Asparagus, Sun Dried Tomato and Crispy Pancetta Lasagna

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Cook Time: 25 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

9 lasagna sheets, fresh or dried
1 teaspoon olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon, divided
2 (8.5-ounce) jars sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1 1/2 packed cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus 3/4 cup
1/4 pound pancetta, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 bunches asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes for dried pasta or 2 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta. Drain pasta.
In a food processor combine the sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Pulse until the mixture is combined. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Set aside.
In a large skillet brown the pancetta until crisp. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, onion, and garlic and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the ricotta, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a 9 by 13-inch baking dish sprinkle some of the sun-dried tomato mixture on the bottom of the casserole dish. Place some lasagna sheets, then half asparagus mixture. Next sprinkle some mozzarella cheese and some of the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan. Continue for 1 more layer. Top with lasagna sheets, some sun-dried tomato mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Dot the top with butter. Bake until the ingredients are warm and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms

Recipe by Nancy Josland Dalsin

Ingredients:

4 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed, stems chopped. Discard gills, (to remove gills, just scrape out with a spoon)
5 ounces goat cheese (or provolone, feta or mozzarello)
1/2 of a red bell pepper, finely diced
1 package (10 oz) frozen spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained
2 cloves of garlic, finely diced
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus additional for greasing pan
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped or 1 tsp of dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons bread crumbs, preferably panko crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a bowl, stir together chopped mushroom stems, goat cheese, red peppers, garlic, olive oil, basil, spinach, salt, and pepper. Stuff mushroom caps with the filling. Lightly grease a baking pan with olive oil, then place the caps smooth side down. Top with bread crumbs, cover with foil, and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes longer, until golden brown.