Marinara Sauce and Lasagna

[Roxy]

These recipes are from my friend Mo. She is one fantastic cook. I just got this from her the other day and am looking forward to making it..enjoy

 

MARINARA SAUCE

 

 

2 TBSP Olive or Salad Oil (I prefer olive oil)

2 Garlic Cloves (pressed)

1 Onion (tennis ball size chopped fine)

1 - 28 oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 - 5.5 oz.can Tomato Paste

1 - 14 oz. Can Hunt's Tomato Sauce

1 TBSP Sugar or Splenda

2 tsp. Sweet Basil

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

 

In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, in oil, cook garlic & onion until tender, about 5 minutes or so. Be careful not to burn, or sauce will be bitter). Stir in crushed tomatoes, their liquid, and remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to low; cover; simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to burn!

 

(This recipe can be doubled...Any left over sauce may be frozen for use later.)

 

 

*NOTE: This sauce is great for lasagna, manicotti, or any kind of pasta dish, such as spaghetti, rigati, rigatoni, homemade raviloli etc.

 

It can also be used as a pizza sauce. (If using as a pizza sauce, prepare as directed, but add to the recipe 1 tsp. of Italian seasoning and 1/2 to 1 tsp. of thyme).

 

You can turn this sauce into a meat sauce by adding thoroughly fried ground beef and bulk Italian sausage to the sauce, simmer as directed.

 

Mo's Lasagna

(Prepare "Mo's Marinara Sauce" as directed, and set aside)

 

 

1 ¼ pounds lean ground beef

 

1 TBSP. olive or salad oil (I use olive oil)

 

1 Onion (tennis ball size, chopped fine)

 

1 green pepper, chopped fine

 

2 cloves garlic, minced

 

1 can stems & pieces mushrooms, well drained

 

1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, very well drained

 

2 cups 1% or 2% cottage cheese

 

2 TBSP. grated Parmesan cheese

 

2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

 

9 lasagna noodles, cooked as directed on pkg.

 

1 - 9 x 13 baking pan, glass or metal (I use glass)

 

 

Cook lasagna noodles as directed, rinse in colander and set aside.

 

 

In large fry pan cook ground beef, onion, green pepper, and garlic in 1 Tbsp. Oil until ground beef is thoroughly cooked. Reduce heat, and add well-drained spinach and the mushrooms. Continue to cook for about 10 minutes.

 

Remove from heat and place into a large mixing bowl and cool completely! When cooled to room temperature, add cottage cheese, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the grated mozzarella cheese. Stir together well.

 

In 9 x 13 pan, layer on bottom of pan like this:

 

Marinara sauce, and then 3 noodles, then 1/2 the meat mixture

 

Marinara sauce, then 3 noodles, then the rest of the meat mixture

 

Marinara sauce, then the last 3 noodles, and more sauce on top.

 

(DO NOT ADD ANY GRATED MOZZARELLA ON TOP BEFORE BAKING!)

 

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 

Remove lasagna from oven, uncover, and immediately sprinkle all the grated mozzarella on top so it can melt. Allow to sit on counter for 10 minutes before serving.

 

Serve with tossed salad & garlic toast!