chicken sausage summer squash lasagna

Calories: 295 / Protein:25 / Fat: 16 / Sugar: 7 / Sodium:570

1 package cooked chicken sausage
1 tbsp EVOO
2 tbsp fresh chopped garlic
¼ cup chopped yellow onion
½ cup chopped red bell pepper
¼ cup red wine (white works fine too)
1 cup pasta sauce
3 tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano (I used dried b/c I didn't have fresh)
2 large zucchini
8oz part-skim ricotta
¼ cup egg substitute
½ tsp black pepper
6oz baby spinach (chopped)
12 oz 2% mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese


Slice chicken sausage on the diagonal and set aside.

Wash zucchini, cut off ends and thinly slice lengthwise. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Saute the garlic, onion, red pepper in olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add sliced chicken sausage and brown for 3-4 minutes. Add red wine and reduce over high heat, then add tomato sauce, basil & oregano and simmer for 10 minutes.

While simmering, preheat broiler to high. Prepare baking sheet (jelly roll pan works well) with cooking spray. Place zucchini slices on the pan and coat with more cooking spray (I forgot to top them with spray and they were fine). Broil on high for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using small mixing bowl, mix ricotta, egg substitute & black pepper.

Lightly spray a small baking dish (lasagna/brownie pan) with cooking spray.

Layer zucchini slices, ricotta/egg mix, spinach, 1/2 the mozzarella, then all of the sauce/sausage mixture, rest of the zucchini, ricotta/egg, remaining mozzarella, and top with parmesan cheese.

Bake, foil covered for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes until lightly browned and bubbly. Serve hot.

amazing layered baked ziti

this may just be my new favorite pasta dish! yum!!!!

2 TBSP olive oil
1 small yellow onion chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 large clove garlic chopped
28 oz crushed canned tomatoes (drained)
1/2 tsp salt
dash of hot red pepper flakes

1 lb ziti pasta
1 cup whole mik ricotta
8 oz thin sliced mozzarella
1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano or percornio cheese or combo
10 basil leaves torn small

Simmer olive oil, onion and garlic until onion is tender and garlic fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, salt, red pepper flakes, and basil leaves. Simmer 12 min.
Pre heat oven to 350
Cook pasta 2 min less than usual
Blend 2 TBSP tomato sauce with ricotta in bowl
Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce on bottom of 9x13 baking dish
Toss drained ziti w/ ricotta
Spread 1/2 of pasta mix in dish
Spoon 3/4 cup more sauce over pasta
Cover with sliced mozzarella, basil, and 1/2 of the grated cheese
Top with the rest of the pasta, rest of the sauce and 1/2 cup grated cheese
Bake 45 min, cool for 10 min