Noodleless Zucchini and Eggplant Lasagna with Spinach Tofu "Ricotta"

A typical slice (aka huge slice because let's be honest, who can eat just a small one) of homemade lasagna can be upwards of 500 or 600 calories, sometimes more. Using eggplant and zucchini instead of noodles allows you the freedom of having a big slice...and even seconds. As much as I love pasta, using eggplant and zucchini is not only packs this lasagna with nutrients, but I think it gives it a great taste and texture. Instead of ricotta cheese, I used a mixture of tofu and spinach to create a ricotta-like texture. This is a good option for those who are vegan or can't eat cheese. You can't even taste a difference, although I personally liked it even better because I'm not a huge fan of ricotta!

Ingredients:
-1 medium eggplant

-1 medium zucchini

-salt for eggplant

-spinach (fresh or frozen, but if it's frozen make sure it's thawed/drained)

-1 package firm tofu

-3 cloves garlic

-2 tsp oregano

-1 tsp basil

-1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)

-3/4 cup tomato sauce (may need more or less...I don't like a lot of sauce)

-parmesan cheese (optional or use soy if vegan)

Directions:
Peel the eggplant and cut lengthwise into thin strips, around 1/4 inch wide. Sprinkle the salt on the slices and place in a colander to drain (this makes the eggplant less bitter). In the mean time, preheat the oven to 375 F. Slice the zucchini lengthwise into thin strips and steam in the microwave with 2-3 tbsp water for 3-4 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel and put aside. After the 20 minutes of draining the eggplant, rinse each slice and pat dry with a paper towel. On a skillet coated with non-stick spray, cook the eggplant until it is lightly browned and soft, flipping it once. Put this aside. Next, place the tofu, spinach (I didn't measure this I just grabbed a handful), garlic, oregano, basil, and nutritional yeast into a food processor and blend until smooth. Spray a 8 x 8 pan with non-stick cooking spray and spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant over the sauce, followed by half of the tofu "ricotta." Place another layer of either eggplant or zucchini on top of this, and then the rest of the tofu mixture on top of this. Top with the final layer, either eggplant or zucchini--whatever wasn't used for the middle layer). Spread the remaining sauce on top. Bake for 20 minutes covered with foil, then uncover, sprinkling parmesan cheese if desired, and bake for another 10-20 minutes or until browned and bubbly. 

Breakfast-style Stuffed Pepper

I have an egg white omelette with my breakfast morning, and sometimes I have one for lunch or dinner too. I decided to do something different for a change and basically make my usual omelette but stuffed in a bell pepper. I'll share how I did it but you can use any veggies and spices you'd like, and as much as you'd like, so there isn't really any set measurements.

Ingredients:
1 bell pepper of any color
veggies of choice- I used spinach, zucchini, and mushrooms
seasonings of choice- I used Mrs. Dash garlic & herb
liquid egg whites
optional: cheese of choice

Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Cut the pepper in half length-wise (or you could also leave it whole and cut off the top) and remove all the seeds. Place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick spray and bake for 15 minutes. While that's baking, heat a pan coated with non-stick spray or olive oil. Chop your veggies, place in the pan with seasoning and sauté until they start to brown. Take out the peppers and place the veggies inside, and then pour liquid egg whites on top. I also put some shredded mozzarella-style almond cheese on top. Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until eggs are set.

Spaghetti Squash Portobello Mushroom Pizzas

Pizza has to be one of my favorite foods. As much as I wish I could eat a real pizza from a pizza shop on a regular basis, that would be a bad idea for my health and my bank account! That's where a healthy alternative comes in. When I went to Trader Joe's the other day I decided to pick up some portobello mushroom caps. I'd had them when I went out to eat a few times, but never tried making them myself. I also had some leftover spaghetti squash that was going to go bad soon, so I decided to put them together and make "pizzas" for a quick and easy dinner.

Ingredients:
-2 portobello mushroom caps
-1/2 cup cooked spaghetti squash, or more depending on the size of your mushrooms
-1/4 cup natural tomato sauce (I used Capa di Roma Marinara Sauce)
-shredded cheese of choice (I used Lisanatti Mozzarella Style Almond Cheese)
-garlic powder
-optional: 1 tbs plain greek yogurt -- I mixed this with the sauce to make it like a vodka sauce

Directions: Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick spray. Wash the portobello mushroom caps and remove the stems. Place them face down on the baking sheet. Top each mushroom with half of the spaghetti squash and half of the sauce. On top of the sauce, sprinkle shredded cheese and some garlic powder. Bake for 10-12 minutes.