For most people there is nothing quite so Italian as a delicious lasagna recipe. The mix of tasty sauce with meat, vegetables, pasta and cheese hits the perfect note.
Heat oil in heavy frying pan or dutch oven. Add garlic and onions and sauté until soft. Add ground beef and continue to sauté until beef begins to lose pink colour. Add mushrooms, celery, and green pepper. Continue cooking until meat is well browned. Stir in tomato paste, tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer for at least 1 hour (or on low all day).
When the sauce is ready boil noodles in water until tender. Drain. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
To assemble, mix together ricotta cheese, washed and torn spinach, and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Pour a very thin layer of meat sauce into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of cooked noodles over the sauce, top with 1/2 the meat sauce, half the ricotta/spinach mixture and 1/2 the mozzarella. Repeat the layers. Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese over the top layer.