Aunt Tilley's Cottage Cheese Grass-Fed Beef Lasagna

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A Labor of Love.

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Imagine the simmering,

stacking and sprinkling

as a labor of love.

A casserole dish full of meaty, cheesy lasagna always feels special and extravagant, first because it takes some effort to make and second because it’s unbelievably delicious and comforting.

Serves: 8-10

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This is the kind of meal that makes you want to gather your loved ones close, hold hands, say grace and eat together. It’s the kind of dish that fills your belly and your heart. I’d love for you to share Aunt Tilly’s lasagna with your family and come to the table with eyes wide open to the blessings of being together.

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INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. ground beef

• 1 lb. Italian sausage

• 1 yellow onion, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

• 24 ounce jar your favorite pasta sauce (I like a marinara)

• 1 teaspoon oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 1 1/2 cups full fat small curd cottage cheese

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Ingredients – For Lasagna

• 12 lasagna noodles

• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 2 cups shredded baby Swiss cheese

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DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

3. For the Sauce and Noodles

4. Combine the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion in a large, deep sauce pan. Cook over medium high heat, breaking apart the meat with a spatula, until no pink remains.

5. Drain any excess fat off the pan, then stir in garlic, pasta sauce, oregano, pepper and salt. Heat through then reduce heat to low. Allow the sauce to simmer while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

6. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a fat pinch of salt and swirl of oil (this helps keep the noodles from sticking.) Add the noodles to the pot and cook for about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain noodles then lay them out on aluminum foil so they'll be ready to go later.

For the Filling

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Set it aside.

To Layer

1. Spread a small amount of meat sauce on the bottom of the pan.

2. Top with 4 noodles laid lengthwise in the pan. Spread half the cheese on top followed by 4 more noodles.

3. Spread half of the remaining sauce over the noodles. Spread all the cottage cheese mixture on top of the sauce, followed by 3 more noodles. Finish with the remaining sauce and cheese.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

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Hope you enjoyed this special labor of love cottage cheese, grass-fed beef, lasagna recipe.

Cheers!

-Jim