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Lasagna Casserole

Notes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
6 whole wheat lasagna noodles.  
Immerse the noodles in water in a small glass cake pan & cook on high in microwave for 10 mins.  Cool slightly
2 small zucchini (very thinly sliced with a sharp knife or on a mandoline)
Place on 2 parchment-lined cookie sheets.  Brush each side of zuch, lightly, with EVOO & season with salt, pepper & a little Herbamare (this seasoning can be found in the spice section of your grocery store's natural food section)  It is great on veggies!!  Roast in preheated oven for 7-10 mins.  Turn oven off & leave zuch in heated oven until you are ready for assembly.  Keep an eye on them & remove if they are getting too dried out.
1 small white onion,  diced 
1 lb. ground chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced (I like to use my best-loved microplane for garlic)
Heat a sauté pan over med high heat.  Add 2 turns of EVOO.  Start with chopped onion in pan, then add ground chicken & garlic.  Heat until cooked through.  Season with a pinch of salt & pepper.
1 large can San Marzano tomatoes (run a sharp knife thru the tomatoes while still in the tin)
1 13 oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 bay leaf (DO NOT forget to remove before layering sauce into casserole!)
Add all ingredients into the chicken mixture.  Heat & stir until the sauce comes together & starts to boil.  Reduce heat to low & let simmer for as long as you can - up to 2 hours
While sauce is simmering, mix together:
1 box chopped, frozen spinach, thawed (you can thaw in microwave. Then, place in a thin, clean, tea towel over sink & wring out, in the towel, until the moisture is completely out)
1/2 C cottage cheese
1/2 C ricotta cheese
1/4 C feta cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp grated parmesan
2 tsp dried parsley
1 egg
pinch of salt & pepper
For assembly:
Grated marble or Tex Mex cheese - 2 to 3 cups
Grated parmesan cheese
Spray a 9 X 13 glass cake pan with cooking spray
Reset oven to 350 degrees
Starting with a little sauce, assemble your lasagna
  • 3 noodles
  • 1/3 of remaining sauce
  • spinach/cheese mixture - use all
  • sprinkle lightly with cheddar & parm
  • zuch slices
  • 1/2 of remaining sauce
  • sprinkle of cheeses
  • 3 noodles
  • last of sauce
  • generous topping of shredded cheese
Bake in 350 oven for 45 minutes.  Set out on a cooling rack & let cool for 10 mins (you will be tempted to dive right in, but this step is very important for being able to cut into squares that stay formed)