Davis Family Lasagna

This is not your average lasagna. It is so jam packed with flavor, texture and ooey gooey cheese. Makes a ton. Pretty much you will be eating it daily for a week but won't be sick of it :) Also plan on starting lasagna one day before you actually plan on eating it. 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic,  minced
• 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
• 4 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
• 4 (6.5 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 4 Tb white sugar
• 2 t ground fennel
• 2/3 cup fresh chopped basil
• 4 t Italian seasoning blend
• 1 t black pepper
• 3 Tb fresh chopped parsley
• No boil lasagna noodles
• 32 oz ricotta 
• 2 eggs
• 1 t salt
• 2 Tb fresh chopped parsley 
• 3 bags shredded mozzarella
• 1 jar parmesan cheese 

In a large stock pot, brown sausage and beef with chopped onion and garlic over medium heat.  Drain grease. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and tomato sauce. Season with sugar, fennel, italian seasoning,  pepper and 3 Tb fresh parsley.

 Cover and refrigerate over night.

 This is what I do with all of my homemade marinaras, pizza sauce, etc. I learned this from a professional caterer.  If you put your sauce in the fridge overnight, the flavors will attach to each other just as they would if you simmered it on the stove for 3 hours. Saves such a mess and it's hard not to burn the bottom of acidic sauces while on the stove top. Seriously, try this with your lasagna or any homemade tomato sauce.

The following day take your sauce out of fridge and let come to room temperature for 30-40 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 375*. 

In a small bowl, mix ricotta with egg, 2 Tb parsley, and 1/2 t salt.

1. To assemble lasagna, spread a layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. 
2. Arrange 5 noodles lengthwise over sauce.  
3. Spread a layer (1/2 of bowl's worth) of the ricotta mixture over noodles.
4. Pour an additional layer of meat sauce over ricotta layer.
5. Sprinkle 1 bag of shredded mozzarella and 1/3 jar parmesan over that.
6. Arrange 5 more noodles over cheese layer.
7. Spread a last layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
8. Pour an additional layer of meat sauce over the ricotta layer.
9. Sprinkle another bag of shredded mozzarella and 1/3 jar parmesan over that.
10. Arrange 5 more noodles over cheese layer.
11. Pour a last layer of meat sauce. 
12. Top with the remaining bag of mozzarella and last of parmesan. 

Cover with foil and bake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Amazing with garlic bread. 

Garlic Bread Ingredients:

• 4 Tb melted butter
• 2 t evoo
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1 t oregano 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Spread on thick sliced bread tops and place on greased baking sheet and broil until golden, 5 minutes or so.