Classic Lasagna

*2 medium onions, chopped *2 tablespoons olive oil, divided *4 garlic cloves, minced *1 pound lean ground beef *1 (14.5-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano diced tomatoes *2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste *1 (8-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano tomato sauce *1 bay leaf *1 teaspoon Italian seasoning *1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided *3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided *12 lasagna noodles, uncooked *8 cups boiling water *1 (16-oz.) container ricotta cheese *2 large eggs, lightly beaten *1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese *2 (6-oz.) packages part-skim mozzarella cheese slices *Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

1. Sauté onion in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain beef mixture, and return to skillet. Stir in diced tomatoes, next 4 ingredients, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf; set meat sauce aside. 2. Place lasagna noodles in a 13- x- 9-inch pan. Carefully pour 8 cups boiling water and remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil over noodles. Let stand 15 minutes. 3. Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper until blended. 4. Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Shake excess water from noodles, and arrange 6 noodles over meat sauce; top with half of ricotta mixture and 1 package mozzarella cheese slices. Repeat layers once. 5. Bake, covered, at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until bubbly. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired. Note: The sauce is time-consuming but worth the extra effort. Make it on a weekend, and freeze it to enjoy later with lasagna or your favorite pasta. Colette Girard, Baltimore, Maryland, Southern Living MAY 2006 Notes: To save time I have used store bought tomato sauce and pre-baked noodles. It still was amazing!