Recipe: Sneaky Veggie & Turkey Lasagna

People that make their families lasagna must love them...a lot!!! I hate making lasagna, not only is it that typical high calorie dinner but it is such a pain in the butt to make!! However my soon to be hubby's favorite dish is lasagna. He bought me a new stove/oven today (our old one went kaput) so how can I NOT make his all time favorite. This is not a quick, mix it together and bake kind of a dish, just to warn you, but it is a special dish that shows a special person how much you love them. Being on this blog you KNOW I am going to have a healthier version. I know Scotty's favorite lasagna is from his mom, which is to die for by the way! However I tried a few tweaks to lower the calories and make it full of healthy nutrients. And for moms/dads with picky kids (or maybe even picky adults) this recipe is a sneaky way of getting them to eat at least 2-3 servings of veggies per piece. Also remember watch your potion size, some people see "low calorie" and eat a massive piece. Well that defeats the purpose, so get a smallish medium piece and eat it with a big fresh salad. So here you go....


Sneaky Veggie & Turkey Lasagna

(first preheat oven to 450)
Sauce
 2 cartons of POM tomatoes strained
 2-3T of the following fresh or dried
    oregano
    basil
    parsley
    garlic chopped
1 bay leaf
1 dash of  the following
    red pepper
    salt and pepper
1lb ground turkey breast (make sure it is breast)- this is optional, if you are a vegetarian skip this ingredient and your lasagna will still be delicious

Mix all together (except turkey) and simmer, reduce heat to low and let cook for at least an hour (tip from my mom-in-law). When this is on low, start a pot of lightly salted water boiling.  Start cooking the ground turkey in a separate pan with another dash of salt, pepper, parsely, oregano until cooked then add to sauce. Keep sauce on low.

Veggies
as you are waiting for water to boil and sauce is simmering, your oven should be close to 450 degrees by now, start chopping up the following into thin strips:

1 small yellow onion
1 small red onion
1 large zuccini
6-8 mushrooms
1/2 sweet red pepper
1/4 sweet yellow pepper
1/4 sweet orange pepper
1 1/2 c small broccoli florets
2T olive oil
1T garlic salt
pepper

put in a roasting pan with 2T of olive oil, garlic salt and pepper, mix well and roast for 20-30min depending on how thin you cut your veggies, just keep checking on them. After they are done turn oven down to 350 degrees

Noodles

Do this step after you put your veggies in.....

1lb box of whole wheat lasagna pasta

If you can find dreamfields pasta-get it, this pasta is really great for you, my store didnt have it so I just got the whole wheat kind. Drop the pasta in and boil till its al dente (kind of in between soft and hard). Then drain, rinse with cool water and set aside. 

Filling

you can do this step as your noodles are boiling

1lb low fat ricotta cheese

2 eggs

4oz part skim parmesan cheese

1c chopped spinach

1c chopped fresh parsley or 3T dried 

salt and pepper

8oz part skim low fat mozzarella (set aside) 

Mix all together except mozzarella and set aside

Putting it Together.....

Oven should be at 350 degrees

1. In your lasagna pan first put a thin layer of sauce

2. Lay 3-4 noodles ontop

3. Spread your filling mixture on noodles

4. Sprinkle 1-1 1/2 handfulls of mozzarella on filling (watch the portion!)

5. Lay 3-4 noodles

6. Spread a thicker layer of sauce

7. Lay a thin layer of veggies

8. then repeat till all is gone

The top should be one last layer of noodles with a thin layer of sauce and a thin layer of mozzarella

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45min to an hour, the last 10-15min take the foil off and get the top cheese layer all melty and bubbly.

Eat with a salad and enjoy!!!
I estimate the calories around 300-ish with loads of healthy veggies, whole grains and protein!! Yummy and smart.

Shopping list

2 cartons of POM tomatoes strained 

oregano

basil

garlic

bay leaf

red pepper

1lb ground turkey breast (make sure it is breast)

whole wheat lasagna pasta

low fat ricotta cheese

2 eggs

part skim parmesan cheese

spinach

fresh or dried parsley

salt and pepper

part skim low fat mozzarella

yellow onion

red onion

zucchini

mushrooms

sweet red, yellow and orange peppers

small broccoli florets

olive oil