Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Canola oil cooking spray
2 eggplants (about 3 lbs.), quartered lengthwise
6 medium zucchini (about 3 lbs.)
1 lb. whole-wheat lasagna noodles
15 oz. low fat ricotta or low fat cottage cheese (or a combination of both)
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
4 cups low-sodium tomato sauce
3 cups low fat mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Slice the eggplant and zucchini in 1/2 inch slices. Layer on two baking sheets and coat both sides of the vegetables with cooking spray. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn over the vegetables and continue to roast until well browned and soft, about 20 minutes more. Transfer vegetables to a large bowl.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Separate the noodles and let them cool slightly.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta and/or cottage cheeses, eggs, Parmesan, nutmeg and garlic powder.

To assemble: spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover with a layer of pasta (noodle strips slightly overlapping). Spread with one-third of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle one-quarter of the mozzarella over the ricotta. Place one-third of the roasted vegetables on top. Top with 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and continue the assembly as directed until you have 4 layers of pasta and 3 layers of filling. Spread the remaining tomato sauce on top and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes more. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 servings.

Per serving: 360 calories, 11 g total fat (5 g saturated fat), 45 g carbohydrate,
23 g protein, 11 g dietary fiber, 310 mg sodium.

Research revealed the beneficial nutritional facts for pistachios.  Snacking on pistachios has proved once again to have a positive impact on improving cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation in the body, a prominent cardiovascular disease risk factor.  This study at the Experimental Biology Conference in April positively supported other recent studies that show a diet rich in pistachios packs a powerful nutritional punch. 

Not only are they yummy, here are just a few more nutritional reasons to add pistachios to your diet.  As you may well know, pistachios are naturally cholesterol-free snacks that contain just 1.5 grams of saturated fat and 13 grams of fat.  A one-ounce serving equals 49 nuts.  This is more per serving than any other snack nut.  Once serving of pistachios contains as much potassium as half of a large banana. 

2 Chronicles 7:14" If My people who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray,"

Prayer is the key which allows all men access to the throne room of God. It is by prayer that we have the privilege to come before God with our supplications and requests. We invite everyone to join us each Wednesday afternoon from noon until 1p.m. in prayer. We're asking that you take time during your lunch break and offer God your prayers and praise. We'll be praying at North Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church at this time and would consider it an act of Love for you to join us in prayer, whether in a group or alone, we're asking everyone to pray during this hour. As the prayers and praise go up we believe the Blessings of the Lord will come down in abundance.

May God continue to bless each of you and answer all of our prayers according to His riches in glory.

Amen! Elder Greg Cherry.