Mom’s White Lasagna

Name: Mom's White Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 9 lasagna noodles; 1 pound bulk Italian sausage; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 1 medium onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 cup white wine; 1 cup half-and-half cream; 3 ounces cream cheese, cubed; 1/4 cup minced fresh basil; 2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon pepper; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 large egg, lightly beaten; 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese; 1-1/2 cups 2% cottage cheese; 3/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced; 1-1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese; Optional: grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 1 hour + standing YIELD: 12 servings.

My mom made this lasagna for special occasions, such as birthdays. When she passed, I inherited her cookbooks—tucked inside one of them, I found this recipe folded into a letter she wrote to me while I was stationed overseas. It's a hearty, rich dish that reminds me of home. —Janet Wing, Minot, North Dakota

Ingredients

9 lasagna noodles
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup half-and-half cream
3 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups 2% cottage cheese
3/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1-1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese
Optional: grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook noodles according to package directions for al dente. In a large skillet, cook sausage, celery, onion and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain.
2. Stir in wine. Bring to a boil; cook 3-4 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add half-and-half, cream cheese, herbs, pepper and salt; stir until cream cheese is melted. Drain noodles.
3. In a small bowl, combine egg, cheddar and cottage cheese.
4. In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer 3 noodles, half the sausage mixture, half the cheddar cheese mixture and half the mozzarella slices. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles; sprinkle with Gouda cheese.
5. Bake, covered, until bubbly and cheese is melted, 50-60 minutes; uncover and bake until light golden brown, 10-15 minutes longer. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and additional basil and oregano.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 462 calories, 30g fat (16g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 787mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein.