Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) packages bulk pork sausage, hot or mild ( we much prefer ‘hot’)
4 cups homemade spaghetti sauce or 1 (30 ounce) jars commercial pasta sauce
1 (8 ounce) packages lasagna noodles
1 large eggs
1 (15 ounce) cartons ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley ( can substitute 1 Tablespoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon margarine
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided ( or more!)
1 (3 1/2 ounce) packages sliced pepperoni
Directions:
Brown sausage thoroughly in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring to crumble; drain well.
Return sausage to skillet and add spaghetti sauce, stirring well to mix.
Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, except omit salt if called for.
While pasta cooks, break egg into mixing bowl and beat lightly.
Add ricotta, parsley, oregano, pepper and grated Parmesan to beaten egg, stirring well to mix.
When lasagna is done, pour into a colander and run cold running water over the noodles.
(Be sure not to skip this step. They stick together something awful and will be impossible to layer if you don’t rinse away all the starch.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish on bottom and sides with margarine.
Spoon a small amount of meat sauce into dish, spreading to coat lightly.
(Use 1/2 cup or less– just enough to prevent the bottom layer of noodles from sticking. It should be more like a’film’ than a layer.) Place half the noodles in bottom of dish, overlapping slightly if necessary.
Spoon half the ricotta mixture on top, using a rubber spatula to spread evenly over all.
Sprinkle with 1/3 of mozzarella.
Spoon on 1/3 the remaining meat sauce.
Repeat layers.
Cover top of dish with pepperoni slices.
Pour remaining meat sauce over all, spreading evenly.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top.
Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
(It won’t affect the taste if you don’t let it’rest’, but it will be terribly runny instead of cutting nicely.).
Servings: 8-10
Time preparation: 30 min.
Time total: 65 min.