Spicy Beef & Spinach Lasagna

Step 1

In a large pot bring water to a boil. Once the water is boiled add lasagna noodles spread out around the edges of the pot. Tap the top of the noodles very lightly, without breaking them, until they are all submerged in the water. Boil noodles till they are soft. About 10 minutes. While the water and noodles are boiling, prepare the other ingredients, being sure to stir the noodles to make sure they don't stick together or get too soft. Ready to use noodles are ok, but they have a tendency to dry out a lot on the sides if the noodles aren't completely covered in sauce.

While the water and noodles are boiling, add thawed, 1 lb of ground beef to a large pot and just enough water to cover the beef, boil beef gently, breaking apart, till beef is cooked and water has evaporated. Do not let it burn or brown too ark. To the pot of beef, add onions, mushrooms, italiano seasoning & garlic powder and mix thoroughly. Putting aside 1/4 cup of spaghetti sauce, and add 2 3/4 to the meat mixture and simmer. Squeeze excess water out of thawed spinach, pull apart and add to pot mixing it all together.

Once the noodles are cooked, drain them, put them in a bowl and add a little olive oil to the noodles and move them around gently to avoid breaking them and to keep them from sticking together while you are layering the noodles and mixture.

Divide mixture in to 4 equal parts. You can also do that with the cheese, 4 equal parts.

Spray a 9 x 12 baking pan or glass dish with olive oil spray. Add the 1/4 of spaghetti sauce that you put aside to the bottom of the pan and spread to cover the bottom. Add a layer of 4 noodles, with the edges overlapping. Spread over the noodles, 1/4 of the mixture, 1/4 of the shredded cheese, and sprinkle grated parmesan cheese to lightly cover. Repeat all the layers until finished. 4 layers total.

Cover the pan loosely with tin foil, making sure the foil isn't touching the top of the lasagna so the cheese don't stick to it. Put in a 375 - 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. When 45 minutes are up, take out and remove the foil and put back in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes until the top is lightly browned.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving to let it set before cutting it and removing pieces from the pan. Cut into 12 squares. 1 square equals 1 serving.