LASAGNE CASSEROLE

 

Meat Sauce:

1 pound Italian sausage

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon whole basil

1 ½ teaspoon salt

1 1-lb can (2 cups) tomatoes

2 6-oz cans (1 1/3 cups) tomato paste

 

Brown meat slowly; spoon off fat.  Add remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered ½ hour – stir now and then.

 

Lasagne:

Cook 10 oz lasagne or wide noodles till tender in large amount boiling salted water – this may take 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.

 

Cheese Filling:

3 cups fresh Ricotta or creamy cottage cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese

2 Tablespoons parsley flakes

2 beaten eggs

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 pound Mozzarella cheese, sliced very thin

 

Mix first 6 ingredient. Place half the cooked noodles in a 13x9x2xinch baking dish; spread with half the Cheese Filling; cover with half the Mozzarella cheese and half the Meat Sauce. Repeat layers. Bake in moderate oven 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Before cutting in squares, let stand 10 minutes – filling will settle slightly. Makes 12 servings.