Italian lasagna with basil

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound of lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup of minced onion
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 28 once can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 cans of 6 ounce tomato paste
• 2 cans of 6 1/2 ounce tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup of water
• 2 tablespoon of white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons of chopped parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

In a large saucepan, cook sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat. Add the tomato paste, tomato sauce, water and sprinkle with sugar, basil leaves, Italian seasoning, ground black pepper and parsley. Cover the saucepan and simmer. Make sure to stir occasionally. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, mix ricotta cheese and egg in a bowl. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread meat sauce in the bottom and arrange lasagna noodles on top. Sprinkle ricotta cheese over the lasagna noodles and the sprinkle the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers on top with the remaining cheese. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes or until cheese has melted and pasta is thoroughly cooked.