I have a, err, um, friend who has been searching high and low for the perfect lasagna recipe. This friend, we’ll just call her Feather, well she has tried noodles of every type, jarred sauces of every type, cheeses and veggies and meats of all kinds. The least I could do was lead her in the right direction towards lasagna freedom. Turns out all I – I mean Feather – had to do was make her own sauce and follow a few simple steps.
All I’m saying is that I like to help myself my friends figure out how to make food they love and that others will love too. It’s simple, it’s healthful, it’s therapeutic, and above all else it’s delicious.
- 1 batch of this sauce (it’s a slow-cooker recipe that makes a ton, and you mightneed half if you’re feeling extra saucy)
- 1 box of Barilla oven-ready flat lasagna noodles. They will rock your lasagna world!
- 1 12 oz container of cottage cheese (trust me)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper
- 6 oz parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Preheat your oven to 350. In a bowl mix together the cottage cheese, egg, salt, and pepper. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Ladle about 1 cup or so of the sauce into the bottom of the pan. Layer the noodles (dry, you don’t have to boil them), half of the cottage cheese mixture, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella and a sprinkle of the parmesan, 1 1/2 cups of sauce, noodles, the other half of the cottage cheese mixture, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella and a sprinkle of the parmesan, 1 1/2 cups of sauce, noodles, 1 1/2 cups of sauce, and then top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 5 minutes on broil. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before you cut into it!
EAT!
OK OK fine, the friend is really me. You caught me 😉
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Stay tuned for some fun updates today! It’s going to be like this little game we played back in November. So here’s hint #1:
Jackie says
Cottage Cheese vs Ricotta? Sacrilege in the Italian-American neighborhood I grew up in. If I made it and people liked it, I’m not sure I could admit to what I used!
Heather says
i know…definitely non-conventional, but the great thing is that ricotta can be (and in most cases SHOULD be) used!
Stephanie Midkiff says
Heather, I made this lasagne for Easter lunch and my whole family loved it. AFter they went back for seconds, I told them it was vegetarian…my dad and husband swore they saw meat in it…it’s very filling and delicious! Thanks for such an awesome recipe.
Elle says
Damn, your friend “Feather” is one determined girl. This looks incredible!
Kim in MD says
The lasagna looks delicious, and I am SO jealous that you are going somewhere where there are palm trees! Have tons of fun! 🙂
Baking Serendipity says
I love lasagna, but I’ve always used ricotta rather than cottage cheese in mine. I’ll definitely have to give this version a shot 🙂
Stephanie Midkiff says
HEATHER! I have been in a weird funk of not wanting to cook AT ALL lately! No joke, this recipe made me sit up and take notice, I can’t WAIT to make it! Thanks for snapping me out of my funk!
(what runs) Lori says
Florida! (wild guess)
Love the lasagna! Super easy and super healthy. Definitely a keeper recipe. 😉
snackgirlgoeshealthy says
Ahh! I’m jealous! I’m going to Ecuador in July! SO PUMPED!
That lasagna DOES look perfect! Good job!!
Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food says
That looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it! 🙂
JoeyfromSC says
OH MY GOSH you are torturing me haha! Looks so amazing..I am drooling now!!
Fun about the little game!! Looks like somewhere in Florida haha
kate says
somewhere warm!!
with palm trees!!
…okay, i’m a bad guesser. i did figure out it was you making the lasagna though ;). preeeeettty smart. yup. and that looks delicious. this cottage cheese thing is curious…i may just have to try it…
Natalia - a side of simple says
Lasagna 🙂 It’s really just one of those foods that elicites all thoughts of comfort, large sweat pants, and a cheese enduced food coma. And I like it!
Heather says
I have a hard time with lasagna too, but this looks really good. Such a clean piece!
R @ Learning As I Chop says
Thank you!!! I am definitely making this some time in the next few weeks.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
looks absolutely perfect! You’re going to Southern California 🙂
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Omg Feather haha! I have not made nor had lasagna in a veryyyyy long time – I think I need to remedy that asap! Thanks for the reminder 😉
evamadera says
That lasagna looks delicious!
Wherever you’re going is definitely a place I want to go. 😀
becca (bellebottoms) says
ever since I tried actual lasagna with cheese (I grew up eating tofu lasagna), I never turned back….I love it when my mom adds some meat sauce to it….YUM!!
thehealthyapron says
Florida or Hawaii?? YUmmy lookin’ lasagna!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
Wherever it is, I’m pretty sure I’ll be jealous!
goodtastehealthyme says
I love lasagna with cottage cheese! It’s soooo tasty!
Florida? I’m a new reader so I’m not sure where you live yet….so hopefully it’s not Florida! LOL
Kelly says
I love how you can see all the layers so clearly in that Lasagna! 🙂
I am guessing HAWAII!
Urban Wife says
I love that it doesn’t have meat. Yay! p.s. It looks like a tropical destination. Fun! 🙂
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self says
I’ve been trying to find the perfect lasagna recipe – now I have it! Can’t wait to see where you’re going!
Krystina (Organically Me) says
Beautiful!!
yourdailygrace says
Love it and it has no meat! Which is even better! I’m bookmarking it and making it soon:)
Jessica @ How Sweet says
That does look like perfect lasagna!
The Food Hound says
Lasagna looks great! Isn’t it awesome when you find the “best of” something and your quest for perfection (at least for that food 🙂 is over?? Congrats!
I think you’re going to Hawaii! And if you are, let me know and I will pass long good restaurant recs because we used to live there!!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Oooooh, where ARE you going?!?! It’s somewhere I’m going to be jealous of, that I can tell. 🙂
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
That looks like Hawaii to me:-) At least that is where I’d like to be going!! The lasagna looks delicious. I usually use ricotta cheese but cottage cheese sounds like a great idea!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Yum! This looks delicious! I love lasagna 🙂
Judging by the picture, You’re going somewhere beachy 😉