Lasagna

1 box lasagna noodles
2 lbs. ground chuck
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 regular-sized carton mushrooms, sliced
1 medium Vidalia onion, minced
4 cloves of garlic (remember, a clove is a section of a pod), minced
3 T. butter
3 cans fire-roasted tomatoes (purée 2 of them)
1/4 c. sugar
2 t. Italian seasoning (or 1/2 t. each of oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme and 1/4 t. rosemary)
1/2 c. white cooking wine
2 T. ketchup
1 bar cream cheese
1 small carton small-curd cottage cheese
16 oz. mozzarella, medium grate
8 oz Parmesan, finely grated

Brown beef on medium heat in a large frying pan with the lid on. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Crumble into small pieces.

In a separate small frying pan, melt butter. Sauté mushrooms, onions and garlic for about 5 minutes on medium heat.

In a large stock pot, add tomatoes (note that two are puréed), browned and crumbled meat, sautéed veggies and Italian seasonings. Cook on medium heat until hot and bubbly. Add sugar, ketchup and white cooking wine. Reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes more.

In a large stock pot, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions (can do while browning the meat and lay the cooked noodles separately from one another on a plate to cool, while using the same pot rinsed out to do the sauce afterwards).

Blend with a hand blender or mixer the cream cheese and cottage cheese until completely smooth.

Now layer in a 13 X 9 inch, greased (Pam is fine) baking dish:
4 noodles across the bottom
Sprinkle a bit (1/4 cup) of mozzarella and a bit (3 T.) of Parmesan cheese
Evenly spread 1 1/2 c. meat sauce
Then spread 3/4 c. cream cheese mixture over that
And sprinkle a bit of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Depending upon the depth of your baking pan, layer it at least one more time, but can layer it two more times. Top with 4 noodles, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve in squares.

Grocery List:
lasagna noodles
2 lbs. ground chuck
salt
pepper
1 regular-sized carton mushrooms
1 medium Vidalia onion
garlic
butter
3 cans fire-roasted tomatoes
sugar
Italian seasoning
white cooking wine
ketchup
cream cheese
1 small carton small-curd cottage cheese
mozzarella
Parmesan

Approximate Cost: $8.96