Crockpot Lasagna Soup

We all know or should know that Garfield loves lasagna. There are many variations of lasagna and I too love lasagna so it goes to reckon that there is a national lasagna day. National Lasagna Day occurs on the 29th of every year. Why July we do not really know??

July is hot and humid and a big pan of lasagna will make the kitchen a lot hotter. The smell will waft throughout the house making it smell delicious. Your mouth will begin to water and you will eagerly await meal time. What if there was a cooler way to get the same great flavor and aroma??

Lasagna is a favorite Italian dish. Multiple layers of lasagna pasta, generous amounts of tomato sauce, cheese and hamburger or italian sausage. The perfect lasagna takes time to make and bake but the same great flavors can be reached in a crockpot dish. What is it ??

1 lb extra lean ground beef/turkey or sausage
1/2 C grated onion
1 heaping tsp fresh garlic
1 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1 1/2 Tlb dried basil (you can use fresh also just not as much)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp oregano
pinch of nutmeg
1 - 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 - 14.5 can diced tomatoes
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
1 C apple juice
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 1/2 C water
1-2 C sliced or cubed zucchini
12 oz package Armoniche noodles - itty bitty lasagna noodles but any small pasta would really work fine.
2-3 C mozzarella and parmesan cheese for garnish - I usually do equal parts of each and mix it together

Cook meat and onion together until cooked, drain then combine in a crock pot all other ingredients. Let simmer on low minimum 3 hours. Boil noodles until tender but do not overcook, add to soup within 30 minutes of serving. Do not let it keep cooking or the noodles will overcook and get mushy. 

serving suggestions, 
cheese, and a hard bread or roll