CRAZY GOOD LASAGNA

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Serves 12. Total prep time 3 hrs 15 min 

(prep 30 min, cook 2 1/2 hrs, cooling 15 min)

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, removed from casings
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 oz) cans tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp white sugar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
12 lasagna noodles
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 lb sliced mozzarella
3/4 cup grated Parmesan

Steps:
1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned.

2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water.

3. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, pepper, and 2 Tbsp Italian parsley.

4. Simmer, covered for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

5. While meat sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8-10 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water. Lay noodles in a single layer on wax paper or foil.

6. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, 2 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley, and 1/2 tsp salt.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. Assemble in large lasagna dish (9x13 minimum) in this order:

1 1/2 cups meat sauce
1/4 cup Parmesan
6 noodles lengthwise, overlapping each other slightly
1/2 ricotta mixture, spread evenly
1/3 mozzarella slices
1 1/2 cups meat sauce
1/4 cup Parmesan
6 noodles lengthwise, overlapping each other slightly
1/2 ricotta mixture, spread evenly
1/3 mozzarella slices
1 1/2 cups meat sauce
1/4 cup Parmesan
1/3 mozzarella slices

9. Cover and tent with foil - don’t allow foil to touch cheese, use cooking spray on foil if needed.

10. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 25 minutes. Cool 15 minutes before serving.