Terri's Baked Lasagna

Another FamSup with Terri's famous lasagna today, to celebrate Portia's return for Thanksgiving break.  Since it's a family favorite, and because I now cook almost exclusively from web recipes, it was time to get this on the blog.

Terri, adapted from Nika Hazelton’s Pasta Cookbook

Ingredients:

12 ounces ground beef

3 T oil

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes pureed

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1/3 c water

1 1/2 t dried basil

1 t oregano

1 t sugar

salt

1/4 t freshly ground pepper

1 bay leaf, broken

2 c (1 pound or 15 ounces) ricotta

1/4 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus 1/2 cup for topping

1 egg

1/2 t salt

1/4 ground pepper

lasagna noodles (1 box-will have left over)

4 c mozzarella

Instructions:

Brown beef  in a pan  large enough to hold all of the sauce ingredients.  Drain and set aside

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in same pan, add onion and garlic.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 8 minutes.  Stir in the meat, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bay leaf and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.

Combine the ricotta, 1/4 cups Parmesan, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl; set aside.

Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large pot.  Add 1tablespoon salt, then add lasagna noodles gradually, so that water continues to boil.  Cook noodles until barely tender, about 5 minutes.  Drain, rinse in cold water, Toss gently with some oil to prevent noodles from sticking

Line bottom of a buttered 13x9 inch baking pan with noodles.

Spread with half of the ricotta mixture.

Sprinkle evenly with half of the mozzarella.

Spread with half of the sauce.

Top with noodles to cover.

Evenly layer the rest of the ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce.

Sprinkle the top evenly with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. 

Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 45 minutes. 

Remove and let stand 15 minutes.

…I never knew how to make Lasagna until I tried this recipe, now apparently it is “one of the best”, Thank you Nika!!!!!

Makes 1 13x9 inch pan and serves about 8 people.