Beef and Spinach Lasagna

What I love about this lasagna recipe is that it combines ground beef, pork and chicken or turkey. Italians (which I am not but who better to take recipe ideas from) are big on combining meat with poultry and it makes all the difference in creating an amazing meal! This is an excellent way to make meatballs as well. You will notice I do not pre-cook the lasagna noodles but that I do let it sit in the fridge overnight, I find this method allows the lasagna to set up nicer.
Ingredients:
2tbsp good olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4tsp red chili flakes
1tsp each of salt & pepper
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground chicken or turkey 
1 (680ml) can of tomato sauce, or your favorite spaghetti sauce (this way you don't have to add spices)
2tsp fresh basil
1 large egg
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 medium container of cottage cheese
1 package chopped frozen spinach, thawed / 1 bag of fresh spinach
1 package of lasagna noodles
1 pound mozzarella cheese, grated
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet; add onion and saute until translucent. Add garlic and red chili flakes and cook for an additional 5minutes. Add ground beef, pork, and chicken or turkey and cook/crumble.

Add the tomato sauce and then fill up the can 3/4 full with water and add to the pan. Add basil and simmer for 20-30minutes, stirring occasionally.

Beef and Spinach Lasagna

In a bowl combine spinach, Parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, egg, salt and 1 tbsp olive oil to combine.
Use a large glass baking dish and ladle a thin layer of tomato beef sauce to start assembling; place a layer of noodles and more sauce, and another layer of noodles. Then layer your spinach mixture and add another layer of noodles; top off with tomato beef sauce. Sprinkle the top of your lasagna with mozzarella cheese.

Cover with foil and let sit in the fridge overnight (24hrs)
To cook, pre-heat oven to 350 and bake for 1/2hour with tin foil on; remove foil and continue baking for another 1/2hour. Let rest 15minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Beef & Spinach Lasagna

Pamela's Wine Pairing for Beef and Spinach Lasagna 

Dunham & Froese 2008 Amicitia Red is a grand wine making it an excellent pairing with lasagna as it will stand up to any full flavoured tomato based dishes. Amicitia Red is a blend of 33% Merlot, 30% Cab Sauv, 20% Syrah, 11% Cab Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine possesses lush layers of rich ripe black fruit; blackberry, plum, cassis and an intense toasted oak nose. A full mouth-feel with polished tannins and a long luxurious finish make this wine outstanding. Amicitia Red is the winner of the Silver Medal All Canadian Wine Awards!

Dunham & Froese is a certified organic small production winery located on the 600 acre Covert Farms Organics 8 kms outside of Oliver. You can pick your own or buy fruits and vegetables at their organic farm and stay for a farm fresh lunch. Order wine at www.dunhamfroese.ca or visit their winery to purchase wine and enjoy the farm experience!