Meatless Meals Archives

Category: Meatless Meals

13
Feb
2017

Veggie Lasagna Rollups

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals

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Veggie Lasagna Rollups are a simple, but delicious meatless dish. Noodles are filled with 4 cheeses, veggies, rolled and topped with marinara sauce.

I am occasionally on the lookout for ideas for “meatless” meals, since one of our sons is a vegetarian. It’s fun finding new recipes we can enjoy together when he comes for dinner. Recently I came up with this simple recipe for Veggie Lasagna Rollups, after raiding my pantry and refrigerator for ingredients.

The recipe I came up with has lots of veggies and cheeses inside a rolled up lasagna noodle, then top with an Italian flavored pasta sauce, and bake. Veggie lasagna rollups sounded simple enough, and the recipe I ended up with had lots of flavor and tasted great!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Here’s How To Make Veggie Lasagna Rollups

Melt butter in large skillet. Add chopped veggies (yellow and green bell peppers, onion, spinach, and mushrooms). Saute until crisp-tender, then set the skillet aside.

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. When done cooking, remove noodles carefully and drain, then lay pasta flat on work surface and blot dry with a paper towel.

Filling The Veggie Lasagna Rollups

In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder until fairly smooth. Reserve and set aside 1/4 of the cheese mixture to add to the top of the lasagna noodles prior to baking.

Spoon a layer of remaining cheese mixture down the middle of each noodle, lengthwise. Try to leave about a half inch on either side of noodle clear. Once the noodles have a cheese layer, evenly divide the cooked veggies down each noodle. Top with a bit of grated Mozzarella cheese. Repeat the process for each lasagna noodle.

Prepare The Rollups For Baking

Spread Italian pasta sauce on the bottom of a large baking dish (enough to lightly cover bottom of dish). Roll each one of the lasagna noodles up, beginning at the short end. Place lasagna rollups seam side down in the baking dish. Spoon reserved cheese mixture over tops of lasagna rollups.

Pour pasta sauce over tops and sides of rollups until covered (I used a can of Italian spaghetti sauce for simplicity). Top the sauce with additional grated Mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake The Veggie Lasagna Rollups

Bake the lasagna rollups in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until cheese and sauce are bubbly, and the rollups are fully heated through.

Time To EAT!

Remove the baking pan from the oven. Let it cool for just a minute, then carefully lift each rollup out of dish with a spatula and place onto individual serving plates. Here’s a sideview of what it looked like once cooked and on the plate.

It’s a simple, meatless yet tasty veggie and cheese filled Italian lasagna treat. The recipe makes 8 veggie lasagna rollups. Depending on how hungry you are, you can either get 4 servings (2 per person) or 8 servings (1 per person).

Hope you will consider trying this recipe for veggie lasagna rollups. Make it your own by adding any other veggies of your choice to the mix, as well. If you want to add meat, simply brown some crumbled Italian sausage and add to the veggie mixture. Use whatever works best for you! Have a great day, friends.

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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Veggie Lasagna Rollups

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Veggie Lasagna Rollups are a simple, but delicious meatless dish. Noodles are filled with 4 cheeses, veggies, rolled and topped with marinara sauce.

Category: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: veggie lasagna rollups

Servings: 8 rollups

Calories Per Serving: 419 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese (at room temp)
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 Tablespoons butter
1 cup yellow bell pepper , chopped
1 cup green bell pepper , chopped
1 cup yellow onion , chopped
1 small package frozen spinach , thawed and drained really well
7-8 mushrooms , chopped
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
1½ cups grated mozzarella cheese
2 cups spaghetti sauce (prepared canned marinara)
Additional grated mozzarella and Parmesan (for sprinkling on top of rollups before baking)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Melt butter in large skillet. Add chopped veggies (yellow and green bell peppers, onion, spinach, and mushrooms). Saute until crisp-tender. Set skillet aside.
Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. When done, remove noodles carefully and drain; lay pasta flat on work surface and blot dry with a paper towel.
In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder until fairly smooth. Reserve and set aside 1/4 of cheese mixture to add to top of lasagna noodles prior to baking. Spoon a layer of remaining cheese mixture down the middle of each noodle, lengthwise, leaving about a half inch clear around edges of noodle.
Evenly distribute cooked veggies down each noodle. Top with a bit of grated Mozzarella cheese. Repeat process for each lasagna noodle.
Spread Italian pasta sauce on bottom of a large baking dish (enough to lightly cover bottom of dish). Roll each of the lasagna noodles up, beginning at short end. Place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon reserved cream cheese mixture over top of each rollup.
Pour marinara sauce over tops and sides of rollups until covered. Top with additional grated Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese (as much as you wish).
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until cheese and sauce are bubbly, and dish is heated through.
Remove dish from oven. Let cool for 1-2 minutes, then carefully lift each rollup out of dish with a spatula and place onto individual serving plates.

Recipe Notes

The recipe makes 8 rollups, so depending on how hungry you are, you can either get 4 servings (2 per person) or 8 servings (1 per person).
Fresh baby spinach can be substituted for frozen (I was using what I had on hand).

Nutrition Facts

Veggie Lasagna Rollups

Amount Per Serving (1 rollup)

Calories 419 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Fat 21g32%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 70mg23%

Sodium 785mg34%

Potassium 560mg16%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 1055IU21%

Vitamin C 55.3mg67%

Calcium 495mg50%

Iron 1.7mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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19
Sep
2016

Tomato, Basil and Three Cheese Tart

categories: Breakfast, Meatless Meals, Vegetable Dishes

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Tomato Basil Three Cheese Tart has a flaky crust, tomatoes, Ricotta, Parmesan, Mozzarella cheese, Italian spices, and is perfect for breakfast, lunch OR dinner!

I found this recipe for a “quiche-like tart” on Pinterest from one of my favorite bloggers, tweaked the recipe very slightly, and enjoyed the results very much! The recipe features a delectable (pat in the pan) crust.

It is flavored with quiche-style filling, fresh mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Ricotta cheese, plus fresh basil leaves and Italian spices. This beautiful tart is beautifully “crowned” with beautiful tomato slices for a pop of flavor and color!

Believe it or not, the tomato basil three cheese tart was not too hard to make, either! This dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch OR dinner. I think it would be fabulous to serve at a brunch! Here’s how to make it.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make This Tomato Basil Three Cheese Tart

Preheat your oven to 410 degrees F. Place butter, oil, water, sugar and salt in an oven-proof bowl. Place bowl in preheated oven; cook for 15 minutes. Remove hot bowl from oven.

Add flour into the hot butter mixture. Stir this until the dough comes together and can be formed into a ball. Place the dough ball into a 10 or 11 inch tart pan (with a removable bottom).

Once dough has cooled enough to handle, press the dough into the tart pan and up the sides to form a crust. (Hint from original recipe author: save a tiny bit of dough which can be used to repair any cracks in crust after baking). Pierce the crust all over with the tines of a fork.

Bake The Crust

Press the sides of the crust in the pan to help reinforce the crust. I used a fork to do this. Bake crust at 410 degrees for 15 minutes (until golden in color). Remove crust from oven. If any cracks occurred, use the tiny bit of dough to do a quick repair job. Let crust cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F. Place a long baking sheet into the heated oven (for later).

NOTE*** — I only had a 9 inch tart pan, so as you can see from my photos, I used the extra crust for two little tarts as well, then just divided the filling between the tarts. (The smaller crusts took a bit less time to cook).

Prepare Filling For The Tomato Basil Three Cheese Tart

While you are baking crust or waiting for crust to cool down, combine the eggs, ricotta, Parmesan, half and half, Italian seasoning and salt in a medium bowl. Stir well to mix; once combined, add the small basil leaves and stir together. Set aside.

Slice tomatoes (1/4 inch slices). Place slices on top of several paper towel to let them drain a bit. While the tart is in the oven baking, lightly brush the tops of each tomato slice with a bit of olive oil

Once the tart crust has cooled completely, add the grated fresh mozzarella cheese and spread to cover bottom of crust. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the mozzarella cheese.

Bake The Tart

Place the tart onto the heated baking sheet (in the oven) and bake on the pan for 10 minutes at 375 F. Remove tomato basil three cheese tart from oven after 10 minutes; arrange the tomato slices on top of the tart. Sprinkle tomato slices with salt and black pepper.

Place the tart back in the oven and continue to bake for an additional 15-20 minutes (mine took 20), until just set. When you slightly wiggle the tart pan, the filling should no longer “jiggle” back and forth. Remove the tart pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Aren’t They Pretty?

This is how they looked when they first came out of the oven. I already had taken the tart pan off the small ones, as they had cooked and cooled enough before the large tart was done. Aren’t they gorgeous???

I kinda like the little bitty ones… they would be perfect to serve at a brunch!

Time To EAT!

This tomato basil three cheese tart can be served hot (after it rest for 10 minutes), or at room temperature. Either way is wonderful. Wrap the leftovers well, and they will keep for several days, if refrigerated.

I hope you will consider making this delicious tomato basil three cheese tart. An added benefit was being able to use fresh tomatoes and basil from our garden to make this tart! It was wonderful to have the leftovers hanging around in our refrigerator for a few days. Then it was so easy to grab a quick slice for breakfast or lunch!

In Other News!

Have a blessed day… in other news – we got a new Pembroke welsh corgi puppy yesterday, so I am up to my eyeballs in “PUPPY” stuff. So tired, yet so very thankful for our new furry bundle of JOY (even if he doesn’t seem too sure about his new living arrangements)!

Sure hope you enjoy this tomato basil three cheese tart! We sure did! Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More Quiche-Like Recipes Like This?

You can find all my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have several quiche recipes similar to this one that you might enjoy, including:

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Recipe Adapted From: http://thecafesucrefarine.com/2016/06/tomato-basil-fresh-mozzarella-tart/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Tomato, Basil and Three Cheese Tart

Prep Time

35 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

1 hr 5 mins

Tomato Basil Three Cheese Tart has a flaky crust, tomatoes, Ricotta, Parmesan, Mozzarella cheese, Italian spices, and is perfect for breakfast, lunch OR dinner!

Category: Brunch, Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: tomato basil three cheese tart

Servings: 8 servings

Calories Per Serving: 552 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For crust:

6 ounces butter
2 Tablespoons oil (non-flavored oil)
6 Tablespoons water
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour , plus 2 Tablespoons

For tart filling:

4 large eggs (room temp)
1 cup ricotta cheese (room temp)
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup half and half
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup small , fresh basil leaves
10-15 small colorful tomatoes (I used a combo of Romas and various color cherry tomatoes)
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese , grated
Olive oil (to lightly brush on tomato slices prior to baking)
Salt and pepper , to sprinkle on tart before final bake

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the crust:

Preheat your oven to 410 degrees F. Place the butter, oil, water, sugar and salt in an oven-proof bowl. Place bowl in preheated oven; cook for 15 minutes. Remove hot bowl from oven.
Add flour into the hot butter mixture. Stir this until the dough comes together and can be formed into a ball. Place the dough ball into a 10 or 11 inch tart pan (with a removable bottom). Once dough has cooled enough to handle, press the dough into the tart pan and up the sides to form a crust. (Hint from original recipe author: save a tiny bit of dough which can be used to repair cracked crust after baking).
Pierce the crust all over with the tines of a fork. Press the sides of the crust in the pan to help reinforce the crust. I used the fork to do this. Bake at 410 degrees for 15 minutes (golden in color).
Remove crust from oven. If any cracks occurred, use the tiny bit of dough to do a quick repair job. Let crust cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F. Put a long sheet pan into the oven to heat up.
While you are waiting for crust to cool down, combine the eggs, ricotta, Parmesan, half and half, Italian seasoning and salt in a medium bowl. Stir well to mix; once combined, add the small basil leaves and stir together. Set aside.
Slice tomatoes (1/4 inch slices). Place slices on top of several paper towel to let them drain a bit.
Once the tart crust has cooled completely, add the grated fresh mozzarella cheese and spread to cover bottom of crust. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the mozzarella cheese. Place the tart onto the heated baking sheet (in the oven) and bake on the pan for 10 minutes at 375 F.
While the tart is in the oven baking, lightly brush the tops of each tomato slice with a bit of olive oil.
Remove tart from oven after 10 minutes; arrange the tomato slices on top of the tart. Sprinkle tomato slices with salt and black pepper. Place the tart back in the oven and continue to bake for an additional 15-20 minutes (mine took 20), until just set. (When you slightly wiggle the tart pan, the filling no longer "jiggles" back and forth). Remove the tart pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. The tart is also delicious when served at room temperature!

Recipe Notes

Note: FYI- Original recipe called for 1/2 cup small fresh basil leaves. I made the tart the first time with that measurement, but I found I actually prefer LESS basil flavor in the tart, so have adjusted the quantity down to 1/4 cup small basil leaves for my version.

Nutrition Facts

Tomato, Basil and Three Cheese Tart

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 552 Calories from Fat 342

% Daily Value*

Fat 38g58%

Saturated Fat 23g144%

Cholesterol 179mg60%

Sodium 765mg33%

Potassium 526mg15%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 2440IU49%

Vitamin C 21.5mg26%

Calcium 331mg33%

Iron 2.6mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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28
Apr
2016

Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Gouda and Spinach

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta

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Macaroni and cheese with smoked gouda, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese is a creamy, delicious comfort food meal!
My husband and I tried a new recipe a few weeks ago for “Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Gouda and Spinach”. Let me tell you… it was a fantastic, flavorful, “meatless” dinner, and must be totally “HEALTHY” because it has spinach in it, right? (snicker, snicker)

It actually was very delicious and EASY to prepare! I found the recipe online and played around with it just a bit to suit our taste buds, and boom! Macaroni and Cheese with ATTITUDE! Here’s how easy it is to make:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cook and drain macaroni noodles, according to the package directions (then set aside). Melt butter in a large skillet on medium heat. Add chopped green onion; cook & stir for a couple minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for one more minute.

Stir (or whisk) in flour. Continue cooking for one minute.

Add in half and half and milk, stirring continuously. Turn the heat on the stove up to medium-high. While stirring, bring the mixture to a boil. Continue stirring. This should take several minutes. The sauce will thicken and smooth out.

Once the sauce for the macaroni and cheese has come to a boil and has thickened (see photo below), add salt and pepper, to taste.

Turn heat down to medium-low. Stir in the smoked Gouda and freshly grated Parmesan cheeses. Mix well to melt cheeses.

Once cheese has melted, add in the chopped spinach and the cooked and drained macaroni noodles. Stir to combine.

Once the macaroni and cheese is fully mixed, taste the sauce. If necessary, add additional salt and pepper, to suit your taste.

Spray a 2 quart baking dish with nonstick spray, then pour macaroni mixture in. Sprinkle the top with dried bread crumbs. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake it for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

After 15 minutes, remove the foil , and continue baking for approximately 6-7 additional minutes, until the cheese sauce is nice and bubbly!

Here’s what the macaroni and cheese looked like straight out of the oven. Can you see the bubbling sauce on the edges of the pan?

We let it cool down just a touch, then dished up our servings! It was really delicious! The combination of flavor from Smoked Gouda Cheese and Parmesan really give this comfort food dish a LOT of flavor!

I sure hope you will give this macaroni and cheese recipe a try. It’s that kind of recipe that makes you want to curl up on the couch (in sweatpants) with a big bowl of this comfort food after a long day. No matter HOW you eat this, I think you’ll LOVE it!

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Recipe Adapted From: http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/03/21/spinach-macaroni-and-cheese/

0 from 0 votes

Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Gouda and Spinach

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

22 mins

Total Time

37 mins

Macaroni and cheese with smoked gouda, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese is a creamy, delicious comfort food meal!

Category: Meatless Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: macaroni and cheese

Servings: 6 servings

Calories Per Serving: 686 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped green onion , thinly sliced (stem and bulb)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 cups Half and Half
2 cups low-fat milk (I used 1%)
Salt and Pepper , to taste
1 1/2 cups Smoked Gouda cheese , grated
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese , grated
4 cups fresh spinach leaves , cut into 1/2 inch strips
3/4 pound elbow macaroni , cooked and drained (use pkg. directions)
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook macaroni, according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Melt the butter over medium heat, in a large skillet or saucepan. Add chopped green onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for additional minute. (do not burn garlic!)
Stir or whisk in flour. Cook for additional minute.
Add half and half and milk. Stir or whisk in to the flour mixture in pan to fully combine. Turn heat up to medium high. Continue cooking, stirring often until mixture comes to a boil. This will take several minutes. The sauce will thicken quite a bit. Once thickened, season to taste with a little bit of salt and black pepper. Turn heat down to medium-low.
Stir in Smoked Gouda and Parmesan cheeses. Stir to combine. Add chopped spinach and cooked & drained macaroni noodles. Stir well to fully mix ingredients together. Once mixed, taste it again. Add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Spray a 1 quart baking dish with non stick spray. Pour macaroni mixture into dish. Sprinkle the dried bread crumbs evenly over the top of macaroni. Cover pan with foil.
Place covered dish in 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil from dish, then continue baking for 6-7 minutes. When done, the sauce is hot and bubbly around the edges of the pan.
Remove from oven, let it rest for about a minute, then serve it up! YUM. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Any combo of cheeses would probably work in this dish... Just be sure that the total amount of cheese added is 2 cups! Have fun creating your OWN version!

Nutrition Facts

Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Gouda and Spinach

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))

Calories 686 Calories from Fat 297

% Daily Value*

Fat 33g51%

Saturated Fat 20g125%

Cholesterol 114mg38%

Sodium 739mg32%

Potassium 571mg16%

Carbohydrates 64g21%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 30g60%

Vitamin A 2850IU57%

Vitamin C 8.3mg10%

Calcium 674mg67%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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11
Dec
2015

Florentine Lasagna Roll

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta

521 Shares

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Florentine Lasagna Roll is a delicious, easy, meatless dish with spinach and cheese filled pasta, rolled & baked, covered in an Italian tomato sauce.
I’ve been making this meatless Florentine Lasagna Roll for almost 20 years… for potlucks and delicious dinners with our family! Filled with spinach, three kinds of cheese, garlic and onion, then covered in a simple Italian flavored tomato sauce, this recipe is easy and FABULOUS!

Even though this meal is “meatless”, you don’t need it with three cheeses, spinach and fantastic Italian flavors shining through in this meal!

The recipe is “simple”; all you do is cook lasagna noodles, mix together a cheese and spinach filling and spread it over the noodles, roll it up, cover with an Italian-flavored tomato sauce and bake. Easy, right? Right. Anyone can make this great dish! Here’s how:

Scroll Down for A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of the Page

How To Make This Lasagna Roll

Cook the spinach according to package directions, and then drain it very well, to remove as much liquid as possible.

In a medium sized bowl, combine cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, cooked and drained spinach, chopped onion, garlic cloves, black pepper, and egg.

Mix well, to completely combine ingredients. Set aside.

Cook The Pasta

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. You need 10 cooked lasagna noodles for this recipe. I cook 12, in case any of them split or break. Think of it as pasta insurance. Once cooked, drain the noodles, then arrange them on a large sheet of wax paper, overlapping the long (curly) sides to form a rectangle.

Prepare The Florentine Lasagna Roll

Once noodles are fully arranged, carefully spread the filling over the noodles. I put spoonfuls of the spinach filling over the noodles, then use the back of a spoon to spread out the filling.

Roll It Up!

Spread grated Mozzarella cheese all over the cheese/spinach filling, then carefully roll up the pasta and filling.

To roll it up: Using the wax paper to help, begin tightly rolling the noodles up (starting with the side of rectangle with straight pasta edges). Use the wax paper to help roll noodles tightly as you go. Tuck the noodle edges under as you complete the first roll, so you have a tight, firm roll to begin with.

I pulled back some of the wax paper as I rolled to show you what it should look like.

When pasta is completely rolled up, place the finished roll on a large baking sheet (one with rimmed edges). Carefully remove the last bit of wax paper from underneath the roll. The lasagna roll should look like this (see photo below).

Make The Sauce For The Florentine Lasagna Roll

Combine the sauce ingredients (tomato sauce, sugar, basil and oregano) in a medium bowl, and then stir to combine. .

Spoon the sauce over the entire surface (top and sides) of the Florentine lasagna roll. Use all of the sauce.

When completely covered with sauce, grate Parmesan cheese all over the top and sides of the roll.

Time To Bake The Florentine Lasagna Roll

Bake in a preheated, 350 degree oven for 35 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from oven, and let the Florentine Lasagna Roll stand for 5 minutes before attempting to slice it.

With a sharp knife cut slices of the Florentine Lasagna Roll, and place on individual serving plates with a large spatula. Serve with some crusty bread and a great salad, and BOOM! You’ve got yourself a great Italian “meatless” meal… just like that!

Trust me… this meal is DELICIOUS. You won’t even miss having meat in it. The flavors are amazing, it’s really EASY to make, and looks quite nice, too! Sure hope you will give this recipe a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised! If you enjoy Italian food, you might also be interested in Florentine Manicotti, which is delicious, and uses ricotta cheese in the filling.

Have a great day during this busy holiday season. My husband and I made an intentional decision to NOT fill up this holiday season with “busy-ness” and looking for “things” to entertain us, as our culture tends to promote. Instead, we are enjoying a simple holiday season this year, trying to focus on what Christmas really means to us… the birth of our Savior, Jesus. His humble birth changed everything, and for that we are GRATEFUL.

Looking for More ITALIAN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a lot of great Italian dishes you’ll enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Recipe Source: unknown (wrote recipe on a 3×5 card over 20 years ago- didn’t note where I got it from)

5 from 1 vote

Florentine Lasagna Roll

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

55 mins

Florentine Lasagna Roll is a delicious, easy, meatless dish with spinach and 3 cheeses filled pasta, rolled, then covered in an Italian flavored tomato sauce.

Category: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: lasagna roll

Servings: 6 servings

Calories Per Serving: 420 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

10 cooked lasagna noodles

For The Filling:

10 ounces package frozen spinach , cooked, and well drained.
8 ounces package cream cheese (room temp.)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese , grated
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 clove garlic , minced
1 large egg , slightly beaten
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese (do not add to filling-keep separate!)

For The Sauce:

24 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

For garnish:

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To Make The Filling:

Cook spinach according to package instructions. Drain well. In small bowl, combine cream cheese, cooked spinach, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, black pepper, minced garlic and egg. Stir well until mixture is fully combined. Set aside.

To Make Lasagna Roll:

Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Remove from heat; drain.
On wax paper, arrange the noodles overlapping the long (curly) sides to form a large rectangle.
Spread cheese/spinach filling over surface of noodles. Spread grated Mozzarella cheese over the cheese/spinach filling.
Starting at short ends of the pasta (non curly), roll up the pasta (in jelly roll fashion), using the wax paper to help. Tuck the ends under and firm up the roll, as you roll it up, continuing to use the wax paper as a guide. When it is roll completely, carefully transfer (might have to use two spatulas) the roll to a large (9x13) baking sheet. Carefully remove the wax paper. Seam side should be down on the sheet.

To Make Sauce:

In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, sugar, basil and oregano. Stir to combine.

To Finish Roll:

Spread the sauce over top and sides of entire lasagna roll. Grate Parmesan cheese over top of the roll. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven. Let Lasagna Roll stand for 5 minutes before attempting to slice. Using a sharp knife, slice into serving sizes, and using a spatula, place slices onto individual serving plates. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Florentine Lasagna Roll

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 420 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 85mg28%

Sodium 693mg30%

Potassium 469mg13%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 6495IU130%

Vitamin C 6.8mg8%

Calcium 351mg35%

Iron 3.2mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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11
Nov
2015

Cheese Tortellini in a Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta

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Cheese tortellini, enhanced with a cream sauce featuring tomatoes, spinach, garlic and Parmesan cheese is delicious, comforting and filling!

Well, Fall weather has definitely come to the Pacific Northwest, bringing with it LOTS of rain and cooler temperatures, I have felt myself craving pasta lately. It’s funny- in the Summer I want to BBQ our meals; in Fall and Winter I crave “comfort food” recipes, much like this easy recipe for Cheese Tortellini in a Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce.

My husband and I enjoyed this “meatless” pasta dish last week. Store bought tortellini is cooked, then served in a delicious cream sauce, which features the flavors of spinach, tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil, and of course… Parmesan cheese! It’s a very easy dish to pull together, as well, which ALWAYS scores big with me. Here’s how you make it:

Bring a pot of water to a boil, and cook tortellini, according to package directions, while you are making the sauce. Time it so that the tortellini is done when the sauce is ready.

Cook frozen chopped spinach according to package directions (I didn’t have any so I used fresh baby spinach, chopped it, then cooked it for a couple minutes in boiling water to wilt it).

Drain the spinach really well using a strainer. Set the drained spinach aside. (I drained it so well I BROKE this strainer. Oops. Be careful out there, folks!)

In a large skillet, sauté onion in oil until it is tender (3-4 minutes).

Once onions have softened, add the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring well.

Add tomatoes, spinach, basil, salt and pepper to the skillet.

Give it a good stir, then continue cooking the mixture on medium-high heat until almost all of the liquid has cooked out (this will take about 5-6 minutes).

Pour in the whipping cream.

Grate Parmesan cheese and add it to the mixture.

Give the sauce a good stir. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 8-10 minutes (or until the sauce has thickened). Leave the skillet uncovered while cooking.

About the time the sauce is finished cooking and hot, the tortellini should be done cooking.

Drain the cooked tortellini, then add to the skillet full of the tomato-spinach cream sauce.

Gently stir, to coat the tortellini with the sauce. Place tortellini and sauce in serving dish, or serve portions onto individual plates. Grate additional Parmesan cheese on top of each individual serving, if desired, and serve while hot!

That’s it! Serve this with a mixed green salad for a hearty dinner! The recipe serves 6 (if using 16 oz. frozen tortellini-see Note Section of printable recipe). We enjoyed the leftovers, too!!

Have a great day! Think of ways you can encourage a friend, neighbor, or family member today, and act on it… be someone who makes a positive difference in someone’s life!

Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/tortellini-with-tomato-cream-sauce

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Cheese Tortellini in a Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

Cheese tortellini, enhanced with a cream sauce featuring tomatoes, spinach, garlic and Parmesan cheese is delicious, comforting and filling!

Category: Dinner, Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: cheese tortellini

Servings: 6 servings

Calories Per Serving: 503 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz,) frozen cheese tortellini
1 small brown onion , chopped
2 Tablespoonfuls olive oil
3 garlic cloves , minced
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Additional grated Parmesan cheese for garnish , if desired

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make tortellini:

Cook the tortellini according to package instructions. While the tortellini is cooking, make the sauce.

Make Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce:

While tortellini is cooking, sauté chopped onion in olive oil (in large skillet) for 3-4 minutes, until onion has softened. Add garlic to skillet; cook for one minute, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.
Add tomatoes (and juice), drained spinach, basil, salt and black pepper to the skillet. Cook this mixture (uncovered) for 5-6 minutes on medium-high heat, until almost all of the liquid has been cooked away.
Stir in the whipping cream and the Parmesan cheese. Stir well, then bring to a boil. Once it reaches the boiling point, reduce heat back down to low; simmer and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened up a bit.
When tortellini is finished cooking, drain it well, then add tortellini to tomato-spinach cream sauce in skillet. Gently stir to fully coat pasta with the sauce, then serve while hot.
If desired (I recommend), garnish each individual serving with additional grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

-No frozen spinach? Use fresh baby spinach. Place spinach leaves in boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain. Use as directed.
-Can also use a 9 oz.. pkg. of FRESH tortellini. Makes a couple less servings (and extra sauce), but is good substitution for 16 oz. frozen tortellini.

Nutrition Facts

Cheese Tortellini in a Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 503 Calories from Fat 279

% Daily Value*

Fat 31g48%

Saturated Fat 17g106%

Cholesterol 117mg39%

Sodium 902mg39%

Potassium 257mg7%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 6485IU130%

Vitamin C 4.8mg6%

Calcium 312mg31%

Iron 3.2mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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10
Jul
2015

Florentine Manicotti

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta

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Florentine manicotti, filled with ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and covered with marinara sauce is a meatless, easy to make Italian dish.

My husband and I love Italian food! One of the dishes we enjoy occasionally is this “meatless” recipe for Florentine Manicotti. Pasta shells filled with three cheeses (creamy ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan), spinach, and covered in spaghetti sauce. Yum. I like to think of manicotti as the Italian version of Mexican enchiladas!

For anyone unfamiliar with manicotti, it is a large, tube shaped type of pasta that is typically filled with meat or cheese and is baked in spaghetti sauce. This particular recipe is meatless; it’s delicious, and is a fairly easy dish to prepare. I use a recipe I found years ago on a box of pasta, and tweaked it a bit by adding cooked spinach and a couple additional spices to the cheesy filling, to give it a true “Florentine” touch!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The bottom Of The Page

Make The Filling For Florentine Manicotti

Cook a small box of frozen spinach, according to the package directions. Drain it very well, and let the spinach cool. When it has cooled off, mix up the cheese filling, and then add the spinach.

Prepare The Manicotti For Filling

Here’s what manicotti pasta shells look like BEFORE they are cooked. They’re each about 5 inches long. The tubes of pasta are fragile, so be very careful not to break them.

Carefully add the pasta to a large pot of boiling, salted water, and cook it for 7 minutes.

Once done cooking, carefully remove the manicotti shells to a colander and drain them well.

Before you begin filling the Florentine manicotti put a layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a baking pan.

Make The Florentine Manicotti

Gently fill each of the pasta tubes with the cheese and spinach filling. I hold the shell in my hand and fill one side with the cheese/spinach filling (using a spoon and sometimes a butter knife) clear to the middle. Switch to the other end of the shell and fill the other side. Try to get as much filling into the shell as possible without splitting it.

Once the Florentine manicotti shells are filled, lay them on top of the spaghetti sauce.

Cover the manicotti with the rest of the spaghetti sauce. I cover the entire pasta shell with sauce, then sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese (or grated mozzarella cheese).

Time To Bake!

Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes longer. when done, the Florentine manicotti is heated through, and the cheese filling is bubbly.

Let cool for a minute or two (easier to serve up) , then remove the manicotti to serving plates using a spatula. The only thing left to do is grab a fork, dig in, and enjoy this tasty dish!

Hope you will give this recipe a try! I may not have the most mouthwatering “professional” photos to share, but trust me. Florentine manicotti are delicious, and I really think you will enjoy them! Have a great day, and please come back soon.

Looking for More ITALIAN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious Italian dishes you might want to check out, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Recipe adapted from: Box of American Beauty Manicotti Pasta Shells.

0 from 0 votes

Florentine Manicotti

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 25 mins

Florentine manicotti, filled with ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and covered with marinara sauce is a meatless, easy to make Italian dish.

Category: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: florentine manicotti

Servings: 6 servings

Calories Per Serving: 332 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

6-8 uncooked manicotti pasta shells
15 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese (1 3/4 cups)
2 cups (8 ounces) grated mozzarella cheese
10 ounces frozen chopped spinach (cooked per package directions, and drained well)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley , chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground oregano
3 cups (or one 28 ounce jar) prepared spaghetti sauce
Additional Parmesan or mozzarella cheese (for garnish, optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook frozen chopped spinach per package instructions. Remove from heat; drain WELL. Let spinach cool.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder and ground oregano. Stir well until fully combined.
Add spinach to the cheese mixture. Stir well, to combine.
Cook manicotti shells according to package instructions (add to boiling water-7 minutes cook time is typical). When done, remove from heat, drain gently, and let dry.
Fill each shell using a spoon until full of filling.
Spread some of the spaghetti sauce over the bottom of 13x9 baking pan (enough to fully cover); put the filled pasta in a single layer on top of sauce.
Spoon the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the top of the manicotti. Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan cheese (or mozzarella), if desired. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes; remove foil, then cook an additional 15 minutes. Manicotti should be hot and cheese bubbly when done. Remove pan from oven. Let sit for a minute or two, then gently remove manicotti to individual serving plates using a spatula.
Serve with a green salad and a slice of crusty french bread, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Florentine Manicotti

Amount Per Serving (1 manicotti)

Calories 332 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 45mg15%

Sodium 1270mg55%

Potassium 736mg21%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 6720IU134%

Vitamin C 13mg16%

Calcium 596mg60%

Iron 2.9mg16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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12
Jun
2015

Lentil Stew

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Soups, Vegetable Dishes

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Hearty, healthy and delicious, you will love this low calorie, thick homemade lentil stew for an easy and inexpensive lunch or dinner!
Well, this was a happy experiment. It was my first time cooking lentils! I guess I’m behind the times, but I kept hearing about how inexpensive, nutritious, and filling lentils were, so I started looking to see what goes into a good, thick Lentil Stew. Then I made my own version!

I must have looked at 25 different ways to make lentil soup or stew. I finally decided to just make my own version and add a variety of ingredients (like carrots, celery, thyme, dill, garlic, etc) I found on various recipes that sounded like they would be good additions.

The only HARD part about making this stew was I had to remember to write all the ingredients down as I made it, so I could actually remember what I did. Do you ever do that? Let’s just say that one hand was stirring the pot, one hand was writing it all down, and I suppose I might have used my FEET to take the pictures… somehow I got it done, and guess what? This hearty lentil stew is GOOD!

Scroll Down For a Printable Recipe Card At the Bottom Of The Page

Lentils Are A Healthy Protein-Filled Legume

On a side note… did you know that lentils (a legume) contain the 3rd highest protein of any legume? True. Lentils are inexpensive AND highly nutritious. That can be considered a win-win kind of main ingredient.

How To Make Delicious Lentil Stew

The first thing to do is cook the chopped onions for a few minutes in a bit of olive oil. The onions are cooked until they have softened.

Once onions have softened, add the lentils. It’s important to rinse and drain the lentils in a colander BEFORE adding! Brown rice is then added to the soup pot, along with 5 cups water. Give the ingredients a good stir after adding the rice.

Add a large cube of chicken bouillon to the stew, crumbling it up, as you add. TIP FOR VEGETARIANS: If you want to make this a completely vegetarian stew, leave the chicken bouillon out or add vegetable bouillon.

I personally enjoy the flavor the chicken bouillon adds, but it certainly won’t hurt the lentil stew if you omit it.

Time To Cook the Lentil Stew

Add the chopped celery, carrots, flat leaf parsley, thyme, dill, salt, oregano, seasoning salt, and minced garlic to the pot. Bring the lentil stew to a boil, then reduce the heat. Cook the stew on a low simmer for about 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally.

After the stew has cooked for about 45 minutes, the rice and lentils will be softened. A lot of the broth will have absorbed. Now the mixture will look more like a thickened soup or stew. TIP: I served the lentil stew in it’s thickened form. If you want it to be more “soup-like” (more broth liquid), simply add a cup of water during the last 10 minutes of cook time.

Ready to EAT!

To serve, divide the hot lentil stew into serving bowls. Garnish each bowl of soup with chopped parsley, if desired. Serve the soup with some crusty slices of bread, and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal!

Even without meat, the combination of lentils and brown rice combine to make sure all essential amino acids are provided to make a complete protein dish. The lentil stew leftovers are pretty amazing, also (just sayin’).

This was an easy meal to make, and my husband and I enjoyed the leftovers for lunch over the course of several days. Sure hope you will give this delicious lentil stew a try… I think you will be surprised at just how good it is! Have a great day!

Looking For More SOUP OR STEW Recipes?

Interested In More Recipes?

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0 from 0 votes

Lentil Stew

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

55 mins

Hearty, healthy and delicious, you will love this low calorie, thick homemade lentil stew for an easy and inexpensive lunch or dinner!

Category: Dinner, Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: lentil stew

Servings: 8 servings

Calories Per Serving: 151 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium brown onion , chopped
5 cups water
1 cup brown lentils (rinsed)
1/3 cup brown rice (uncooked)
1 large chicken bouillon cube (can omit if making this vegetarian)
2 cups chopped carrots
2 celery stalks , chopped small
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Dried parsley (OPTIONAL-to sprinkle on stew as a garnish before serving)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large soup pot, cook the chopped onion in olive oil until onions have softened (3-4 minutes).
Add 5 cups water, rinsed lentils, brown rice, and crumbled chicken bouillon cube.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Bring soup mixture to a full boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Continue to cook the stew for 45-50 minutes (covered) on low, stirring occasionally. Uncover the stew the last 10 minutes of cooking time.(*If you want the stew to have more broth, simply add in another cup of water during the last 10 minutes of cooking time).
Taste. Season with additional salt/pepper, if desired.
Ladle the hot stew into serving bowls. Sprinkle with dried parsley (optional).
Serve with some good crusty bread, and ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts

Lentil Stew

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 151 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Sodium 588mg26%

Potassium 398mg11%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 5440IU109%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 34mg3%

Iron 2.2mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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02
Apr
2015

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole (Meatless!)

categories: Casseroles, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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This meatless quinoa enchilada casserole, with black beans, corn, spices, enchilada sauce and cheese will be enjoyed by everyone, vegetarian or not!

I am always on the lookout for a meatless entree I can serve when we have our Vegetarian son and his girlfriend over for dinner! I found a recipe for a Quinoa Enchilada Casserole on Pinterest and decided to give it a “taste-test” before offering it up for a family get-together!

Our youngest son (the one who used to love huge steaks and hamburgers) became a vegetarian a few years ago. His girlfriend is also a vegetarian. That complicated things a bit, making dinners more challenging for our “family get-togethers”, so I’m glad I tried this recipe! I only “tweaked” the original recipe just a little bit!

The quinoa enchilada casserole was delicious, and really easy to prepare! If you like a good enchilada, or enjoy a meatless meal occasionally like we do (one with loads of flavor), you will like this recipe… meat eater or not!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

Prepare the quinoa according to package directions. When done, place quinoa in large bowl. Add the green chiles, corn, black beans, cilantro, green onion, cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder.

Add the enchilada sauce, salt and pepper to the quinoa. Stir well, to fully blend all the ingredients.

Add a half cup of cheddar cheese and a half cup of pepper jack cheese, and stir until fully combined.

Bake The Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

Pour the mixture into a lightly greased (or sprayed) 8×8 inch baking dish. Spread the casserole mixture evenly in the dish. Sprinkle the remaining jack and cheddar cheeses on top. Bake the quinoa enchilada casserole for 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees, or until the cheese is bubbly and fully melted. Remove the casserole to a wire rack.

To Serve The Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

Garnish the top of the casserole with chopped tomato and cilantro. The tomatoes and cilantro not only add a pop of color, they add wonderful flavor to this quinoa enchilada casserole, too! Serve, and enjoy!

A Note About SERVING This Casserole

When served piping HOT, fresh from the oven, the texture of the quinoa casserole makes it necessary that it be scooped out with a spoon, rather than cut into pieces with a knife.

I refrigerated the leftovers and the next day was able to cut it into pieces (while chilled) and get this photo so you can see accurately what it looks like on the inside. Once cut, I microwaved the quinoa enchilada casserole to reheat it… and it tasted fantastic!

Hope you will consider trying this recipe for quinoa enchilada casserole. It is packed with flavor (even without meat!) and tastes great! Have a great day, and come back soon.

Looking For More QUINOA Recipes?

All of my recipes can be found in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorite recipes using quinoa include:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a GREAT day!

Original Recipe (slightly adapted) from: http://damndelicious.net/2014/07/07/quinoa-enchilada-casserole/

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Quinoa Enchilada Casserole (Meatless!)

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

40 mins

This meatless quinoa enchilada casserole, with black beans, corn, spices, enchilada sauce and cheese will be enjoyed by everyone, vegetarian or not!

Category: Meatless Entree

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: quinoa enchilada casserole

Servings: 6 servings

Calories Per Serving: 290 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Casserole:

1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
1 10 ounce can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce
1 4.5 ounce can (4.5 ounce) chopped green chiles (drained)
3/4 cup corn kernels (frozen or canned...doesn't matter)
3/4 cup canned black beans (drained, rinsed)
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 green onion stalk (green/white parts, sliced)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Pinch Salt and pepper (to taste)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (divided)
1 cup pepper jack cheese (divided)

For Garnish:

1 Roma tomato , (diced)
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8x8 inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
Cook quinoa in 2 cups of water (per package directions).
In a large mixing bowl, place the cooked quinoa, green chiles, corn, black beans, cilantro, green onion, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
Add enchilada sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
Add 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese and 3/4 cup of pepper jack cheese. Mix well to combine.
Pour quinoa mixture into prepared baking dish. Spread evenly in dish. Top the casserole with the rest of the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses.
Bake casserole (uncovered) in a 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. Cheese should be melted and very bubbly around edges of pan.
Remove baking dish to a wire rack. Let it cool for a couple minutes. Garnish the top of casserole with diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro. Spoon the casserole out onto serving plates. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Another option: Original recipe used chopped ripe avocados as a garnish (instead of cilantro).

Nutrition Facts

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole (Meatless!)

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 290 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 36mg12%

Sodium 346mg15%

Potassium 312mg9%

Carbohydrates 26g9%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 15g30%

Vitamin A 550IU11%

Vitamin C 2.7mg3%

Calcium 297mg30%

Iron 2.2mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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18
Mar
2015

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Sauce

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta, Vegetable Dishes

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Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Sauce, with nutmeg and Parmesan cheese, is a delicious meatless dish that looks and tastes great!

I found a recipe on Pinterest for Butternut Squash Ravioli, drizzled with a browned butter and sage sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. It’s fun to make homemade ravioli, and this recipe sounded good. So… I made it… and we really enjoyed it!

The creaminess of the roasted butternut squash, combined with the flavor of Parmesan cheese and a touch of nutmeg is amazing! The browned butter sauce (with only TWO ingredients!) that covered the pasta is so easy to make.

I decided to make my own ravioli from scratch because we have the cutest little pasta machine I received as a birthday gift several years ago. Seriously- I think making homemade pasta is very therapeutic and fun!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

But What If I Don’t Have A Pasta Machine?

However, if you don’t have a pasta machine, you still can make this recipe with two other options: 1) make pasta dough and roll it out by hand with brute strength, or 2) buy a package of won ton wrappers and use those instead of pasta.

If you go the purchased won ton route, this recipe just got a lot simpler! If you like the adventure of making and rolling your own pasta dough for ravioli, then this is still a very simple recipe… honest!

Roast The Butternut Squash

You will need to roast the butternut squash first! Peel, de-seed, and then cut it into cubes. Bake (per instructions in printable recipe card below) the butternut squash.

Time To Make The Ravioli Dough

Making the ravioli dough is kinda fun, at least for me it is! This time I used an easy egg-less recipe I found in my pasta machine instruction book. Mix the ingredients in a stand mixer with a dough hook on it.

Remove the dough from the mixer once dough comes together enough to form a ball. Let the dough rest for about 15 minutes, covered with a slightly damp dish towel.

Pasta Machine Fun!

Slice off a piece of the dough, and run it through your pasta machine, adjusting settings (per manufacturer instructions) until you have long strips of dough. Keep running the dough through the machine until you have very long, thin strips of dough.

The dough for making butternut squash ravioli needs to be really thin. If rolling it out by hand, keep at it until the dough is very thin!

Time To Fill The Butternut Squash Ravioli

After the butternut squash finishes roasting, mash it up, then mix it (using an electric beater) with the Parmesan cheese and nutmeg in a bowl. Place small spoonfuls of mixture onto the pasta sheets, leaving space in between each spoonful.

Now gently pull the dough up and over the top of the butternut squash, from front to back, to touch the other side of the dough. Carefully cut into individual raviolis like this:

Crimp the edges with a fork all the way around, sealing the edges shut like this:

Now the ravioli should (hopefully) look like this:

Cook The Browned Butter Sage Sauce

Bring a large saucepan full of salted water to a full boil. Right before you cook the ravioli (remember FRESH ravioli only takes 2-3 minutes to cook), make the browned butter/sage sauce.

Melt the butter with fresh sage leaves in a large skillet. I grow my own sage at home, so all I had to do was go out to my front porch and get some of the leaves… easy-peasy!

After the butter and sage have cooked for about 3 minutes, the butter will begin to turn light brown. It will be a bit more brown than this…and will smell somewhat “nutty”. Once the butter sauce is light brown in color, remove the skillet from the heat.

The butternut squash ravioli cooks in about the same time it takes to make the sauce (about 3 minutes).

Time To Serve The Raviolis

Remove the raviolis with a slotted spoon to let them drain. Place them directly into the browned butter/sage sauce (sorry, no picture of that… was too busy trying to get them all in the skillet and covered with sauce!)

Spoon the sauce over the hot ravioli, then gently spoon them up and onto serving plates. Spoon additional sauce and sage leaves over the ravioli. Grate some fresh Parmesan cheese on the top, and serve!

Sure hope you try making these butternut squash ravioli. They are absolutely delicious!

Hope you enjoy this Italian-inspired pasta dish. It really tastes wonderful! Have a great day!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful pasta recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Recipe Source: http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2011/09/butternut-squash-ravioli-with-sage.html

0 from 0 votes

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Sauce

Prep Time

45 mins

Cook Time

3 mins

Total Time

48 mins

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Sauce, with nutmeg and Parmesan cheese, is a delicious meatless dish that looks and tastes great!

Category: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: butternut squash ravioli

Servings: 4 servings

Calories Per Serving: 817 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Squash Filling:

1 pound butternut squash
olive oil
salt & pepper (to season)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

For Browned Butter Sauce:

3/4 cube butter
10-12 sage leaves

For Pasta:

1 recipe homemade pasta dough OR 1 pkg won ton skins (*see notes)

My pasta dough was made from:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons olive oil

For Garnish:

Additional grated Parmesan cheese

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Slice squash in half. Peel and de-seed. Cut the squash into cubes, place in bowl, and coat them fairly well with olive oil. Sprinkle the squash with salt and pepper. Place the squash cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 425 degrees. The squash should be tender when done. Remove squash from oven; place into a medium bowl and mash the squash with a fork until well "mashed". Add the Parmesan cheese and nutmeg. Give it a taste. If necessary, add a bit more salt and pepper.
While the squash is baking, make the pasta, per manufacturer's instructions. Roll it out into long strips on a well-floured surface.
Place small spoonfuls of the squash filling in the middle of the long sheets of pasta dough, leaving space between each one. Gently pull the dough up and over the filling from front to back until the dough touches the other edge. Lightly press down the outer edges. Carefully cut each ravioli apart. Using a fork, carefully crimp the edges of the raviolis, to seal completely.
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil, for the ravioli.
While the water is coming to a boil, make the butter sauce: In a medium skillet, melt the butter. Add the sage leaves. Cook this for for 3-4 minutes on medium-low, only until the butter begins to brown. Once the butter turns light brown, remove pan from the heat.
Cook the ravioli in boiling, salted water for 2-3 minutes. They will float to the top of the water when they are done cooking. Remove the raviolis from the hot water using a slotted spoon; place them into the browned butter sauce. Carefully spoon some of the sauce onto the raviolis, to cover.
Place raviolis onto individual serving plates. Drizzle with the browned butter sauce and the sage leaves. Finely grate Parmesan cheese on top; Serve... and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

If using won ton wrappers, place prepared squash/Parmesan mixture into center of won ton wrapper. Brush all the edges of the won ton with water, then press edges together to completely seal around filling. Follow rest of directions.

Nutrition Facts

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 817 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 754mg33%

Potassium 591mg17%

Carbohydrates 150g50%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 12135IU243%

Vitamin C 23.8mg29%

Calcium 199mg20%

Iron 9.1mg51%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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02
Dec
2014

Vegetarian Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce

categories: Asian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta

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Vegetarian or not, you’ll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!
The recipe I am posting today is for Vegetarian Spicy Noodles In Peanut Sauce. The recipe is yummy, and is SO EASY to make! The plus side is that it is a vegetarian entree, for my friends and family who choose to not eat meat. However, it’s fabulous and filling for meat lovers, also!

A couple of years ago, our youngest son (a big steak and burger loving guy), decided to become a vegetarian. We were surprised, but respect his right as a grown man to eat or not eat whatever he chooses. I’ve had to adjust my menus when he comes over for a meal, but that’s really no big deal for the most part. Well, THIS recipe for spicy noodles in peanut sauce is one he would LOVE!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Spicy Noodles In Peanut Sauce Are EASY To Make!

The Thai-inspired peanut sauce is easy to make, full of flavor and coats the noodles well. This dish is on the table in a flash (20 minutes), and is a cinch to make. The recipe uses angel hair or spaghetti pasta for quick cooking noodles, AND will delight your taste buds, even if you are not a vegetarian.

You will make a simple peanut sauce by mixing the ingredients together, and use it to coat cooked pasta noodles, carrots and water chestnuts. Each serving of spicy noodles in peanut sauce is also garnished with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Trust me- even though I don’t have lots of photos, this recipe for spicy noodles in peanut sauce is GOOD! Hope you’ll give it a try, and I bet you will be surprised how very easy it is to make.

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of yummy pasta recipes you might enjoy, including:

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Sauce recipe source: http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/pasta/thai-chicken-pasta/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Vegetarian - Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Vegetarian or not, you'll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!

Category: Main Course, Vegetarian

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: noodles in peanut sauce

Servings: 4 servings

Calories Per Serving: 674 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For the Peanut Sauce:

1 cup smooth peanut butter
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tsp. chili paste (also may substitute 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 limes , juiced
½ cup hot water
1 clove of garlic , minced
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon sesame oil

For the Pasta,etc.:

½ lb. spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1 large carrot , julienned (matchstick cut)
1 small can water chestnuts , drained
Handful of roasted peanuts , chopped for garnish
½ bunch of cilantro , chopped (stems discarded) Save small amount for garnish on top of dish.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the sauce: Put all sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk or mix until fully combined. Cover and store in the refrigerator until needed (can be made ahead).
Blanch the sliced (matchstick) carrots in boiling water for approximately 3 minutes, pulling them out and draining while they are still bright and crisp.
Cook pasta noodles per package directions. Place drained, hot pasta in a large bowl with the carrots, water chestnuts and cilantro (save a bit of cilantro for garnish!).
Pour the peanut sauce over the cooked pasta and toss well, to coat. To serve: Top pasta with additional cilantro and the chopped peanuts. Serve hot, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Vegetarian - Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 674 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Sodium 1180mg51%

Potassium 795mg23%

Carbohydrates 84g28%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 28g56%

Vitamin A 2630IU53%

Vitamin C 12.2mg15%

Calcium 68mg7%

Iron 3.3mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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But What If I Don’t Have A Pasta Machine?

Roast The Butternut Squash

Time To Make The Ravioli Dough

Pasta Machine Fun!

Time To Fill The Butternut Squash Ravioli

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Time To Serve The Raviolis

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Spicy Noodles In Peanut Sauce Are EASY To Make!

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You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks