Tasty Tuesday- Shortcut Lasagna

This is another new recipe that my family loves. I love this lasagna because it is so easy to make and it even has spinach in it for an added health benefit. The Prep time for this recipe is 15 minutes and cook time is 45 minutes in the microwave or you can bake it in the oven for 50 minutes. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have.

1 pound ground beef
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup water
l large egg, lightly beaten
1 (12 ounce) container cottage cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
8 lsagna noodles, uncooked
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 cups ( 8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Crumble beef into a 2-quart bowl; add garlic. Microwave at HIGH 6 minutes or until browned, stirring beef once; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water.
Combine egg, cottage cheese, and pepper.
Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in a 13 X 9 X 2 inch baking dish. Top with half each of uncooked noodles, cottage cheese mixture, spinach, meat sauce, amd mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, and cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap.
Microwave at HIGH 8 minutes; then microwave at MEDIUM (50% power) 30 to 32 minutes or until noodles are tender, turning dish occasionally.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; cover and let stand 15 minutes before serving. Yeild: 6 servings.


Additional comments: The shortct? Not cooking the noodles before layering them. They soften as they bake in the lasagna.
If your microwave won't hold a 13 X 9 X 2 inch dish, use your oven instead. Just cover the dish with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and bake, uncovered, 10 more minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.