SPINACH MICROWAVE LASAGNA

It is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to hot to have the oven on lately.  We're having a heat wave and there is no end in sight.  So it's the crock-pot or the microwave for meals.  My sweet hubby even offered to take me out to eat tonight, but when I was trying to find a place with a good enough meal that was both low carb and gluten free and worth the money, tasty and satisfying also, I gave up and said I can eat better at home.  So why not lasagna in the microwave.

This was so simple to put together, and so tasty too!  My son said it was the best lasagna he's had.  I have had a lot of lasagna so I don't know if I can say that, but I will say it was the simplest lasagna I've ever had.  

No noodles, and you don't miss them.  Layers of meat sauce, a spinach/ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and topped with low carb bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.

I actually cooked a pound of ground beef and a pound of turkey sausage and a whole jar of the marinara sauce, but only used half of that, and saved the other half for cannelloni for tomorrow.  Two Italian meals in a row?  We do NOT mind!  Love Italian!  

Good tasting, filling, easy, and low carb as well!

SPINACH MICROWAVE LASAGNA                      

1/2  pound  lean ground beef

1/2  pound  Jennie-O turkey sausage (breakfast)

12 1/4 ounces  Mezzetta Homemade Style Marinara -- (1/2 24.5 oz. jar)

13 1/2 ounces  spinach, canned -- (1 can, water squeezed out completely-or 1 10 oz. box of frozen spinach, thawed and drained.

1 cup  ricotta cheese

1 large  egg

1/4 cup  low carb bread crumbs -- divided (OR 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese divided)

1/4 teaspoon  red pepper flakes

1 cup  mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons  Parmesan cheese

In frying pan, brown ground beef and turkey sausage.  Drain.  Stir in Marinara sauce and let simmer.

While meat is simmering, in medium bowl, mix together spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 of bread crumbs, and red pepper flakes. Stir together well.

Spray 9 x 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Layer 1/2 of the meat sauce.  Top with the Spinach-Ricotta mixture.  Sprinkle Mozzerella cheese on top.  Add another layer of remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs and parmesan cheese on top.

Place in microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes, then cook 12 to 15 min. power level "50".  Let sit for about 3 minutes after removing.  

                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

6 Servings/Per Serving (excluding bread crumbs): 390 Calories; 29g Fat (67.8% calories from fat); 24g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber