mock lasagna

There is no easier meals than crock pot cooking.   Throw it in the pot in the morning on low and let it cook all day.  No fuss, no rush at the end of the day, and the house always smells delicious!  I love my crockpot, and other then my coffee maker it is the most used item in my kitchen!  Well, after my mixer.  Like I said, I love my crockpot. ~B

This recipe is for some super easy “lasagna”.

IMG_9049

  • 1 box lasagna noodles (I use Oven Ready Lasagna by Creamette)
  • 1 pound ground beef (lightly browned & drained)
  • 1/2 pound Italian Sausage (lightly browned & drained)
  • 1 med onion (chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 12-oz package of shredded Mozzarella
  • 1 12-oz cottage cheese
  • 2 6-oz cans tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan

Lightly butter your crock pot.

In a skillet, brown the ground beef, sausage, and onion.  Drain.  While that is cooking, chop your onion, and mince your garlic and just toss it into the meat as it cooks.

IMG_9031

In a bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, parsley, basil, oregano, and parmesan.

IMG_9033

 IMG_9034

Place the meat in your Crockpot,
IMG_9038  top with your cottage cheese, lasagna noodles (broken into bite size pieces),
  IMG_9039

the shredded mozzarella,
  IMG_9040

and then pour the sauce mix over the whole mess.  Run a spatula around the edges down to the bottom, so the sauce can slop over the sides and get around the meat.
IMG_9041

Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. 

**IMPORTANT NOTE**

Every Crock Pot is different.  My current crock pot only has 3 settings: Warm, Low, High.  The Low setting on my current crock pot burns EVERYTHING that is supposed to be cooked on LOW, so I actually set mine on LOW for the first 10-15 minutes, then switch it down to WARM for the rest of the time.   If you find your crock pot already causing everything to ‘stick’ after the first 10-15 minutes, lower the setting.  You can add a little water (like a cup or so) to re-moisten it all, and then let it finish cooking on that “warm” setting.

IMG_9049

Great served with Garlic Toast and a side salad.