Lasagna

Ingedients:

Spinach-2 bunch
Mushrooms-16 oz
Onion-2
Red bell pepper-2
Garlic-8 cloves
Dried Oregano-2 tbsp
Dried Parsley-2 tbsp
Salsa-4 cups
Ricotta-2 cups
Parmesan-1 cup
Mozzarella-2 cups
Eggs-2
Oven ready lasagna noodles-12
Salt-to taste
Pepper-to taste

Method:

1. If you are not using oven ready noodles, boil them and keep them ready.
2. Pre heat oven to 350F.
3. Heat oil on a pan and add chopped garlic. Cook till the raw smell goes away.
4. Add finely chopped onions and cook till soft.
5. Add spinach and cook for couple of minutes.
6. Add chopped red pepper and mushrooms. Cook till the water released is evaporated.
7. Add salt, pepper, oregano, parsley and mix well.
8. Add 2 cups of salsa (you can use pasta sauce here) and cook well.
9. Adjust for spices and turn off the stove.
10. In a bowl whip ricotta and eggs. Stir in mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Keep it aside.
11. To assemble, take a large 8×14 inch dish and spray with oil.
12. Spread a layer of veggie mix. Place lasagna noodles. Spread some sauce and then cheese. Add veggies again and repeat the process for 3 times.
13. For oven ready noodles, make sure you spread the sauce on entire noodle. If you leave some space then that part won't cook properly.
14. Cover the pan with a foil and bake for 25 min. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 min. Turn off the oven and let it stand for another 15 min before serving.

Eggplant baked Ziti

Ingredients:

Servings:4-5

Pasta (Ziti or any other kind of your choice)-2 cups
Eggplant-1 large
Cheese grated-1 cup
(Use cheese of your choice. Parmesan is mostly used for this recipe but I used 4 cheese mexican blend)
Garlic-6 cloves
Onion-1 medium
Tomato-1 big
Tomato sauce-24 oz
Salt and Pepper-To taste
Oil-2 tbsp

Method:

1. Turn on the oven to Broil. Meanwhile cut eggplant into 1/2 in thick circles. Place them on a foil and spray oil on both sides of eggplant. Eggplant absorbs oil quickly. Don't bother to add a lot of it. Sprinkle little salt and pepper on eggplant circles.
2. Place the eggplant in the oven and let it cook for around 10 min. Keep an eye on it and cook until the eggplant becomes soft.
3. While the eggplant is cooking, prepare sauce and boil pasta. You can use marinara sauce instead. If you do not have Marinara sauce, proceed to the next step.
4. Add 1 tsp oil in the pan and saute garlic for 30 sec. Add finely chopped onion and saute till soft.
5. Then add tomato sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add finely chopped tomato and let it cook until the tomato becomes soft. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Now the sauce is ready.
6. Set the oven to 350 F and assemble all the above ingredients.
7. First spread 1/4 of the sauce prepared to cover the baking pan. I used 11"X 9" pan. Then add first layer of eggplant using half of the cooked eggplant. Add boiled pasta on the top of eggplant and sprinkle cheese on top. Finally, place remaining eggplant circles and top off with the remaining sauce.
8. Let it bake for 15 min until the cheese melts.
9. Serve the baked Ziti with grated parmesan cheese if you desire. Enjoy!