American Lasagna

Since school is back in this is a good meal to keep prepared and in the freezer for when you are just to busy to cook.
American Lasagna (usda)

2 1/4 lb Lean ground beef
1/3 c Instant minced onion
3/4 ts Garlic powder
4 ts Salt
3/8 ts Red pepper -- crushed
1 tb Oregano
3 tb Parsley flakes
18 oz Tomato paste -- 3 (6-oz) Cans
24 oz Tomato sauce -- 3 (8-oz) Cans
2 1/4 c Hot water
3 lg Eggs -- beaten
3 lb Cream style cottage cheese
1 lb Lasagna noodles -- cooked, (18 noodles)
12 oz Processed cheddar cheese -- Shredded
3/4 c Parmesan cheese

Line four 8x8x2-inch baking pans with heat-resistant freezer wrap.
Allow enough extra wrap to fold over top. Use one pan for each six servings or one-fourth of the recipe. Do not line pans for food to be served without freezing.

Crumble beef; cook until lightly browned. Stir in onion. Cook until onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in seasonings, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In another bowl, blend eggs with cottage cheese.
In each pan, spread a layer of meat mixture (about 3/4 cup). Add a layer each of noodles (2 1/4), meat mixture (about 3/4 cup), cottage cheese mixture (about 3/4 cup), processed cheese (1/3 cup), and
Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 tablespoons) . Repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Pack food tightly to avoid air pockets.

TO SERVE WITHOUT FREEZING: Preheat oven to 400B0 F. (hot). Bake 30 minutes or until sauce bubbles at edges.

TO FREEZE: Cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. Complete wrapping by pulling paper up over top of food. Put edges of wrap together and fold several times so paper lies directly on top of food. Fold ends of freezer wrap over the top and seal with freezer tape. Label with name of food, date of freezing, and last date the food should be used for best eating quality (about 6 months). Freeze for 10-12 hours before removing packages from the pans.

TO HEAT FROZEN LASAGNA: Preheat oven to 400B0 F. (hot). Remove freezer wrap. Place food in baking pan. Bake 1 1/4 hours or until sauce bubbles at edges and center is hot.

VARIATION: Italian Lasagna -- Use ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese in place of processed cheddar cheese.

NOTES : This recipe is for 24 servings (about 2 1/2 by 4 inches).
Directions are given for dividing the prepared food into four parts of six servings each. One part may be completely cooked and served at the time of preparation. The remaining parts may be frozen.

"Freezing Combination Main Dishes" by Meredith Robinson and Lois Fulton (Consumer and Food Economics Institute, Agriculture Research Service) USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 40, 1973