Garfield's Choice

Word, Garfield. Lasagna IS good. A theme you may be noticing is that I like to make customizable food. This is why you don't catch me baking that often, and if you do, it's something that I can customize like scones. Lasagna is another one of those foods that you can do one bazillion ways. That is, after all, the key to cooking. Cook what sounds good to you . . . and it will be good. 


 I made lasagna for an army of eight last night, so though my photos may reflect food preparation for an army, the recipe is written for one tray of delicious lasagna.


Low Fat Spinach Lasagna


Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 12 No Boil lasagna noodles (Thank you Trader Joe's!)
• 28 oz. of marinara sauce (TJ has a good canned one that is low in fat)
• 15 oz. fat free ricotta
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. low fat milk
• 1/2 bag frozen spinach, thawed and moisture squeezed out in towel or fine strainer
• 2 1/2 c reduced fat shredded mozzarella
• 3/4 c grated parmesan
• 2 tsp each: dried basil leaves, italian seasoning, onion powder, and granulated garlic
• 1/2 tsp each: salt and pepper 
• 1 package hot or sweet italian turkey or chicken sausage

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Sausage fest: remove sausage from casing and brown on the stove
• Mix ricotta, egg, spinach, 1 cup of mozzarella, 1/4 c. of parmesan, milk and spices
• Spray a large glass baking dish for your lasagna
• Layer like this (listed bottom to top):
• Thin layer of marinara
• One layer of noodles
• Cheese mixture about 1/4" thick
• Sausage
• 1/2 c of shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 c of parmesan
• Marinara to cover
• Layer of noodles
• Remaining cheese mixture
• Remaining sausage
• 1/2 c mozzarella
• Layer of noodles
• Remaining marinara
• Remaining mozzarella
• Remaining parmesan
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes
• Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving!

Assembly line: assemble!

Before oven.

 In forty five minutes you will be savage just like Garfield.

After oven.

helloooooo, leftovers!

Now, I don't think I need to state the obvious, but you could do this with any meat of your choice, any sauce of your choice, any veg of your choice, any cheese of your choice. I've done this lasagna with zucchini  onion, and mushroom instead of meat and a goat cheese/ricotta mixture. You could use a white cheese sauce. I've read tasty looking recipes with white sauce and butternut squash. Yummers. Just not quite as figure friendly as my super low fat version. 

Have a wonderful Sunday, friends!