"LAH*ZAG*NAH"

Team: Da Swaggish Chefs

Host School: Stockbridge Central School

Age Group: Middle School

Ingredients

24 lasagna noodles (oven-ready)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 delicata squash

½ medium onion, diced

1 medium head fresh broccoli, chopped

3 cups kale (torn into smaller pieces)

3 carrots, sliced thinly or grated (depending on size of carrot)

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 medium zucchini, grated

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups spinach, raw

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups milk

¾ parmesan cheese, divided

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

8 ounces small curd cottage cheese

24 ounces ricotta cheese

1 egg & 2 egg yolks

2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

 

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
2. Chop the squash in half.  Scoop out the seeds. Keeping skin on, slice delicata squash thinly.
3. Place squash on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake in oven @ 350° for 30 minutes. 
4. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When oil is hot add onion, garlic and carrots.  Saute for 4 minutes.

5. Add broccoli and red bell pepper.   Saute for another 7 minutes.  Add shredded zucchni; set aside.
6. Place flour in a medium saucepan and gradually whisk in milk until well blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes, or until thick, stirring constantly. Stir in ½ parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in spinach & kale.
7. In a small bowl, combine cottage and ricotta cheeses, egg & egg yolk; stir well.
8. Spread about ½ cup of spinach mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, vegetables & squash, spinach mixture, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese, ending with noodles.
9. Top with reserved spinach mixture, ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
10. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Cool for approximately 10 minutes before serving.