Bloody Mary Lasagna

I like lasagna.  And I love Bloody Marys.  Well I don't love them, I love Mimosas.  But Mr. Devil and my Big Devil really like Bloody Marys.  They are crazy about this one particular brand of Made in Oklahoma Bloody Mary Mix.  On holidays, I always make sure to have a bottle around so they can have a Bloody Mary with breakfast. They each have one, and then that huge bottle of delicious tomato-ness sits in my fridge.  (We don't seem to have the same problem with champagne and orange juice.)  A champagne and oj lasagna probably wouldn't be very good.  So I came up with a recipe that ensures that bottle of Bloody Mary mix doesn't go to waste.  This is so good, you'll probably go out and buy a bottle, just to make this recipe.

The Line-Up

Brown ground beef and onion

Combine cottage cheese and eggs.

Add a splash of bloody mary mix
to cheese mixture.

Add spaghetti sauce mixes to
ground beef mixture.

Add bloody mary mix.

Add tomato sauce.  Simmer
for 10 minutes.

Place part of beef mixture in casserole.

Top with noodles, then
cottage cheese mixture.
Repeat layers, ending with meat. 
Top with sauce mixture and bake.
(One would think I had been drinking
bloody marys all day when I made
this, as obviously I forgot to photograph
the remaining steps.  Sorry.  It's good
though, trust me!)

Bloody Mary Lasagna

2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 envelopes spaghetti sauce mix
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 bottle bloody mary mix, divided
1 package lasagna noodles
1 (12 ounce) container cottage cheese
2 eggs
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Reserve 1/2 cup bloody mary mix.  Grease a casserole dish and set aside.  Brown ground beef with onion and drain.  Add dry spaghetti sauce mixes, bloody mary mix and tomato sauce.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Combine cottage cheese and eggs.  Stir in reserved 1/2 cup of bloody mary mix.  Layer meat on bottom of casserole dish.  Add a layer of dry lasagna noodles on top.  Spread with cottage cheese mixture.  Repeat layers, ending with meat on top.  Pour tomato sauce mixture over entire thing.  Cover and bake for 55 minutes.  Remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese and return to oven, uncovered and bake for 5 minutes.  Let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Prep Time:  Approximately 20 minutes     Cook Time:  Approximately 1 hour

NOTE:  The Bloody Mary Mix that my devils like is the Ben Jack Laredo Bloody Mary Mix, made in Oklahoma at the Rockin L-H Asparagus Farm.  Each bottle contains a yummy pickled asparagus spear.