Turner's Fund-Raising Lasagna

Sauce
(1) 29 oz can of tomato sauce
(1) 29 oz can of diced tomatoes
(1) 6 oz can of tomato paste
(1) Finely diced medium onion
(1) Finely diced green pepper
(1) Tube Jimmy Dean SAGE Sausage
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 Tablespoons finely chopped garlic
½ cup white sugar (Do not omit, or your sauce will be bitter.)

Cook sausage in a sauté pan and chop into tiny pieces, add chopped onion. Once onion has turned clear, add chopped green pepper. Cook until pepper is tender. Then add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Do not burn garlic.

Add the meat mixture to the other ingredients and put into a crockpot, simmer 4-6 hours OR add the other ingredients to a large stock pot and simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes.


While sauce simmers, mix the following together to make the cheese mixture:
(1) 24 oz. container of Whole Ricotta Cheese
(1) 24 oz. container of 2 % Cottage Cheese
1 tsp. dried chopped parsley (for color)
1 ½ - 2 cups finely grated parmesan cheese

Mix well. Set aside.


When sauce is complete:
Pour 1 cup of sauce in bottom of 9 x 13 pan. (No need to grease pan)
Then place, four “Oven Ready” lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
Then spread on top of the noodles, 1-2 cups of the prepared cheese mixture.
Sprinkle a layer of grated mozzarella cheese over the top.
Then repeat. Noodles, sauce, cheese mixture, grated cheese. When layering is complete, sprinkle a little dried chopped parsley on the top for added color.

Bake at 350* covered with foil for 30 minutes. (Do not let foil touch cheese). Then uncover and bake another 15 minutes or until edges are bubbling and center of lasagna is golden in color.


Side notes:
The sauce is excellent served with pasta. 

I have found that if I use Hunts or S &W canned tomato product, the final product has more flavor. The store brand sauces do not taste as well. I feel the same way about the Ricotta and Cottage Cheese. Purchase a national brand, and not a store brand.

Yields: (2) 9X13 lasagnas

Any questions? Feel free to contact us. 
Ron.Danielle@gmail.com