Easy Lasagna

This is my 'go to' lasagna. This is very different than the lasagna I grew up on. My mom had her famous lasagna recipe, and it is a favorite in my family. But, it is a labor intensive recipe, which means you have to boil the noodles. Years ago, a friend of mine had us over for dinner and she made this lasagna. This was her family's favorite and her teenagers would always request it for any special dinner. It is much easier than the recipe that I grew up on so it is now the one I make. (This recipe comes from Susan Jane Broadhead.) One day I will add my mom's lasagna recipe on here. It is truly a unique and fabulous lasagna.

EASY LASAGNA
1 lb. ground beef (I usually use ground turkey)
3 1/2 cups (32-ounce) thick spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups ricotta or small curd cottage cheese (12 oz. container)(I use ricotta)
3 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
8 oz. box of lasagna noodles uncooked
*I add about 1 cup sour cream to make the cheese mixture creamier and easier to spread.

Brown beef in 3 quart saucepan; drain off excess fat. Add sauce and water; simmer about 10 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients, except noodles, for filling. Pour about one cup sauce on bottom of 13x9 pan. Layer uncooked noodles over sauce; cover with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Spread half of the cheese filling over sauce (This usually ends up just getting all mixed in with the sauce.) Repeat layers of noodles, sauce, and cheese filling. Top with layer of noodles and remaining sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes. Remove foil; bake about 10 min longer. allow to stand about 10 minutes before cutting for easier handling. *noodles will expand to fill empty spaces.