Thursday, March 4, 2010

Boyfriend Lasagna

One of the greatest challenges of my life right now is the picky eater I am engaged to marry. It is devastatingly difficult to make a meal for someone who has such a small base of foods they are willing to consume. So I have made a goal to create some non-offensive recipes using things we already know he likes, and only adding one new element at a time. This plan, should it actually work, means he will be trying new things but not in a way that is overwhelming.
For this recipe I started with something he likes: Chicken Alfredo. Used those elements in a different format: Lasagna. and added a new ingredient for him to make a decision on: Spinach. So basically, It's a Chicken Florentine Lasagna-ish deal. But because it was designed just for Z, i am calling it Boyfriend Lasagna. (Z would probably argue that at this point in our relationship I should call it Fiance Lasagna, but I will probably always call him boyfriend.)

4-5 ish cups of good alfredo sauce (Dale Sass has a great recipe, maybe I will post it later)
1 pkg chopped frozen spinach
15 oz ricotta cheese
2-3 tblespoons chopped garlic
3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
1-2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
optional: baby portebella mushrooms
1 pkg lasagna noodles(I buy them, but I prefer the 'homemade' style without the ruffle edges, easier to work with!)
2 tblps olive oil
Salt and pepper, italian seasonings

Thaw frozen spinach and squeeze all the liquid out. Mix the ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of mozz cheese, parmesan cheese, a couple tablespoons of garlic (to taste), spinach, and salt and pepper (to taste) together and set aside.
Heat oil in a skillet and add chopped garlic. Chop the chicken into very small pieces and add to the pan, sauteeing until just chooked. Season with salt, pepper, and italian seasoning to taste. Add chopped bella mushrooms, if desired, and sautee another minute or two. And set aside.
Spray your pan with some no-stick cooking spray and start assembling by putting down a layer of noodles, then a layer of the ricotta/spinach mixture. Lay down another layer of noodles, and spoon the chicken mixture evenly over, cover with alfredo sauce, and a layer of mozz cheese. Repeat until your pan is full and/or you are out of filling. End with a heavy layer of mozz cheese over the top and bake at 350 covered with foil for approx 45 mins. Uncover, and bake amother 10-15 until cheese is melty and getting a little brown. (I tend to bake my lasagnas on the long side, becuase the Sass fam likes crunchy corners... if you don't, shorten the baking time so it doesn't get quite as done around the edges! )

***NOTE: I made this dish for my parents and foodie friend April, who all realy liked it!!! Success! Zachary didn't try any and informed me that whenever he tastes spinach it makes him want to puke, so he won't be eating anything I make that has spinach in it. Fail.