Vegetable Lasagna

Every time I think of Lasagna, Garfield is what comes to mind. Garfield(comic strip)a cat born in the Italian Kitchen is very fond of Lasagna, actually obsessed is the right word.I read this comic strip once in a while or when I come across.It is undeniably hilarious.

While there are many funny jokes/quotes, this is one of my favorites and one I could find on the internet. It is not quite often that you find a meatless lasagne in an Italian Restaurant.The lasagna, a one pot dish,is usually a crowd pleaser with its rich flavors and great textures, with alternating layers of Vegetables & cheese and cooked noodles. There are plenty of recipes in the internet but the inspiration comes from Oprah.com.

16 - 18 sheets of Lasagna Noodles
6 cups Marinara Sauce, store bought
24 ounces Ricotta Cheese
1/4 cup Italian Seasoning
32 Ounces of Italian blend of cheeses
1 egg plant,cut in circles
6 Zucchini,cut in circles
2 cups of Fresh Spinach
1 cup Broccoli
1 cup Mushrooms, chopped
2 Onions, sliced
2 cans diced tomatoes
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• In a sauce pan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil.
• Saute the veggies until the water from the veggies evaporates
• Stir in the Italian Seasoning
• Boil the Noodles as per the instructions on the package
• Preheat the oven to 350F
• I used a 8X13 rectangular glass pan
• Spread a table spoon of Marinara sauce on the bottom of the pan
• Layer 3 - 4 noodles in the bottom
• On top of the noodles, spread 1/3 of the Marinara Sauce, 1/2 of the Ricotta Cheese, 1/2 of the vegetable mixture,and 1/2 of the Italian Cheeses
• Cover it with Noodles again
• Repeat the process one more time
• Layer the remaining noodles on the top.
• Spread the remaining Marinara sauce and if you would like more cheese
• Cover the pan tightly with an aluminum foil and bake it for 35 minutes
• Remove the cover and bake for an additional 10 min at 450F
• Remove the pan and let it sit for about half hour
• Cut the Lasagna into 2X2 squares and serve with more cheese if desired