Mama Kathy's Lasagna Swirls

This popular comfort food is made up of all the best things...tomato sauce, pasta and cheese! My mom has been pleasing hoards of people with this cheesy dish for years. Its a tried and true crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:

1 16 ounce box of wide lasagna pasta

-cheese mixture-

1- 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach...thawed and well drained (making sure to squeeze out all excess liquid)

1 lb ricotta cheese

1 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 lb mozzarella cheese, grated

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp dried oregano 

-Tomato sauce-

1 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 - 28 ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice

16 ounces tomato sauce

2 Tbs sugar

15 fresh basil leaves, chopped/ or 2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning 

salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

1) Prepare lasagna pasta according to package directions. When pasta is al dente, drain and lay them out individually on a sheet of parchment paper.

2)To prepare the sauce, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients....simmer the mixture for at least 15 minutes.

3) While the sauce is simmering mix all the ingredients for the cheese filling in a large bowl. Remember to reserve 1/2 of the parmesan cheese for topping.

4) Pour about a cup of sauce in a 9x13in pan, coating the bottom. Spread about 1/3 cup of cheese mixture evenly over the noodle's surface. Roll up the noodles and stand up in the pan. Lightly pour some sauce over each roll and sprinkle the top with remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese (you can also add some additional mozzarella). 

5) Bake, loosely covered, for approximately 40 minutes or until heated through. Uncover for the last 10 minute of cooking. Keep additional sauce to serve over noodles. Enjoy!