Skillet Lasagna

This is an easy one! I love this recipe because I used a jar of organic spicy tomato basil sauce from Trader Joes (I’ve also really loved it with Spicy Tomato Pesto sauce from Classico… a bit of a kick! 🙂  ) So, pre-made sauce just makes it quick and easy!!!

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion (chopped)
1 cloves garlic (minced)
1 jar Spaghetti sauce
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups Fusili pasta ( Or broken up lasagna noodles… any larger pasta is really good)
1 cup fat-free cottage cheese (I prefer large curd)
1/4 cup fat-free grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese for garnish

You could also add zucchini for a little extra veggies!

Image

I didn’t take a picture when I made it completely by accident, but I originally took the recipe from http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=20856 which I have adapted to the above. But the picture shows the yumminess! 🙂

Directions:

While the hamburger is cooking, make sure you have the pasta cooking. It will take the approximately same amount of time.I

In a large skillet, brown beef with onions and garlic. Drain.
Add jar of spaghetti sauce, salt and a tsp of sugar to cut the acidity.
Stir in cooked pasta.
Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
Combine cottage and Parmesan cheeses and a dash of salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle in basil to taste.
Drop cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons onto pasta mixture.
Cover and cook for 5 minutes more.
Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and serve.

Curried Rice with Shrimp

curriedshrimp

Original Recipe Credit: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/curried-rice-shrimp-00000000006830/index.html

I have adapted my recipe from the recipe listed above.

I used brown rice in my recipe… I’d actually recommend white rice, I just didn’t have any left, so I used what I had.

Step 1: Put 1 cup of rice into the rice cooker, and fill it with water until the water reaches the first crease on my pointer finger. That’s how my mom measured… so that’s how I measure it. Don’t even know how much water that turns out to be, but it works! Then, I add 1 tsp. of minced garlic and 2 tsp. of curry powder. I close the rice cooker, and press cook. (If you do NOT have a rice cooker, I recommend you following the original recipe link above.)

Step 2: Peel and cut 4 carrots. I cut the carrots into about 1 1/2 in to 2 inch pieces. Then, I chopped up 1/4 of an onion. I put the carrot and onion into a skillet w/1/4 cup of water and 1 TB olive oil and 1/2 tsp minced garlic and a dash of curry powder. I put the lid on and simmered on med-low heat. (15-20 min).

Step 3: While the carrots and onions are simmering, I put the shrimp, still frozen, on a tin-foil lined cookie sheet and drizzled olive oil over top. (2 TB?). I then sprinkled with salt, pepper, garlic powder and just a touch of curry powder (to continue with the theme). I baked them at 375 for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Assemble. All things should get done right around the same time. Carrots should be firm, but tender. Shrimp should not be translucent at all, and cooked through. Rice should be sticky and a nice curry-yellow. Put rice in bowl, then carrots and onions, toss, and add shrimp to top. Garnish with basil as desired.

Enjoy!