Day 2: January Lasagna

I got the idea for this dish this morning while checking my e-mail. I subscribe to Real Simple's Recipe of the Day. Today's recipe was a broccoli lasagna. I liked the idea of adding broccoli to lasagna. It sounded a little healthy ... maybe something we're all looking for this time of year. However, their recipe called for heavy cream and was all vegetarian. I decided to add the broccoli to my own lasagna recipe and change it up a bit by adding ground turkey instead of ground beef or sausage. I'll call my newly revised recipe: January Lasagna. For all of those looking to be a little healthier this time of year.

Grocery List:

• 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1 box of no boil lasagna noodles (I used Barilla flat noodles)
• 1 lb. ground turkey meat
• 1 bag of frozen broccoli florets
• 4 cups of skim milk shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 15 oz. container of ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup of grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg

Directions:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Brown turkey meat in skillet. Drain fat.
• Zap broccoli in microwave. Drain and then dry with paper towels. Then coarsely chop.
• In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan, all of the ricotta, 1 beaten egg, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper. Mix well.
• Spread a layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9" x 13" glass baking dish.
• Next, add a layer of noodles to cover the baking dish.
• Follow by adding a layer of cheese mixture. Top cheese mixture with half the chopped broccoli.
• Next, add a layer of ground turkey (about half the cooked turkey).
• Add another layer of noodles and repeat: sauce, cheese mixture, broccoli, turkey. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
• Add another layer of noodles. Top with tomato sauce and remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Cover with non-stick aluminum foil.
• Bake for 40 minutes covered.
• Remove foil and back an additional 20 minutes, uncovered.
• Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes.

Serve with a green salad on the side. Spinach or arugula with fresh ground pepper and Girard's champagne dressing are the perfect pairing.

We really liked this lasagna. The flavors were great and it made a ton. We'll probably be eating it the next couple of days, but that's ok with us.