The Best Lasagna Ever

Pioneer Woman had a recipe for lasagna listed on her site titled Best Lasagna Ever.  Dewayne loves lasagna, well not the lasagna I have fixed before, but good lasagna fixed right. The first time I fixed and the first time I had ever eaten lasagna was the evening before I went into labor with Weston. I fixed lasagna and made sweet tea. I wasn't crazy over either, but fixed it for Dewayne. Having never had lasagna or contractions before, I thought the pain was from eating the lasagna. Silly me. Well, I fixed the lasagna on Thursday and I was in the hospital early the next morning and Weston came Monday evening. You might think I would never want to fix or eat lasagna again, but nah Dewayne likes it and I have been trying to find a good lasagna recipe that he will actually give his stamp of approval on. Over the years I have grown to like lasagna.. Unlike my better half, I am not a picky eater, I can eat about anything made anyway and be fine with it. I have tried several lasagna recipes over the last 9 years. Dewayne hasn't been thrilled with any of them and the last time I fixed I think he had given up on me ever making good lasagna, he said he really didn't like lasagna anymore. When I found this recipe I had to try it, afterall it was titled The Best Lasagna ever. I'll go ahead and tell you, this lasagna is titled right and Dewayne even gave his stamp of approval, he said it was the best lasagna he had ever eaten ever (even in restaurants which included our local Italian Dino's and the ever famous Olive Garden). We both loved it and I think I will keep this as my regular lasagna recipe.

What you need...
*1-½ pound Ground Beef
*1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
*2 cloves Garlic, Minced
*2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
*2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
*2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
*2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
*1 teaspoon Salt
*3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
*2 whole Beaten Eggs
*½ cups Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
*2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
*1 teaspoon Salt
*1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
*1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles (my friend used the no cook noodles & they worked just fine)
*(add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

What you do...
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.

In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:

Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.

Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.

Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.