Veggie and Meat Lasagna

(modified from the Classic Lasagna in the Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook, 2004)

Once I learned my kids would eat lasagna, I changed the recipe to sneak in some vegetables. This is one of my favorite things to take to someone who needs a meal!

8 oz ground beef
8 oz Italian sausage (removed from casings and crumbled)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 jars of marinara sauce
8 oz ricotta cheese
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 cup parmesan cheese
12 sheets "no boil" lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 squashes
1 zucchini
1 cup fresh spinach

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cook the beef and sausage in a large saute pan over medium high heat about 10 minutes until lightly browned. Season with salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside in a large bowl.

Dice squash and zucchini and saute over medium high heat in the same pan until tender. Add to the same bowl as the meat.

Add the marinara sauce to the meat and veggies and stir.

Mix the ricotta , cream cheese, and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Season with 1/2 tsp pepper.

Cove the bottom of the baking dish (an aluminum lasagna pan works great) with 1 cup meat sauce. Arrange a layer of noodles over the sauce (this is my 3 yr old daughter's job). Spread 2 cups of the meat and veggie sauce over the noodles. Add half of the cheese mixture by spoonfuls evenly over the meat sauce. It will look something like this:

Scatter 1/2 spinach leaves over the cheese. Top with noodles, 2 cups meat and veggie sauce, the remaining cheese mixture, and the remaining spinach leaves. Top with another layer of noodles, 2 cups meat and veggie sauce, and a final layer of noodles. Spread the remaining meat and veggie sauce over the top, and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with garlic bread!

Tip: Make sure lasagna noodles are completely covered with sauce, because they require the moisture from the sauce to cook properly.

I meant to take a picture of the finished lasagna... and forgot. This one went to my friend from church, Amy, who just had her 3rd baby! I will be making another one in about a month when my sister, Alyssa, has her baby, and hopefully I will remember to take a picture.