SPINACH LASAGNA

This recipe is featured in "Low-Carbing Among Friends - Volume 2" on page 296.

SPINACH LASAGNA
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
8 ounces cream cheese
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon pepper
10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (I used the kind in a can)

Brown the hamburger with the onion; drain off the fat. Mix in the garlic powder and spaghetti sauce; season to taste and heat until bubbly. Meanwhile, soften the cream cheese in a medium-size microwaveable bowl for about 40-60 seconds. Stir until creamy; beat in the egg and pepper with a spoon until well mixed. Blend in the spinach. Spread half of the meat mixture evenly in the bottom of a greased, 8 x 8" glass baking pan. Spread the spinach mixture over the meat; top with the mozzarella, then the rest of the meat. It may not completely cover the top, but that's ok. Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Bake at 350?about 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Or, cover with plastic wrap and vent one corner then microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes; then reduce to MEDIUM and cook for another 7-10 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let stand 3 minutes before serving.

Makes 6-9 servings
Can be frozen

Per 1/6 Recipe: 368 Calories; 28g Fat; 23g Protein; 5.5g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 3.5g Net Carbs
Per 1/8 Recipe: 276 Calories; 21g Fat; 17g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 3g Net Carbs
Per 1/9 Recipe: 245 Calories; 19g Fat; 15g Protein; 3.5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 2.5g Net Carbs

This recipe was adapted from one I found many years ago in a microwave cookbook. It was pretty easy to convert to low carb since it had no pasta in it.

SPINACH LASAGNA - VARIATION
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2 tablespoons onion
1 teaspoon minced dried garlic
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon pepper
10 ounce frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces parmesan cheese, 1/2-2/3 cup

Brown the hamburger, sausage and onion along with the minced garlic; drain the fat and stir in the spaghetti sauce and garlic powder. In a medium bowl, blend the cream cheese, egg and pepper. Stir in the spinach. In a greased 7 1/2 x 12" baking dish, layer half of the meat sauce, or enough to cover the bottom of the pan fairly well. Spread the spinach mixture over the meat layer; top with the mozzarella then the rest of the meat sauce as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with the parmesan. Bake at 350?about 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Makes 8-12 servings
Can be frozen

Per 1/8 Recipe: 568 Calories; 45g Fat; 31g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 6g Net Carbs
Per 1/10 Recipe: 454 Calories; 36g Fat; 25g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs
Per 1/12 Recipe: 379 Calories; 30g Fat; 21g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs

This version has a bit more sauce and cheese and would be better suited to the later stages of a low carb diet, such as Maintenance.

1. Prev:SPINACH BEEF BAKE
2. Next:STUFFED ZUCCHINI BAKE