Restful Sunday

There is nothing I like more than Sunday (when I have Monday off, that is) The house is clean, the kids come over, I can stay up as late as I want (even 10:00 if I feel up to it) and sleep in tomorrow. And my sweetheart has tomorrow off, too (from now on he will be known as DSJ, for Dear Sweet Jim) so that makes it perfect. I am making lasagna for dinner, doubling the recipe in fact, so that ALL will have leftovers, Jim, RyanandLisa, and Randy and me. My recipe is one that I have modified a bit from one that I got from my best friend Susan ( a non-cook if there ever was one - so you know if she makes it, it is easy and GOOD)

Franco's Lighter Lasagna
(originally from Franco Harris (remember him? 70s Steelers?) lightened up by me.)

3 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 lb. lean hamburger
48 oz. crushed tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
6 oz. tomato paste
6 oz. water
1 t oregano
1 t basil
1/4 C red wine
1 t sugar
8 oz. uncooked lasagna noodles
15 oz. red.fat ricotta cheese
1 carrot. chopped
1 C mushrooms. sliced
1 green pepper, chopped
2 zucchini, sliced
8 oz. skim milk mozzerella

Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with PAM.

Chop garlic fine and saute - add beef and brown. Add tomatoes, paste, water and all seasonings. Cook at simmer for about 1 hour.

Put 1/3 of meat sauce in pan, a layer of noodles, 1/2 of ricotta, 1/2 of veggies and mozzerella. Repeat, ending with sauce. (I actually put veggies in food processor because Ryan would have a pile of vegetables on the side of his plate - he gets that from his other parent!)

Cover pan with foil and bake 1 1/4 hours. Let stand 10 minutes to firm up before cutting. (1/8 pan has 7 WW points)