Vegetarian Lasagna by Lois Center-Shabazz

More and more Americans are choosing to skip the meat at meal time, therefore I felt I should come up with vegetarian dishes from time to time. This lasagna recipe is essentially the same as a previous lasagna recipe at Msfinancialsavvy.com Cheap Recipes, except that the ground turkey is replaced with one of two vegetarian mixes below.

---Ingredients---

1 whole onion, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

4 garlic cloves, diced

1/4 cup chopped scallions

1/4 cup chopped mushrooms

2 Tsp fresh oregano, thyme, rosemary mix (you can use bottled herbs)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 large tomato peeled and diced

2 Tsp tomato paste

1 Pint non-fat cottage cheese 75% fat free cheese (available at most grocery stores), grated (If you are a non-dairy vegetarian you can omit the cheese)

---Instead Of A Meat Mix, Use---

4 cups of store bought soy vegetarian burger mix, smash into small pieces with a fork

---OR---

4 cups of tofu mix, smash in small pieces with a fork

1 box wheat pasta, remove at least 8 strips

Note: Wheat pasta has 3 times the fiber of regular pasta

Warm vegetarian burger mix or tofu mix slightly

---Saucepan Mix---

Saucepan Mix=Vegetarian burger mix or tofu + vegetables + herbs + spices:

Mix onions, bell pepper, garlic, scallions, mushrooms,1 tablespoon of the oregano-thyme-rosemary mix, tomatoes, salt and pepper together in a saucepan and cook with 1 teaspoon of oil. Add vegetarian burger mix or tofu mix (whichever you choose), until the mixture cooks together, stir constantly, about 3-4 minutes on low heat.

---Noodles---

Boil enough lasagna noodles to cover the bottom of the lasagna pan, and the top of the lasagna mixture, add a tincture of salt to boil.

---Now, using an oblong pan---

Place one layer of lasagna noodles on the bottom of a large oblong pan, one at time, laying each noodle lengthwise and side-by-side. Place a layer of Saucepan mix on the bottom of the pan, (save enough for a second layer),

Place a layer of fat-free cottage cheese

Place another layer of Saucepan mix,

Place a layer of 75% low-fat cheese,

Place a layer of noodles

For the last layer, place a layer of 75% low-fat cheese, and spread your second tablespoon of herb mixture on the cheese.

Place completed mix in an oven and cook at 375 degrees (pre-heated) for about 15 minutes.

About the Author
Lois is the founder of Msfinancialsavvy.com and author or the 5-time award-winning personal finance book, Let's Get Financial Savvy! MsFinancialSavvy!