When Garfield is your spirit animal because you are lazy and cynical, but you are in the mood for something hearty and are always ready to cook, then why not make this Meat and Cheese Lasagna.

Lasagna is the meal that always makes life better and your pants a little bit tighter. I never feel sad after eating a lasagna and what makes happier is to know that there will probably be some left over for me to enjoy again the next day!

Meat and cheese lasagna

Ingredients

For cheese mixture

• 1 packet lasagna strips (I use the fresh pre-made strips)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 bread crumbs
• 1/2 mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 egg
• 1 tbs coconut oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2-3 garlic, minced
• 6-8 button mushroom, chopped
• 2 tsp basil
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1-2 cups spinach

For meat sauce

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 4 Italian sausage links, casing removed, crumbled
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• salt
• pepper

For white sauce

• 1 tbs butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-2 tbs all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/2 parmesan cheese

Method

Preheat oven 180C/350F

For Cheese mixture

1. In a mixing bowl mix ricotta, bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and egg and set aside
2. In a deep pot heat coconut oil; sauté onions and garlic
3. Add mushroom and cook for about 5 minutes, mushrooms will start to shrink
4. Season with cayenne, basil, oregano, & garlic salt
5. Add spinach and cook until it has wilted
6. Let mushroom and spinach mixture cool, mix with cheese mixture, and set aside

For meat sauce

1. In the pot you used for the mushroom and spinach, heat coconut oil and scrape the pan
2. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are soft
3. Add ground chicken and pork mince, cook slowly and crumble meat
4. When meat starts to water and is half way cooked at salt, pepper, and chili flakes; mix well
5. Stir in pasta sauce of choice, mix well, simmer for 20-25 minutes, and adjust seasoning as needed

For white sauce

1. In a small pot heat 1 tbs butter
2. Once butter starts to bubble add minced garlic and mix
3. Add all purpose flour and whisk until mixture becomes dry and golden (Roux)
4. Slowly pour cream until thick sauce forms, while whisking; cook for 5 minutes
5. Remove from heat and whisk in parmesan cheese
6. Pour about 1/2-3/4 of sauce into the meat sauce depending on how creamy you like the sauce reserving some for topping

Assembly

1. Great a large baking dish with a non-stick spray/oil/butter
2. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish
3. Cut and adjust your lasagna to fit your baking dish and layer over the thin layer of meat sauce
4. The spread a thick layer of meat sauce on top of the strip
5. Dollop cheese mixture over meat sauce
6. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese
7. Repeat step 3-6 until top layer
8. For the top lay spread the remaining white sauce
9. Bake in the oven cover for 40-45 minutes
10. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese has browned
11. Serve with your favorite wine and enjoy!