prep: 30 minutes cook: 1 hr. 10 min.

2 lb ground beef 1 medium onion 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tbsp olive oil 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce 15 oz water 12 oz tomato paste 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp basil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 24 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded) 16 oz cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese 1/2 C grated parmesan cheese 16 oz box lasagna

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In large skillet, add olive oil, chopped onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add ground beef and cook until completely browned, drain fat. Return to pan.
Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, oregano, basil, salt, & pepper.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce to low, cover and cook for approx. 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse & set aside.
Lightly spray a 14x11.5x2.25 baking dish (or 2 smaller baking dishes), with nonstick spray, add a small amount of meat sauce, and spread around the bottom.
Add lasagna noodles (approx. 5, they will overlap)
Spread 1/2 cottage cheese on top of pasta
Spoon 1/3 meat mixture on top of cottage cheese.
Sprinkle with 1/2 the parmesan cheese
Add 1/3 mozzarella cheese
Repeat with another layer of pasta, cottage cheese, meat mixture, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese
Final layer is pasta, remaining meat mixture and remaining cheese.
Spray piece of aluminum foil with nonstick spray, cover with foil, cook for approx. 50-60 minutes. Remove foil and cook for another 10 minutes.