Quick and Easy Beef Lasagna

There’s something about autumn that makes us all want to turn on our ovens and fill our homes with the aroma of baking. Casseroles are the simplest of all dinners and one of our family favorites is a hot and bubbly lasagna. One thing families can agree on, the blend of flavors in this dish are beloved the world over. No longer is this just an Italian recipe – although Google claims this dish actually began in Greece with the advent of a beautiful creation: PASTA! Bake some today and see if your family agrees that this is one of the best EASY dishes around. From start to finish this will be on the table in a little over an hour.  Even a frozen lasagna takes that long. So invest a little prep for a meal your family will beg you to prepare again and again.

Ingredients:

2 pounds browned ground beef

1 24-ounce can Hunt’s Garlic and Herb Spaghetti Sauce

1 14 1/2-ounce can Hunt’s Petite Diced Tomatoes

1 Bay Leaf

2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning

1 16-ounce small curd cottage cheese

1/2 6-ounce jar Homestyle Parmesan Cheese

4 cups grated Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tablespoon Butter

1 box Oven-Ready Lasagna Noodles

Directions:

1. Brown and drain the ground beef in a Dutch oven.
2. Add the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaf and Italian seasoning. Simmer while you prepare the baking dish. If the sauce seems thick, add 1/2 to 1 cup water or broth.
3. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
4. Begin by adding a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of the dish this order:
   • Noodles
   • Sauce
   • Cottage Cheese
   • Parmesan Cheese
   • Mozzarella Cheese
5. Repeat layers, finishing with Mozzarella Cheese.
6. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Uncover and return to the oven for 5 minutes to brown the cheese.
7. Remove from oven and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before serving.  I use this time to toast a little garlic or cheesy bread to serve alongside.