World's Greatest Baked Lasagna

I got this recipe from my brother-in-law Dan, who got it from the Oregonian newspaper years ago. I've actually given this recipe as a gift! I double the sauce and freeze half for pasta later. Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, it's well worth the effort.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• meat sauce

• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato puree
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1  cup water
• 1  crushed bay leaf
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 1  lb Italian sausage
• 2  garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 4  ounces mushrooms, sliced (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 1  medium onion, peeled and chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 2  teaspoons parsley, chopped
• 4  ounces black olives, chopped
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper

• for cheese mixture

• 2  eggs
• 15  ounces ricotta cheese
• 8  ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (ab 2 cups)
• 4  ounces fresh parmesan cheese, divided (ab 1 1/3 cups)
•  uncooked  lasagna noodle

Directions

1. Combine tomato sauce, tomato puree, tomato paste, water, bay leaf and oil in lg saucepan.
2. Cook at medium-high heat, stirring constantly to a light boil.
3. In a separate frying pan, sauté sausage.
4. Drain fat and add garlic, mushrooms and onion, sautéing for 1-2 minutes.
5. Add parsley and olives to the tomato sauce mixture and stir in the ground meat mixture.
6. Add salt, sugar, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil and pepper.
7. Stir together and cook on med heat until mixture boils, stirring constantly.
8. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
9. Preheat oven to 350°.
10. Prepare meat sauce.
11. Blend together eggs, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.
12. In a casserole dish layer lasagna as follows:
13. Meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, noodles, meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, noodles, meat sauce and top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
14. Bake for 35 minutes, uncovered.
15. Check for doneness by poking through noodles with knife.