Meal of the Week

Here's a fun way to enjoy lasagna but in a more individualized manner that will help keep calorie count low and in turn help keep you focused on healthy nutrition. Even though portion size and ingredients are a tad different than usual, that in no way sacrifices flavor or taste. If the meal is prepared as outlined below, you should have enough leftover to make some tasty muffin melts that you'll enjoy for work the next day. Those who desire a vegetarian/meat-less version simply do without the lean ground turkey and opt for an alternative of your liking.

Equipment Needed - colander 
- large pot for water/pasta 
- large skillet for meat 
- medium size stovetop pot 
- large mixing bowl 
- large oven pan 
- parchment paper 
- aluminum foil

Ingredients Makes 4-6 servings

1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
1 box lasagna
1 jar Marinara sauce
1 cup diced spinach
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup cottage cheese (small curd)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon oregano
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 egg
salt and pepper

For Leftover Muffin Melts
- whole wheat English muffins

Directions

*Preheat oven to 425 degrees

1. You will need to boil a large pot of water (with optional dashes salt) to cook the lasagna al dente for about eight minutes. When that's finished carefully remove and drain using a colander.

2. While the water is boiling if you're planning to use lean ground turkey (or any other meat) for this meal you can start cooking this next. Open the container and empty the contents into a stove top pan, add some salt and pepper to taste, and on medium heat start dicing the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook until desired wellness is achieved.

3. While the meat and lasagna noodles are cooking you can carefully dice the spinach leaves into small pieces using a sharp knife until you have a cup worth. In a separate small stove top pot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil along with the 2 tablespoons minced garlic and the cup of diced spinach on low heat stir for a few minutes.

4. In a large mixing bowl add the egg, 1 cup Ricotta cheese, oregano, 3/4 cup cottage cheese, the garlic/spinach mixture, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese along with pinches of salt and pepper. Mix together well with a fork.

5. Right about now the meat and lasagna should be about done cooking. Lower meat to a simmer and add entire bottle of marinara sauce and mix well. You will have a nice, tasty meat mixture now.

6. Use a large piece of parchment paper and get ready to make the lasagna rolls. Simply lay out 1 entire noodle on the parchment paper and use a spoon to spread the cheese mixture evenly and thinly across one entire side. Then carefully roll the lasagna up from one end to the other.

7. Before you place the lasagna roll in your oven pan, spoon some of the meat sauce mixture across the bottom of the pan to give it a thin coating. Then you can place the lasagna rolls side by side but not touching. Continue to repeat this process until you finish all the lasagna rolls you plan to cook. You may have to use two separate oven-safe pans depending on how many rolls you plan to make.

8. Once all the lasagna rolls are prepared and arranged in the pan, spoon the remaining sauce over each one of the rolls. Then mix the remaining parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese and sprinkle on top of all the rolls.

9. Cover the pan(s) with a piece of aluminum foil and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling.

10. Finally, while the lasagna is cooking you can prepare the type of salad you plan to serve with the meal. Once everything is done, serve appropriate portions and enjoy.