Hello Friends! How is your week going so far? I’m definitely not 100% quite yet, but boy I’m feeling better! I actually slept through the night without waking up once and made it to spin this morning after 2.5 weeks of blah. I kept it super moderate, and while my chest was a little tight, I felt ok. Hallelujah!!!!
It’s casserole time! These are great because they make a butt-load of food and are comforting, yet can also be packed with nutrition. We aren’t having the nasty snow storms and crazy weather like the east coast is having (yikes!) but it has been actually pretty chilly here for us weather wimps out in the west! 🙂 This is perfect for the chilly weather.
I got this recipe from CookingLight and added some mushrooms and used no-boil lasagna noodles. It turned out great!
Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 cups chopped onion (about 1 large)
- 8oz crimini mushrooms, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry (I use cheese cloth)
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 ounces)
- 3 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
- pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
- 1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce, divided (go for lower sodium if you can)
- 12 no boil lasagna noodles, divided
- 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Italian cheese mix, divided
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and mushrooms; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic and spinach. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 3 minutes or until spinach is tender.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, milk, salt, black pepper, red pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Add 2 cups of this milk mixture to spinach mixture. Cover remaining milk mixture, and set aside.
Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over sauce.
Top with half of spinach mixture.
Top with 3 lasagna noodles, 1 cup marinara sauce, and 3/4 cup cheese. I love TJ’s Italian Mix!
Layer 3 more lasagna noodles, remaining spinach mixture, and remaining 3 lasagna noodles. Top with remaining marinara sauce. Pour reserved milk mixture over the top, and sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.
Bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until lasagna is browned on top.
Yummy bubbly cheesy goodness!
Nutrition Facts –> Calories: 328 Fat: 9g Carbs: 46g Protein: 17g Fiber: 7g
This is great for leftovers and perfect to make ahead to save time. Don’t forget about the side salad too if you’d like 🙂
Another family casserole favorite of ours that I made this week is Cornbread Topped Pot Pie.
This time instead of using chicken I used a can of white beans. Yum!
mmm everything’s better with cornbread.
I am so happy to be healthy again and it has really got me thinking about life in general. Jessie posted a great quote on Twitter the other day and I thought I’d also share it here.
“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” -Mohandas Gandhi
Isn’t this so true? Without our health and overall wellbeing we don’t have much and I’ve learned this the past 2.5 weeks. I’ve been so happy just to take a few life-giving breaths. Forget about all the stresses of life, things that may not be going that well at work, something you want but can’t afford, and take a moment to relish in the fact of your health and the ability to do all the things that you do! Never underestimate the blessing of your health!
Ok, I don’t mean to be preachy over here, but I wanted to share my ‘ah-ha’ moment 🙂
What are some of your favorite comforting casseroles?
Kristen, I’m so glad you’re on the mend! I love hearty casseroles. And there are few of them that can’t be made even better with the addition of spinach and mushrooms. AND cheese! One of my favorites, being from an English family, is shepherd’s pie, also called cottage pie. And, of course, I think MY version is the best. (Hey, if we don’t love our own cooking, how can we expect anyone else to?!)
Comment by Jean | Delightful Repast — February 4, 2011 @ 9:35 am
Gla dyou are feeling better! I LOVE that quote. How true it is. I think sometimes we take so much for granted and get so caught up in our crazy busy lives that we sometimes whats really important in life. Our health, happiness and loved ones.
Your Lasagna looks super fabulous!! Yum-o! And the corn bread topped pot pie? Delicious! Ultimate comfort food. I totally agree that everything is better with cornbread. Thanks for the awesome recipes! Get well!
Comment by chrysta — February 4, 2011 @ 10:14 am
Glad you are feeling better; that must be one nasty illness!
Your lasagna recipe looks great! Perfect comfort food, for sure. 🙂
And you’re so right…health is an important blessing that I definitely take for granted sometimes.
Comment by Emily — February 5, 2011 @ 7:13 am
Glad to hear you are feeling better! Not me…I have a nasty head cold and had to leave work early today 🙁 It really stinks. I’m hoping to feel better by Monday, but you say you didn’t feel 100% for 2.5 weeks?! Yikes. That’s a long time.
This lasagna sounds, and looks AMAZING! I’m drooling over here. I want Nick to come home and make me something like this for my sore throat!! haha, fat chance of that happening 🙂
Comment by The Candid RD — February 5, 2011 @ 2:11 pm
@Gina, Oh no! 🙁 I hope you get over the cold soon! I had bronchitis and it just wouldn’t go away. I can’t believe how long it has been and even now I still have a little coughing reflex. Crazy! I hope you have a nice comforting dinner tonight!
Comment by Kristen :) — February 5, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Beautiful lasagna! I’ll be honest, the only casserole I’ve ever attempted is roasted vegetable lasagna, so I guess I need to expand my horizons a bit.
Comment by BroccoliHut — February 5, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
Ok- now you have me craving lasagna! I will definitely add this to this weeks menu. Hope you are 100% better soon!
Comment by EA-The Spicy RD — February 6, 2011 @ 8:15 am
The lasagna looks so good. Why didn’t I see that in Cooking Light? Probably did but it got overlooked. I like your version. Hope you are 100% feeling better soon.
Comment by Melinda — February 6, 2011 @ 8:37 am
Both casseroles look amazing! I love comfort food in the winter time. I hope that you feel better soon!
Comment by Dana @ Budget Dietitian — February 7, 2011 @ 6:49 am
This lasagna looks amazing!! I can’t wait to try out that recipe!!! Yummm!!
Comment by Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble — February 7, 2011 @ 4:50 pm
i am so sorry it has taken you so long to get better. are you back on your bike yet?
Comment by kalli — February 8, 2011 @ 6:14 am
@kalli, thank you 🙂 I’m actually working on a post about getting back on the bike this past weekend! It was a little rough but I made it 🙂
Comment by Kristen :) — February 8, 2011 @ 12:26 pm
casseroles are just so easy and perfect! baked cheese is phenomenal and that pot pie looks AWESOME! I hate pot pie but i would really enjoy if it was topped with cornbread more often vs. regular pie crust!
Comment by Laural (bhealthier) — February 8, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
Wow, that lasagna looks amazing, I can’t believe it’s so low calorie!! I am bookmarking this page so I can make that! And what a genius idea to top pot pie with cornbread! I am southern so I definitely love any meal that involves cornbread!
Comment by Amanda @ The Artsy Kitchen — February 16, 2011 @ 5:45 am
I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’ve been looking for a healthier version of lasagna. My nephew loves pasta, but so much of it is heavy and loaded with fat. Thanks for the inspiration!
Comment by Kristi Rimkus — February 17, 2011 @ 6:54 am
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