Perfect Lassanga

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 lb pork sausage
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
3 tablespoons capers ( they add so much flavor) (optional)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs
3 tablespoons dried parsley
24 ounces small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) cartons ricotta cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 lb no-boil lasagna noodles
6 slices provolone cheese
4 -6 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded ( how much you use is your preference)
1 bunch green onion, chopped ( white and light green sections only)
1 (4 1/4 ounce) cans black olives, sliced, drained

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large skillet, brown beef and sausage together over medium heat until crumbly and no longer pink. Drain well.
• To meat, add tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, sugar, Italian seasoning, capers, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer uncovered for one hour, stirring occasionally.
• In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add parsley. Fold in cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate until sauce is done.
• Spray the bottom of a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray. Spread about 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the pan.
• Place 1/3 of the noodles on top of the meat sauce, overlapping as needed to cover all the sauce.
• On top of the noodles, layer the provolone cheese slices, 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture and about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Place another 1/3 of the noodles on top.
• Layer approximately 2 cups meat sauce, the remaining cottage cheese mixture and 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese.
• Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella.
• If desired, garnish with black olives and green onions scattered on top.
• Cover and bake for 50 minutes.
• Uncover, bake 10-20 minutes longer, just until the cheese reaches a golden doneness.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• Leftovers freeze well.

Re-posted via "theitaliankitchen.org"