Secret Sauce Lasagna

What you need:

1 lb Lasagna Noodles
1 lb Ground Turkey
3 TBSP Olive Oil
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Sugar
1/4 Tsp Italian Seasoning Blend (Parsley, Rosemary, Oregano, Basil)
1/8 Tsp Garlic Powder or 1/2 Tsp Minced Garlic
3 cans (45 oz) of No Salt Tomato Sauce ( i.e Hunts or store brand)
1/4 Cup Finely chopped yellow or sweet onion
1 cup Ricotta Cheese
3 Cups Mozzarella Cheese

How you do it:

Cook Lasagna according to package directions, strain, rinse and set aside
Over Medium heat brown Turkey in the olive oil, salt, sugar and seasoning
Using the end of a Spatula or Wooden spoon, break turkey down to small pieces
Once Turkey is no longer pink add onion, garlic and sauce
Simmer on low heat covered but vented if possible for about 20 minutes
Remove from heat

Coat the bottom of a Lasagna Pan or (3Qt)Pyrex pan with a small amount of sauce
Lay lasagna noodles out, length wise across the pan
** If you are using a larger pan, fill the space by cutting a noodle down to fit
Add sauce generously then ricotta
** I put the ricotta in a Zip-Lock Bag, snip a corner and pipe squiggles or lines onto the sauce
Spread a handful of cheese over the ricotta and sauce layers
Repeat until you are at your last layer of noodles
Add remaining sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheese
Back at 375* for 20 minutes or until hot through the center

Why it's good:

Besides the health benefit of using Turkey it also is less grease and a slightly sweeter flavor. We add the Olive Oil to the Turkey to make up for the lack of oil naturally found in the meat but also to add that flavor to the sauce once it's added. I prefer the good old fashion Cook first Lasagna Noodle because of there thickness but I'm sure this will work with Ready Cook noodles. I love the flavor that the Turkey gives the sauce, you could also use ground chicken, chopped or ground Italian sausage or good old beef. If you do use beef however, forgo the 3 TBSPs of olive oil. I serve my lasagna with a ribbon of Parmesan Cheese from running a veggie peeler down the side of a Parmesan wedge and top it with a Basil leaf to be fancy.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!