Crock Pot Recipe Monday!

I frequently use my Crock Pot to make Monday just that little bit easier! I thought Mondays would not be hard, once I was not working outside the home anymore... but for some reason they are no different!

I am going to start sharing my favorite recipes with you on Mondays- once you Crock Pot, you'll never go back!

Crock Pot Lasagna

1 pound ground sausage (spicy is really good, if you like it!)
1 onion, chopped
3-5 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 jar spaghetti sauce, you'll need at least 26 oz
1 16 oz container ricotta cheese
1 16 oz container cottage cheese
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
Parsley
1 package no-cook lasagna noodles (I use a 9 oz package of Barilla noodles)
16 oz mozzarella cheese

Brown the sausage with the onion and garlic. Drain. Add the spaghetti sauce and 1/2- 1 cup of water (it depends on how thick the sauce is to begin with, you want it to be kinda thin to start) and simmer for 10 minutes. In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley to taste and most of the mozzarella (save some to put on top!)

Spray your crockpot with cooking spray. Cover the bottom with about 1 cup of the sauce/meat mix. Break the lasagna noodles into pieces and put two "layers" on top of the sauce. Cover with cheese mixture. Repeat the sauce/noodles/cheese mixture until ingredients are used. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella on top. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours!

At dinnertime, take the crockpot out and let the lasagna sit for about 15 minutes. This is enough time to make green beans and a salad... :) Serve; enjoy!

Notes: This is just the "basics". I frequently add veggies like cucumbers, zucchini, shredded carrots, green peppers, mushrooms and spinach to the sauce (sometimes all at once- it makes a VERY hearty lasagna!). Try substituting herbes de provence for the parsley if you have them. I usually prepare the ingredients and assemble on Sunday night and put it in the fridge till Monday. That is SO nice- just pop it in the cooker and let it go on Monday!

PS- My friend Rachel is doing a Crock Pot Wednesday on her blog!