Friday 18 September 2015

World's Easiest (and Tastiest) Lasagna!


It has been a while since I have done a post, I apologize...  It has been a crazy summer around my household!  But now, the kids are back in school, routines are being put back in place, and life is as it should be once again... for now!!!
I have to say I did truly love having my girls home all summer... it was great to just be with them, go for bike rides together, check out a few water parks and theme parks, and of course, try out some new recipes!!! I forgot to take pictures of some that were sooo good, so I guess I will have to make them again so I can share them here with you!  We are talking peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, brownies, fruit breads as well as some really delicious, if not addicting, english muffin bread!  You will be hearing from me a lot in the next little while.   :)

Today, however, I thought I should share a staple around here... Lasagna!  I used to go through a whole lot of trouble to make this Italian dish from scratch, we are talking stewing tomatoes to make the sauce!!! And I was proud of my lasagna, it was a ridiculous amount of work!!!  the problem was no one in my house seemed to appreciate my Herculean efforts!  Then one day I was pressed for time so I took a whole lot of shortcuts, and my family raved!!!! I didn't know whether I should be pleased or insulted!!!  Either way, the days of me stewing tomatoes were over!!!!  Now this meal is served almost weekly, it takes maybe 10 minutes to throw together, and in the oven to cook.  It just doesn't get any easier than this folks!!!

To Make this Lasagna, you will need:

  • 450 grams lean ground beef
  • 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce (I use Ragu Tomato and Basil)
  • 1 1/2 cups water (12 oz)
  • 1- 500 gram container low fat cottage cheese (I use 1%)
  • approximately 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (more if you like cheesy lasagna)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, divided 
  • 12 whole wheat lasagna noodles, uncooked
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large sauce pot, cook the ground beef, drain off fat, stir in tomato sauce and water, set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, egg, basil, 1/4 parmesan and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, set aside.
Spray your 9x13 pan with non stick spray and pour 1 cup of the sauce in to cover the bottom of the dish.  place 3 noodles on top of the sauce. Spoon 1/3 of the cheese mixture on the noodles and spread to cover.
 Pour another cup of sauce over the cheese layer.  Continue to layer,
finishing with the last 3 noodles on top.  Pour remaining sauce over noodles, then top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
Spray a piece of aluminum foil with non stick spray and cover the lasagna.  Bake for 50 minutes, then take the foil off and bake for another 10 minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve this with a lovely caesar salad and some fresh crusty bread.
 

These pictures show no mozzarella cheese on the top, because I have a daughter that "hates cheese"!! So if the top looks like it has a lot of cheese, she will fuss.  But if I just mix it all in, it is hands down her favorite dinner!!!  Go Figure!!!!!

ENJOY!!!