Wash and slice the eggplant into thin slices between ¼-1/2" thick. Place the eggplant in a colander and sprinkle generously with salt (about a tablespoon or two). Let the eggplant sweat for a minimum of 30 minutes, while prepping the other ingredients. Rinse the eggplant before using in the lasagne.

Slice the red bell pepper and the second onion into rings.

Generously drizzle the olive oil over the eggplant and toss in a bowl. Arrange the eggplant in a single layer over parchment paper between two baking sheets. Leave room for the bell peppers and onions on one of the baking sheets. Then bake on the upper two racks at 400 degrees fahrenheit for 30 minutes, rotating the trays half way through.

First, prepare the sauce. Mince the garlic and dice up one of the onions.

Brown the ground beef and turkey sausage. Add the diced onions while you are browning, and the garlic just before the meat is completely browned. Add all of the Italian seasonings, sugar, salt and pepper.

Add the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste and 2 (16 oz.) cans of water. Stir together and add the bay leaf. Then bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least two hours. Use less water if you decide not to simmer for the recommended time. Stir the sauce occasionally and add a little extra water if needed. You want the sauce to be a little on the thicker side for this recipe.

For the cheese filling: Combine the cottage cheese, grated parmesan cheese sprinkles and egg. If you want the cheese to be smoother, you can purée it in the blender.

Assemble the lasagne: Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place slices of eggplant in a single layer over the sauce. Spread ½ of the cottage cheese mixture over the eggplant. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella over the cottage cheese mixture.

Top that layer with sauce, followed by a layer of bell pepper and onions. Add a second layer of the cottage cheese mixture over the onions, and then a second layer of mozzarella cheese. Then add a second layer of eggplant, followed by a third layer of sauce and a third layer of mozzarella cheese (only). Lightly sprinkle with italian seasoned breadcrumbs.

To review, here is the order of layers: 1) sauce, 2) eggplant, 3) cottage cheese mixture, 4) mozarella cheese, 5) sauce, 6) bell pepper and onions, 7) cottage cheese mixture, 8) mozarella cheese, 9) eggplant, 10) sauce, 11) mozarella cheese.

If desired, you can lightly sprinkle with Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

You will likely have some extra sauce that you can freeze for later use.