One new key message is one that encourages Canadians to cook more often.
5 benefits of cooking often:
- You can cook foods that you and your family like and in the process you may learn new skills and delicious recipes!
- Getting your kids and/or partner involved in the kitchen adds to the enjoyment.
- You can choose healthier ingredients; for example use more vegetables/fruits, whole grain products and high protein foods.
- Save money. Restaurant food is often more expensive than your homemade foods.
- Save time. You can batch cook, meaning you cook a larger amount and freeze for later.
Try the following lasagna recipe. It freezes very well in individual containers for later.
Spinach Cottage Cheese Lasagna
Preparation Time: 15 minutes and Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
| 9 | lasagna noodles, whole wheat | 9 |
| 10oz. | package frozen spinach, thawed | 1 |
| 3 cups | low sodium pasta sauce | 750 mL |
| 1 | 5 ½ oz. can low sodium tomato paste | 1 |
| 1 | container (500g) of 1% M.F. cottage cheese | 1 |
| ½ cup | light parmesan cheese with ≤20% M.F. | 125 mL |
| 2 cups | grated light (part-skim) mozzarella cheese with ≤20% M.F. | 500 mL |
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook lasagne noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix thawed spinach with cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- In a saucepan, mix Pasta Sauce with tomato paste. Heat over medium-high heat. Turn heat to low. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Spread thick layer of sauce on the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch (3.5L) baking pan.
- Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread with 1/3 of the sauce, 1/3 of the cottage cheese mixture and 1/3 of the grated cheese.
- Repeat Step 6 two more times.
- Bake lasagna for 30 – 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 6 servings
Please let us know how you like this recipe, or share other favorite recipes you like to cook by commenting below.
