Paula's Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 (16 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and onion. Drain off the fat.
3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the parsley. Simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
5. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and all of the Parmesan cheese.
6. To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 3 noodles over the sauce. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/2 of the remaining meat sauce, then 1/2 of the remaining mozzarella cheese.
7. Repeat layers, and top with the remaining 3 noodles and remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover, and bake an additional 25 minutes, or until bubbly.

Interesting Facts

• Lasagna is an Italian dish that is traditionally made with layers of noodles, cheese, and a tomato-based sauce.
• The name "lasagna" is derived from the Greek word "lasagnum," which means "cooking pot."
• The earliest known recipe for lasagna dates back to the 14th century.
• Lasagna is a popular dish all over the world, with many different variations.