Uncle's Lasagna

Prep notes: Add fresh chives and ground basil to cheese mixture; simmer hot peppers, including seeds, in tomato sauce; saute onion, mushrooms and garlic cloves etc; then add sauteed vegetables to strained ground beef; pour sauce over meat and vegetables; simmer just above low for approximately 20 minutes

Good

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375⁰ and grease 9x13 baking pan / dish

Step 2

In medium mixing bowl, combine sausage and ground beef by hand

Step 3

Pour tomato sauce into a medium-sized sauce pan, add Fresno peppers, whatever spices and herbs you prefer, and stir over medium low heat.

Step 4

Place lid on pan and allow ingredients to simmer just above low until ready to combine with meat and vegetables. Stir occasionally.

Step 5

Next saute the onions, mushrooms; once onions are tender and mushrooms slightly "al dente" add garlic, stir, and cook briefly until fragrant.

Step 6

Set cooked vegetables aside on a plate.

Step 7

In the the same saute skillet, over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until there is no more pink; strain the excess oil

Step 8

Add above vegetables and red sauce to the meat in the skillet; stir, cover and simmer mixture on reduced heat for approximately 20 minutes.

Step 9

Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix ricotta, grated fresh mozzarella, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, fresh chives, and ground basil

Step 10

In 12x 8 baking dish, spread 1.25 cups meat sauce on bottom

Step 11

Top with 3 unboiled lasagna noodles plus half of cheese mixture placed in spoon-sized dollops

Step 12

Repeat layers: Sauce, then noodles, then cheese mixture

Step 13

Top with remaining sauce

Step 14

Slowly pour small stream of water around inside edges of baking dish; top with additional generous sprinkling of grated parmesan

Step 15

Cover tightly with foil; bake for 45 minutes; then, remove foil, cook for an additional 10 minutes; allow to set for 5 additional minutes uncovered on cooling rack