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1
Filling - Brown ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, pepper & sausage in skillet - drain grease off - then add cream cheese & Italian cheese mixture creating a thick mixture ~ transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
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2
While filling cools
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3
Cook noodles and run under cold water to stop cooking process
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4
Combine cottage cheese, nutmeg, parmesan cheese
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5
& 1 T Italian seasoning in a bowl
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6
In a sauce pan combine canned tomatoes and red sauce; heat through on med/low heat.
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7
Assembly:
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8
In greased baking dish - start with a ladle of sauce in the bottom then create layers as such: noodles - filling mixture - sauce - noodles - cottage cheese mixture - sauce and repeat ending with sauce topped with mozzarella and fresh tomato slices. Dust the top with bread crumbs & Italian seasoning.
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9
Cook at 350 covered for 1 hour - uncover and cook for another 15-20 minutes until cheese browns. Let stand for 20 minutes before cutting.
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10
* If possible make a day ahead and chill overnight ~ it will present much better on plates.
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11
* Garlic Bread - slice fresh loaf of French bread; combine a package of cream cheese, stick of butter, 1 T garlic powder, 1 T Italian seasoning & 1 t onion powder; spread mixture on both side of bread, put loaf back together, then bake for 15 minutes @ 350, slice & serve.
