place in a preheated 325 degree oven until warmed throughout.
Recipe may be divided into smaller pans and layered in the same order. Wrap tightly with foil and freeze. To bake frozen lasagna, keep covered and bake at 325 degrees until hot in center, then remove foil cover and continue to bake until cheese on top is slightly browned. May take 60-90 minutes to heat completely.
