12/31/2017
Am I the only one who pigged out on too many Christmas cookies, ate too much pie, and had absolutely zero discipline at the dinner table during the holidays?? When I started eating Christmas cookies for breakfast, I knew I had fallen off the wagon completely, lol. Time to turn over a new leaf! This recipe will help launch us out of the unhealthy rut we're in ;-). Let's put those kitchen tools to good use and melt off the holiday pounds. Shall we?
Here is a low carb, tasty lasagna that has absolutely NO NOODLES....only ZOODLES and VOODLES! You'll need your Swiss Peeler for this recipe. There's an odd but nutritious ingredient in this recipe (to ensure that it isn't runny or soupy or watery) so pay close attention. This recipe can be made vegetarian by using TVP or any meat replacement of your choice.
No-noodle Lasagna:
Lightly oil a 9 x 13 deep dish pan. Preheat oven at 350°.
Season 1 pound of ground beef or chicken/turkey with garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasonings. Cook in a skillet til the pink is gone. Pour 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce into pan with cooked meat. Set aside.
Wash 1 zucchini, one yellow squash, and one carrot. (I used butternut squash in this recipe...yum). Use your Swiss Peeler to make the "ribbons" (these ribbons will be your healthy noodles). Keep the peeler parallel to the veggie and apply moderate pressure the whole length of the veggie so that you end up with pretty "voodles" (veggie noodles).
Combine 2 cups of each of the following:
Ricotta cheese
Mozzarella
Cottage cheese
(Use low fat versions of any or all of these to slash fat and calories).
Now for the fun part :-)
1st layer:
Lay your zucchini and/or yellow squash zoodles in the pan (the pictures will show you). Before you add carrot ribbons or butternut squash ribbons, sprinkle the special ingredient on the zoodles!!......CHIA SEEDS. Since chia seeds hold 10X their weight in water (or any liquid) they are perfect for soaking up the water that is released from the zoodles during baking. Use about 1 tablespoon per zoodle layer.
2nd layer:
Now spread a 1/3 of the meat mixture evenly on the veggie ribbons with a spatula or large spoon.
3rd layer:
Plop (yes, that's a word, lol) dollops (that is, too) of cheese mixture on meat layer and carefully spread evenly.
Repeat these layers 3 times and sprinkle a little shredded cheese on top. Cover and bake for 1 hour or til voodles are tender. If you're in a hurry, use only zucchini and / or yellow squash noodles as these bake faster than carrots and winter squash.
Don't forget the chia seeds in each of the 3 layers. Enjoy!