Lasagna Roll-Ups Florentine

Cannelloni alla Fiorentina sounds so much better. This recipe is a favorite of mine, but we don't eat it that often due to the RICHNESS of it (and the fact that my husband is lactose intolerant - poor thing). It is HEAVY on creaminess and makes you melt into your chair it is so good. My daughter and I both agree that the world would be a sad place indeed - without ALFREDO sauce. The home-made Alfredo in this recipe is wonderful... and because it is meatless, even a vegetarian can enjoy it without guilt!

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 or 9 lasagna noodles, cooked as package directs (butter them afterwards to keep them from sticking


• 2 tblsp butter


• 1 tblsp flour


• 1.5 cups half & half


• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (no powdered stuff)


• 1/8 tsp pepper


• 1 15 oz container of ricotta cheese (I use lite)


• 1 10oz package frozen spinach (thawed and drained well)


• 1 cup (4oz) shredded mozzarella cheese


• 1 egg


• salt and pepper to taste


• chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Melt butter on med-low heat in medium saucepan, then stir in flour and smooth


• Gradually add half and half cream and mix well


• Stir in parmesan, pepper and nutmeg and heat through


• Remove from heat or continue to stir on low/simmer - don't let it burn on bottom


• Preheat oven 350 F


• In medium bowl; combine ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan, egg and another dash of pepper and salt - stir well


• Stretch noodles out one by one and spread two spoon fulls of filling (about 1/4 cup or so) across each noodle before rolling them up into a spiral


• Place rolled, filled noodles in greased large casserole or foil pan


• Repeat filling and rolling for each noodle until all filling has been used


• Pour Alfredo sauce all around and in-between roll-ups


• Bake about 35 minutes or until hot


• Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley if desired and serve

It goes great with salad, olives, and cold iced tea... at least that's what we're having it with tonight! ENJOY!!!

Recipe from ~ Classico Pasta Sauce: Italian Foods to Savor (another one of my favorite little grocery-store check-out line purchases!)


Technorati Tags: Food, Vegetarian, Alfredo, Dinner, Noodles, Spinach, Tuscany, Recipe, Delicious, Italy, Eat, Cooking for Company, Main Dish, Cooking, Italian