Three Cheese Lasagna

Is there anyone who doesn't love lasagna? In the immortal words of Garfield the Cat; "I never met a lasagna I didn't like." This incredibly well-stacked lasagna is easy to make and one that hardly anybody will say "no" to!

What you need:

9-12 dry lasagna noodles
ground beef or turkey
salt & pepper
1 beaten egg
1/2 tub ricotta cheese
1/4 c Parmesan cheese
200 ml strained or 1/2
  large tin diced tomatoes
dried minced onion
Italian Seasoning
bay leaf
sliced mushrooms (fresh or
  canned)
shredded and sliced
  mozzarella cheese

Garfield Comic by Jim Davis

What you do:

Mix together beaten egg, ricotta & Parmesan cheese. Set aside in refrigerator. Grate a small mound of mozzarella cheese and cut about a dozen thick slices as well. Set aside.

Put on a stockpot of water to boil.


Brown desired amount of ground beef or turkey in frying pan. Sprinkle with salt & pepper to taste. Add strained or diced tomatoes, sprinkle very liberally with dried minced onion and Italian Seasoning. Add bay leaf and mushrooms. Stir until heated through.

Add lasagna noodles to boiling water until just soft and flexible (don't overcook). Drain on paper towel.

Building the lasagna:
Choose a deep, rectangular pan for your lasagna. Start with a thin spreading of meat sauce on the bottom of the pan. Cover with a layer of noodles (cut to fit if necessary, saving the trimmings to patch any holes). Then create the first and remaining layers as follows: meat sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, spinach leaves to cover and dot liberally and evenly with ricotta cheese mixture. Cover with another layer of noodles and continue until the top layer. Line the top layer of noodles with the thickly cut slices of mozzarella cheese (a few gaps are okay).

Bake uncovered for 1/2 hour to 40 minutes at 350°. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into squares.

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All measurements are approximate since I never measure when I make this lasagna - I just throw it all together! I have also purposely chosen pre-made ingredients for speed; but you could "gourmet" this recipe up with freshly-made noodles, fresh tomatoes, spinach and finely chopped onion. And if you don't have ready-made Italian Seasoning in your cupboard, you can make your own concoction with dried or fresh oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage and savory, or any combination of these herbs.

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2021