Zesty Lasagna (southern Living)

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 -3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2 bay leaves
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 6 lasagna noodles
• 1 (12 ounce) carton small curd cottage cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
• 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated and divided

Recipe

• 1 brown ground beef and garlic in a heavy skillet over medium heat until meat is browned, stirring to crumble meat, drain.
• 2 stir in the tomato paste, water, mushrooms, bay leaves, salt, pepper, italian seasoning, and oregano.
• 3 cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 4 remove the bay leaves.
• 5 cook noodles according to package directions and drain.
• 6 combine cottage cheese and sour cream in a medium bowl; stir well.
• 7 layer half each of noodles, meat sauce, and cottage cheese mixture in a greased 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish.
• 8 sprinkle with 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
• 9 repeat layers of noodles, meat sauce and cottage cheese mixture.
• 10 cover and bake at 350°f for 40 minutes.
• 11 top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
• 12 let stand for 10 minutes before serving.