A homemade lasagna full of tender noodles and a hearty meat sauce covered in melted cheese is one of the best comfort foods you can make. All the time you spend making it will be more than worth it when you see your family lining up for seconds.
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Instructions
In a deep cooking pot or Dutch oven, cook the sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Add tomato products (crushed or diced tomatoes, paste and sauce) and stir into cooked meat.
Add seasoning (sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt & pepper) and 2 tablespoons of the fresh basil. Combine ingredients thoroughly and cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add lasagna noodles and cook 8-10 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.
Combine ricotta mixture in a medium/large mixing bowl, add ricotta cheese, eggs (beaten), the remaining 2 tablespoon fresh basil, and 1 teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Layer your lasagna in a lasagna pan or a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, start by spreading 1 ½ cups of the meat sauce on the bottom of the pan. Arrange six noodles lengthwise on the meat sauce, then spread ½ the ricotta mixture onto the noodles. Top ricotta cheese mixture with ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese (sliced or grated), then spoon 1 ½ cups of the meat sauce over the mozzarella. After the meat sauce layer add ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and repeat layers. Once done with both layers, use remaining cheese to top off the lasagna.
Cover with foil (use non-stick spray on underside of foil, or make sure that the foil does not touch the top layer of cheese).
Bake the lasgana for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake another 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling at pan edges. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.