Lasagne, A Little Milestone, and the Vote

Easy Lasagne

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. water
1 jar pasta sauce (I use Muir Glen Garden Vegetable)
1/2 c. chopped carrot (in the food processor)
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/4 c. flax seed meal
1 tsp. salt
Whole Wheat lasagne noodles (8 oz)
12 oz. fat free cottage cheese
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
12 oz. low moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef; drain. Add sauce, water, salt, carrot, onion and flax seed meal. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl beat the egg whites, then add in cottage cheese, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese and mix well. Layer hot sauce, uncooked lasagne noodles, cottage cheese mixture and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with sauce. Cover pan with foil and bake at 375 for an hour. With ten minutes left on the timer remove the foil and sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top. Finish baking. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

I've been trying to be more adventurous in the kitchen lately and take liberties with recipes. Andy enjoys lasagne and so I've tried to find ways to make it more nutritious. Baby steps, people! I am no chef. But nutrition is becoming more important to me and I can see that the buck stops with me when it comes to healthy eating in our home. Some people don't believe in "hiding" veggies but I am all for it! Until you've walked a mile in my shoes you have no idea how hard it is to get Andy to eat vegetables!!! He had no idea the carrots were in this recipe and he gobbled it up. Also, flax seed meal is one of my new favorite ingredients. I sprinkle it in lots of things - it works in just about any hotdish and can hide well in breads, muffins, cakes, etc.

We had to raise the Exersaucer one notch today because Taylor's little legs were getting cramped. Just another little milestone. He's seriously getting so big.

And just another reminder about the election tomorrow...You're shocked that I bring it up, I know!!!:) But from the bottom of my heart, I plead with you to vote! And encourage all your friends and family to get to the polls as well. Tomorrow will be a historical day either way. I just hope that tomorrow's election and the next President will take us in the direction of the reversal of R*e v. Wade and the eradication of ab*rtion in America! May it be so!!!

Well, my baby is napping and my Lily would like to have a tea party so I'm off to play!