I have a few things to share with you today. I know you don’t have a ton of time to read endless paragraphs and endless blogs and, honestly, I don’t have the time right now to write as much as I’d like! However, I wrote on my last post about making lasagna on Christmas Eve as our tradition. I also said I love doing it myself, even though it would be easiest to buy it prepared or pay someone else (who is likely a much better cook!) to prepare it for me.
Since I do enjoy doing it myself I opted for more time crunch, made one to keep and one to give away and enjoyed the time in my kitchen prepping and listening to Christmas carols. What I’m not enjoying is my tennis elbow from stirring the mounds of sauce!
If you want a REALLY GOOD and simple lasagna I’m here for you. And since it’s a holiday and a special occasion it is not a lightened version. It is made of all whole, real ingredients. You can whip it up in just 30 minutes and have it ready to cook for later or freeze. So simple but SOOOO good!
My FAVORITE Lasagna
- 1-1/2 pound Grass Fed Ground Beef
- 1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
- 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
- 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
- 2 whole Beaten Eggs
- 1/2 cup Grated Good Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese (optional: plus 1 pgk Garlic and Herb Jack Cheese. Sargento makes this if you can find it)
- 1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles
- (add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and olive oil to the water.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain off half the fat from the meat. Add in the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. Mix well and let the sauce simmer for about 45 minutes while you prep the filling.
In a medium bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, and 2 more Tablespoons of parsley. Mix together well. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).
Cook the lasagna noodles to “al dente” . Drain and lay out flat on the counter for easy assembly and to keep them from sticking in a folded mess.
Now the fun begins!
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spreading evenly. Next layer slices of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat sauce mixture over the top.
Repeat, and use the Garlic Herb Jack cheese if using, ending with meat sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
Now I have two things to share that I’ve read this week and have loved. Here are two Blessings I want to leave you for your Christmas Holiday. If you are too rushed right now to read them and soak them in, come back to them when it is quiet and you have the time.
is a wonderful read. And here is my blessing to you this Season.
Count your blessings instead of your crosses.
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes.
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears.
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean.
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth.
Count on God instead of yourself.
Enjoy Your Day! Enjoy Your Time, Your Family and Your Friends! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing wonderful recepie and your blessing. Wish all people could practice that. This world would be a much happier place. Merry Christmas to your precious famiky
Love hearing from you! Merry Christmas to you and all of your sweet family too!