Whole Wheat Layered Pasta Casserole

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest is an excellent whole wheat pasta brand that provides about 5 grams of fiber with each serving. Because of this high fiber option, the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Wide Noodle pasta is our favorite pasta to add to soups or casserole dishes.

The following recipe was a personal recreation of an online recipe. It is very simple, as are all of this sites recipes, and has been a big hit with all who have tried it. This recipe can be compared to a healthy version of lasagna with less work. The recipe below does not include vegetables but can certain have veggies such as spinach or summer squash and zucchini added for a even more balanced and complete dish. This dish is often served with a salad but if you choose to create this for a potluck dinner or as a meal for a new mom, adding the veggies is a much easier way to go.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground turkey
1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cans tomato sauce
3 cups cooked Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Noodles
1 cup of low fat cottage cheese (you can add more if you would like)
1 cup low fat sour cream (you can add more if you would like)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 cup shredded cheese (preferably cheddar)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish.
2. Place oil in skillet and turn to medium heat. Add the ground turkey, the Italian spices and brown.
3. While browning the ground turkey, cook 3 cups of pasta according to the directions on the package.
4. Mix the sour cream and cottage cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Once the ground turkey is browned, add tomato sauce. Heat the tomato sauce.
6. Remove the noodles and strain the water. Place the noodles in the casserole dish.
7. Layer the sour cream and cottage cheese mixture.
8. Place the meat and tomato sauce on top of the cheese mixture.
9. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and place in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the cottage cheese and cream cheese mixture is warmed.

Greek Whole Wheat Pizza

Every week, my husband and I have a group of friends over. We share a time of good food and fellowship and each week we have a different theme. So on our pizza night, I made a version of the recipe below and for the healthy conscious people, it tasted good. For the men who think that whole wheat isn't really a great option, my husband liked this recipe. Who doesn't like pizza, right? This is simply a healthy version that allows you to have more pieces without worrying about your health.

The following recipe comes straight from Eat Better America website.

50 % less fat • 66% more fiber • 33% fewer calories than the original recipe. We tossed up a heart-healthier, whole wheat flour crust, dashed the salt and olive oil, and added plum tomatoes to make this pizza a wiser choice. From eatbetteramerica.

Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:1 hr
makes:12 servings

Crust

• 1 package regular active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F
• 2 cups Gold Medal® whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal

Topping

• 3/4 cup organic pizza sauce (from 15-oz can)
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (4 oz)
• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken breast
• 2 medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (2 oz)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. In medium bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in flour, sugar, salt and oil. Stir with fork until dough forms. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead 12 times. Return to bowl. Cover; let rest 20 minutes.
2. Heat oven to 425°F. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray; sprinkle with the cornmeal. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Spray hands with cooking spray; press dough into 15x10-inch rectangle on cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 minutes. Spread pizza sauce over partially baked crust to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with mozzarella cheese, chicken, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese.
4. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted and edges of crust are golden brown. Sprinkle with basil.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 160 (Calories from Fat 45); Total Fat 5g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 270mg; Total Carbohydrate 19g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 2g); Protein 10g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 8%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 10%; Iron 8% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 Medium-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 MyPyramid Servings: 1/2 c Dairy, 1 oz-equivalents Grains *% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.