Mom's Basic Lasagna

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 (9 ounce) box lasagna noodles
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 3 cups water
• 1 (1 ounce) package american beauty spaghetti sauce mix
• 2 (12 ounce) cartons small curd cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
• 1 lb grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 rapidly boil 4 quarts water. add 2 tbsp salt and 1 tbsp oil. add lasagna a strip at a time and boil 10-12 minutes or until tender. as it cooks, separate strips occasionally with a fork. drain and rinse with cold water. (if lasagna is not used immediately, let stand in cold water to keep strips separate.).
• 2 in a large skillet brown 1 lb. ground beef in 1 tbsp oil. season to taste with a salt and pepper. stir in tomato paste, 3 cups water (4 6-oz. cans), 1 package (1 oz.) of american beauty spaghetti sauce mix. cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 3 mix together with spoon: cottage cheese, parsley, mozzarella or cheddar cheese.
• 4 lightly grease a large baking dish and spoon enough meat sauce to cover the bottom. top with strips of cooked lasagna. spread with part of the cheese filling.
• 5 repeat layers, ending with meat sauce. sprinkle with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. let stand 5 minutes to set layers. cut into 3-inch squares.
• 6 this can be prepared the day before and refrigerated. when ready to use let stand at room temperature about 1 hour, then bake 1 hour in 350 degree oven.