Lasagna / Lasagne

My older kids recently got into reading all the Garfield (the big orange cat) comic books. Ever since then, lasagna has been even more of a favorite. Go figure!

Lasagna / Lasagne (which is the correct spelling?? I don’t know)

1 – 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced; or garlic powder to taste
salt and pepper
1 tsp. Italian seasoning, or to taste
1 – 8oz can tomato sauce (or more, if you like it saucier)
1/2 to 1 – 6oz can tomato paste

2 cups cottage cheese (small container)
2 eggs
1 – 10oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed and drained

9 lasagne noodles

2 – 3 cups grated cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, or some of each (add parmesan, too, if you have it)

Heat large pot of water to boil noodles, according to package directions (al dente). Put a bit of vegetable oil in the water to help keep the noodles from sticking together, and when you place the noodles in the boiling water, fan them out rather than putting them in in a pile, push them in as they soften, and stir them around a bit. When done, remove from heat, drain, and use as soon as possible. If they sit too long after draining, they’ll start to stick together. (You can leave them in the hot water, but they’re pretty hot to handle that way).

Meanwhile, brown ground beef or turkey with onion and garlic, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce and paste, add Italian seasoning, and heat to a simmer. Turn off heat when ready to assemble lasagne. (Add a little water if sauce doesn’t seem juicy enough).

While meat is cooking, thaw and drain spinach and mix together in a bowl with eggs and cottage cheese. Grate cheese and set aside in another container.

When noodles and meat sauce are done, it is time to assemble the lasagne in a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Layer: a little meat sauce, 3 noodles, 1/2 of the spinach mix, 1/3 of the meat sauce, 1/3 of the grated cheese. Then, another layer of 3 noodles, the rest of the spinach mixture, 1/3 each of the meat sauce and cheese. Finally, one more layer of 3 noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and grated cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375*F for 35 – 40 minutes until bubbling.

Green salad and corn go nicely as sides.