Polished Comfort Lasagna

• 3 lbs ground beef
• 1 T black pepper
• 1 T salt
• 1 medium yellow onion; chopped
• 3 cloves garlic; minced
• 1 1/2 brick cream cheese; in 1 inch cubes
• 1 8 oz package parm/romano/asiago/mozz 'italian' cheese blend
• Lasagna noodles cooked to package directions
• 1 can diced Italian tomatoes
• 1 8 oz your favorite red sauce
• 1 can of diced Italian tomatoes
• 8 oz cottage cheese
• 1/2 C parmesan cheese
• 1 t nutmeg
• 8 oz package shredded mozzarella or ball of fresh mozzarella
• 4 fresh tomatoes sliced
• Bread Crumbs
• Italian Seasoning

1. Filling - Brown ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, pepper & sausage in skillet - drain grease off - then add cream cheese & Italian cheese mixture creating a thick mixture ~ transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
2. While filling cools
3. Cook noodles and run under cold water to stop cooking process
4. Combine cottage cheese, nutmeg, parmesan cheese
5. & 1 T Italian seasoning in a bowl
6. In a sauce pan combine canned tomatoes and red sauce; heat through on med/low heat.
7. Assembly:
8. In greased baking dish - start with a ladle of sauce in the bottom then create layers as such: noodles - filling mixture - sauce - noodles - cottage cheese mixture - sauce and repeat ending with sauce topped with mozzarella and fresh tomato slices. Dust the top with bread crumbs & Italian seasoning.
9. Cook at 350 covered for 1 hour - uncover and cook for another 15-20 minutes until cheese browns. Let stand for 20 minutes before cutting.
10. * If possible make a day ahead and chill overnight ~ it will present much better on plates.
11. * Garlic Bread - slice fresh loaf of French bread; combine a package of cream cheese, stick of butter, 1 T garlic powder, 1 T Italian seasoning & 1 t onion powder; spread mixture on both side of bread, put loaf back together, then bake for 15 minutes @ 350, slice & serve.

ground beef, black pepper, t, yellow onion, garlic, cream cheese, lasagna noodles, italian tomatoes, red sauce, italian tomatoes, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, nutmeg, mozzarella, tomatoes, bread crumbs, italian seasoning

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/polished-comfort-lasagna-50087775 (may not work)