1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (32 oz.) jar prepared spaghetti sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried basil
16 oz. ricotta or cottage cheese
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese
1 tbsp. chopped parsley
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 uncooked lasagne noodles
8 oz. Mozzarella cheese, sliced

Break up sausage into a hard-plastic colander. Set colander over a 2 quart glass batter bowl and cover with a paper towel. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes. Drain off fat and place meat in same bowl, breaking up with a fork. Add spaghetti sauce, garlic powder and basil. Stir and microwave on HIGH for 7 to 8 minutes or until bubbly.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cheeses, parsley, egg and pepper. Spoon the meat sauce to cover the bottom of a 10 x 10 inch dish. Arrange 4 noodles on the sauce. Spread half the cheese mixture and then half the Mozzarella cheese. Repeat, with sauce as the final layer.

Cover with a glass lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH 6 minutes; then microwave on 70% power (medium-high) 20 minutes. Let rest, covered, 12 to 15 minutes before serving. Standing time is crucial to the success of this recipe. Do not serve before letting stand. Serves 6 to 8.