World's Best Lasagna

Ingredients

1 lb Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage, Italian style

3/4 lb ground beef

1/2 cup minced onion

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, italian style

2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste

2 (6.5 oz.) cans tomato sauce

1.5 tsp dried basil leaves

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 T salt

4 T fresh parsley, chopped

9 lasagna noodles

16 oz. ricotta cheese

1 egg

.75 lb mozzarella cheese, shredded

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In Dutch oven cooked sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Season with basic, fennel, Italian seasoning, salt, and 2 T parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Fill a 9x13 pan with very hot tap water. Place lasagna noodles in water to soften. (No need to boil noodles.) Let soak for at least 20 minutes.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 tsp. salt.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
5. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups meat sauce in the bottom of the 9x13 pan. Arrange 3 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture and top with 1/3 of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup Paremesan cheese. Spoon more meat sauce over the cheese and layer 3 more noodles. Then spread the other half of the ricotta cheese mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Spoon meat sauce and top with more mozzarella. Layer the last 3 noodles, spread the last of the meat sauce and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
6.  Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, spray foil with cooking spray.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.