Any Idiot Can Cook Pasta

I have been making this basic lasagna for 3 years now ( see below) . I can not find the original link where the recipe came from but there are enough similar recipes available . It figures the day I decide to really document the making of my lasagna, there is no lasagna available in the grocery. Well there was penne so that will have to do and so far it tastes great anyway .

I start with peeling, and basic chopping of the garlic, peppers and onions

Notice the onions are sliced but not too fine. Because...

I let my food processor take care of the real slicing. The peppers, onions and garlic are all in there.

This is the ground beef being browned

After it is decently browned, you will have to remove the excess oil using a strainer and then add the spaghetti sauce and let it simmer for a while

This is the pasta placed in the slow cooker while the browning/ simmering stage is happening.

Once you combine what is in the frying pan with what is in the cooker you can start chopping the cheese,

The cheese does not have to be finely sliced as long  as you are mixing what you have in the cooker every 20-45 minutes.

The beauty of slow cooking is " Everybody is going to get to know each other in the pot.".  

A slow cooker is so worth it. Good luck and good cooking.

Easy Crockpot Lasagna

1 

pound (16 ounces) ground beef

1/2 

cup diced white onion

1 

teaspoon minced garlic

1 

(24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

1/2 

cup water

1 

(15 ounce) container ricotta cheese

2 

cups mozzarella cheese

1/4 

cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 

whole egg

2 

Tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley

6 

uncooked lasagna noodles

DIRECTIONS

• In a large skillet brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
• Add spaghetti sauce and water and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
• Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4 to 6 quart sized slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (If the noodles don't fit exactly break them to fit) and cheese mixture and meat sauce.
• Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are soft. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining parmesan. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
• Do not overcook and don't try to speed up the process by cooking it on high.
• *Works best with a 4 to 6 quart size slow cooker.