Lasagna

Lasagna is my boyfriend's most requested meal (maybe tied with shrimp and grits). Since he moved to a new apartment recently, I made him a lasagna to enjoy after all the heavy lifting.

I'm not much help with moving but I bring dinner so things even out, right?

This is a recipe I have adapted a few times from a Southern Living recipe. It is not authentic Italian, but that's fine by me.

Also, I made 2 lasagnas at once so the amount of food in my pictures is twice the amount of food I'm telling you to use.

You will need: 1 lb lean ground beef, 1/2 lb mild Italian sausage, 1 package pepperoni (weird I know but so good), 1 small can of tomato paste, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 onion, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1/4 cup of sour cream (not pictured), 2 eggs (also not pictured), 1/4 cup of red wine, 6 lasagna noodles, 1 Tbsp dried parsley, 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning, 2 Tbsp fresh basil, 1 beef boulion cube, 2 cups of mozzarella, 1/2 cup of parmesan, and 1 tsp garlic powder.

I know, it's a lot. Also, I'm sorry I forgot to take photos of several ingredients.

In a large skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef and 1/2 lb of mild Italian sausage.

Crumble the meat.

While the meat is browning, chop up a half of a large onion....

And a half of a red bell pepper.

After the meat is all browned and you've drained the grease, add the onion and pepper to the skillet.

Stir it all up.

Pour in half a cup of red wine and let all the liquid evaporate.

Add in a small can of tomato paste.

Stir it up and coat all of the meat in the tomato paste.

Pour in a can of tomato sauce...

Followed by a can of diced tomatoes.

Add in a tablespoon of dried parsley...

1 Tbsp of Italian seasoning and 1 tsp of garlic powder...

And 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano.

Grab some fresh basil, stack it up...

And give it a rough chop...

And throw it in too.

Now let the sauce simmer while you get the other layers ready.

In a medium bowl, throw in 8 oz of room temperature cream cheese...

1 cup of cottage cheese...

2 eggs...

and 1/4 cup of sour cream.

Blend it all together until the cream cheese lumps are as small as the cottage cheese curds.

Now it's time to layer! Spread a small amount of sauce on the bottom of a greased pan. If the sauce seems too thick after simmering, add some water. Or wine. Your choice.

Now lay 3 uncooked noodles on top of the meat sauce.

Now top the noodles with half of the cheese mixture. Then a layer of pepperoni. I forgot to take a photo of this.

Next, layer half of the meat sauce.

And top that with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella.

Repeat the layers.

Now top everything with 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.

Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Mmm... Cheesy. And a huge hit.