Step 1

Combine all ingredients for a sauce in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for as long as you have time (ideally about 1 hour).

Step 2

While the sauce is simmering, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add italian sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to bread up the pieces until browned and cooked through.

Step 3

Drain sausage and add it to the sauce.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 5

Spread ~1 C sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Layer 3 UNCOOKED lasagna noodles on top of the sauce. (This may not seem like enough pasta, but it will spread as it cookSpread 2/3 C ricotta cheese on top of lasagna noodles (ricotta layer will be a little thiand sprinkle with 1/2 C mozzarella cheese.

Step 6

Repeat this process 2 more times.

Step 7

On the last layer, add remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese to the top of the lasagna. You may also garnish with fresh parsley before cooking.

Step 8

Next, pour the hot water slowly around the very edges of the pan, this added liquid helps ensure that the uncooked pasta gets nice and tender and not chewy.

Step 9

Cover the pan tightly with tin foil, bake for ~1 hr until the sauce and cheese are bubbly and the lasagna noodles are tender.