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1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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2
For the meat sauce: In a large saucepan or small Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until nearly crisp, about 5 minutes.
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3
Add the onions and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened, another 3 minutes.
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4
Add the garlic and cook another minute.
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5
Add the ground beef and cook until the beef is no longer pink, 6 to 7 minutes.
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6
Deglaze the pan with the wine and add the marinara sauce and cinnamon.
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7
Fill the jar one-quarter full with water, swish it around to pick up any sauce left behind, and add it to the pot.
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8
Remove from the heat and set aside.
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9
For the bechamel sauce: Heat the milk in the microwave for 2 minutes.
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10
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and then whisk in the flour.
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11
Cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes.
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12
Whisk in the warm milk and cook until thickened, whisking frequently, about 10 minutes.
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13
Add the nutmeg, garlic, salt, and pepper and set aside.
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14
For the cottage cheese layer: In a blender or food processor, add the cottage cheese, egg, and Parmesan, and pulse until the cottage cheese curds are small (the mixture will resemble ricotta).
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15
Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
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16
To assemble: Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
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17
Spread 1/4 cup water plus 1/4 cup meat sauce in the bottom of the pan.
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18
Lay 3 noodles crossways in the pan.
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19
Divide the cottage cheese mixture in half.
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20
Divide the remaining meat sauce in thirds.
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21
Divide the grated cheese into fourths.
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22
Divide the bechamel into thirds.
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23
Add the layers in the following order: cottage cheese, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel.
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24
Then, add another layer of noodles, cottage cheese, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel.
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25
Finally, add the remaining 3 noodles, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel.
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26
Spray a large piece of foil with cooking spray and cover the lasagna tightly.
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27
Bake for 50 minutes.
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28
Remove the foil and top with the remaining grated cheese and cook an additional 10 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbling.
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29
Allow the lasagna to rest 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
