Sana Italian! (Healthy Italian)
Happy Monday Friends! Or as the Italians Say
“Felice Lunedì!"
Ha! I don’t know Italian, but I love how the words sound! So romantic!!!! Do you agree?
I have never been to Italy, someday…God willing. However, I am afraid I would gain 50lbs because I LOVE PASTA! But, I am told over there you walk a lot for starters and their pasta is healthier…something about their pasta is fresh from flour, water, and eggs. They do not get it from a box. They literally make it homemade and it is made from 100% durum wheat, called semola di grano duro in Italian. Basically, it is higher in protein and stands up to the rigors of cooking.
There is your lesson on why Italians can eat pasta daily and not blow up like we American’s. Just sayin….
However, today I don’t have a traditional lasagna recipe. I have a healthy version of lasagna that I think you will love. Full disclosure. Two of my four boys love this and two hate it. Oddly it is my youngest, Graeme, and Trey who love it. My two college boys are like, “Mom, seriously? Add some noodles!”
Back story: Trey decided to go Keto back in late April and lose a few pounds. It has been GREAT for him, but hard for me now with my diagnosis. Keto, if you do not know, is high (healthy) fat, adequate protein, and low carbs. There is a lot of good research on this diet, but when you are fighting high LDL the verdict is out. My motto is: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. But, while trying to get my LDL levels down I need to watch my fat. So it has been a balancing act over here.
I am happy to report my husband is down 26lbs and feels and looks GREAT!
But, like any diet, check with your doctor before you go “balls to the wall with it.” I will do a post in the future on the benefits of Keto because we have learned a lot.
One thing that we have learned is that it is a very good diet for Veterans who suffer from PTSD. Fascinating right!
More on that in the future!
For today, if you are thinking of going Keto, if you are Keto, or if you are just trying to limit your carbs but love Italian….LOOK NO FURTHER!
KETO LASAGNA
I got this recipe from LOW CARB YUM 5-INGREDIENT KETO and I tweaked it because 5 ingredients was a little bland for us.
Ingredients:
1/2 of a yellow onion chopped
2- 3 garlic cloves minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. ground meat (or turkey)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 tub of ricotta cheese (1 and 12/ cups)
1 ball of mozzarella (8 ounces) sliced
1/2 cup to 1 cup grated parmesan (we like cheesy!)
1 (25 ounce) jar marinara sauce (low carb) we use Rao’s
Salt and pepper to taste and if you like add your favorite Italian seasoning
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375
In a large skillet, heat your olive oil on medium.
Add your chopped onion and cook until the onion is translucent.
Add your minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add your sausage and cook it through.
Then add your beef and cook it through.
You can add your seasoning here or mix it in your marinara sauce.
Remove from the heat and drain off any excess fat.
Transfer the meat mixture to the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch deep baking pan.
Spread the ricotta on top, followed by the Parmesan.
Then pour the marinara sauce over the layers and top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 25 minutes and maybe for the last 2 to 3 minutes put it on broil and get that mozzarella nice and toasty brown in some spots.
*You can add an egg to the ricotta before mixing and it will be easier to spread and the egg will add a little more protein!
Serve with a Salad and if not staying Keto add some garlic bread!
