Ingredients

  • 2 lb Sweet Italian Sausage Or Regular Italian Sausage (chop meat very fine in pan)
  • 2 lb Hamburger Meat (85% 15% mixture and chop meat very fine in pan)
  • 1 large White Onion
  • 6 tbsp Garlic (minced)
  • 2 can 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
  • 4 can 6 oz Tomato Paste
  • 4 can 6.5 oz Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 2 tbsp Salt
  • 4 tbsp White Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 6 tbsp Fresh Parsley (for meat sauce)
  • 2 Bay Leaves (pull these out at the end of simmer)
  • 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon OR Water (or 1/2 and 1/2)
  • 1 cup Loosely Packed Fresh Basil (for meat sauce or 3 tbs dried basil)
  • 64 oz Quality Ricotta Cheese
  • 4 Fresh Eggs (for ricotta mixture)
  • 4 tbsp (Loosely Packed Fresh Basil (for ricotta mixture)
  • 4 tbsp Fresh Parsley (loosely packed-for ricotta mixture)
  • 1 1/3 tsp Salt (for ricotta mixture)
  • 4 pinch Nutmeg (for ricotta mixture)
  • 1 tbsp Dried Italian Seasoning (for ricotta mixture)
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley (for topping)
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Basil (for topping)
  • 1 large Firm Tomato Diced (topping)
  • 2 lb Grated Mozzarella Cheese (room temperature and purchase additional cheese just in case it's needed for the topping)
  • 2 cup Grated Parmesan (room temperature and purchase additional parmesan just in case it's needed for topping)
  • 40 Lasagne Noodles (you may end up with extra unused noodles depending upon your pan sizes)
  • 1 can Spray Pam
  • 1 can Spray Pam (or equivalent)
  • 1 large Electric Skillet
  • 2 large Mixing Bowls

Method

  • Spray Lasagna pans with Pam Cooking Spray or equivalent.
  • Pull out a large electric skillet or extra large pan and two large mixing bowls.
  • DIRECTIONS
  • Here's an easier tip for Lasagna assembly: If you know how many layers of Lasagna you're going to make (3 or 4 depending upon your pan size) divide every ASSEMBLY INGREDIENT in half or quarters as the recipe calls for.
  • (meat sauce, fresh tomatoes, ricotta mixture, basil, parsley, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses) This way you're not overloading one Lasagna and subtracting from the other.
  • *Please, please, please trust me when I say that this dish is exponentially better if made today and allowed to chill covered for 24 hours prior to baking!
  • This recipe also freezes great either cooked or uncooked.
  • Personally, I always make two pans, freeze one immediately and allow the other sit for 24 hours then bake it.
  • However, due to time restraints and unexpected guests arriving, I have been forced to bake both immediately after constructing and it STILL received rave reviews!