The Best Lasagna I've Ever Made....

...granted, this was the first lasagna I've ever made, but I think it turned out pretty darn great!

I tried lightening it up in just any way I could think of. I was making a lasagna though, which is noodles, cheese, more cheese, and meat, so I figured this was a recipe that would just have to be. I semi-made my own meat sauce, which turned out delicious! I plan on making this sauce again for spaghetti.

Ingredients:

Meat Sauce:
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1 lb chicken Italian style sausage
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp Italian seasonings
salt & pepper to taste
2 jars of your favorite marinara sauce

Cheese Filling: 
2 lbs part skim ricotta cheese
8 oz part skim mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1 package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and moisture squeezed out.
2 eggs

Lasagna:
1 lb lasagna noodles
8 oz part skim mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan

Directions:

1) In a large dutch oven, ground the beef and the chicken, breaking up as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper. Once browned, drain the residual liquid grease and fat. Pour in the jars of marinara sauce. Season with Italian seasonings and red pepper flakes. Stir, bring to a boil, then turn on low to simmer for 2 hours. Add a little bit of water every now and then as the sauce begins to thicken up.

2) Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, spinach and eggs.

3) Boil lasagna noodles until cooked but still slightly tough. Drain, rinse in cold water, then let sit in cold water.

4) In a large dish, at least 9 x 13, ladle some sauce to coat the bottom. Lay out noodles to cover the bottom, then spread the cheese mixture evenly over. Ladle more meat sauce over the cheese. Repeat one more time. Add one last layer of noodles, meat sauce, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top and sprinkle the parmesan on top.

5) Wrap tightly in foil and bake at 375 for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 30 minutes. Take out and let rest for 10-20 minutes before serving.

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 2 hrs for sauce, 1hr 20min for lasagna
Serves: 12 at least