No Boil Lasagna

I got this recipe long ago and I love it.  It's super easy.  Now, this wouldn't be "Adventures in Caveat Cooking" if there wasn't some kind of mistake.  I swear, I've made this lasagna a bunch of times and its came out perfect.  This time...no so much.  I didn't use enough sauce (I usually use the big ol jar of Rago/Prego (whatever is on sale, really) but this time I used a small jar) so there wasn't alot of sauce in the actually lasagna.  So if you make this, use the big ol' jar or add 2 cans of tomato sauce (I only used 1).

Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/2 pounds of ground meat
a pack of oven ready lasagna noodles
a pack of mozzarella cheese
a tub of part skim ricotta cheese
a big ol' jar of tomato sauce (whatever brand you like)
some parmesan cheese
some minced garlic
Italian seasoning
1 egg

Tools:
1 skillet
1 big bowl
1 9x13 pan
1 small bowl

Start off by browning your ground meat, add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning.  Once done, drain and add to the large bowl.  And then add your tomato sauce

 See...small jar...make sure you use the big jar or another can of tomato sauce.  And I'd like to point out, I cook almost everything in that Magnalite pan.  I LOOVE it.  My mom has had a set since her wedding 30 years ago (and they look GREAT too) and I received mine from Hub's Aunt D when we got married..I was so happy.

Personally, I think you can really cook IF you can cook in a non non-stick pan and nothing gets burned or stuck to the pan.  Non-stick is for the weak :p

 I totally did the action shots instead of making it all pretty to take a picture...I don't have time for that lol, I needed to make this stuff.  So pay no attention to the everything except the 3 cheeses there and the carton of eggs.

I have a messy counter, I know.  BUT in my defense, it's stuff I use every time I cook (my spices, my olive oil, cooking spray) I don't know why the cup of bacon grease is there...I thought I put it in the fridge...hmmm.  And yes, I save my bacon grease...don't judge me. 

Make sure your noodles say "Oven Ready", believe me.  I tried it once with just regular noodles...the noodles were a bit undercooked and it was not good.

 Ok, so after you add your meat to the sauce (heh), in the small bowl add the egg and ricotta cheese and a 2-3 shakes of your parmesan cheese. and stir well until it's all mixed.

 Then in your pan, put a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan, remember your sauce cooks the noodles, so don't freak when you have a big ol' bowl of sauce, trust me...you will use it.

 Then put a layer of noodles.  Now in my pan, I have to do the noodle configuration like this and I actually like it this way.  I do have to break off a bit to the top to fit - BUT be careful because you only have 1 extra noodle.

 Then add a layer of sauce, then a 6 globs of the ricotta mixture and spread them as best you can. Then sprinkle some mozzarella over the whole thing.  More mozzarella the cheeser it will be, so don't go overboard.

 And repeat.  Noodles, sauce, cheese.  you'll get about 2 layers - max.  After the last cheese application (use all the cheese..do not be afraid), put your noodles on top and cover it with ALL the sauce.  The more sauce, the better (and I should know, right..tsk tsk)

 After you've put all your sauce, cover that baby with cheese.  Now, I know you're probably asking yourself..."Em..is that yellow cheese I see?"..why yes, yes that is yellow cheese.  Truth be told, I didn't have a full bag of mozzarella, so I kind of ran out, so I improvised and add some cheddar that I had in the fridge.  Cheese is cheese to me. Oh, when you finally lift it to put it in the oven, you'll probably say "sweet jesus, this damn thing is heavy"...well, you do have alot of sauce in there.  But yes, it will feel like a brick but it will lighten up once it cooks.

Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.  Then bake uncovered for about 10-15 minutes or when the cheese starts to brown.

And VOLIA!!! You have lasagna! and you didn't have to boil anything!!

 I told you, you always get stuck with one extra noodle...what in the crap am I gonna do with one measly noodle..*scoff*.