Recipe and Review: Chicken Lasagna and Pretty Face
This is a gorgeous lasagna.
A fabulous lasagna stuffed with chicken and cheese on one side; chicken, cheese, spinach, roasted peppers and zuccini on the other in a rich marinara sauce.
A perfect lasgna for him and her, a lasagna for two.
And none of them are mine.
You see, I made a fabulous lasagna. A delicious lasagna. But by the time I got it on a plate, it was ugly. It was a mess of sauce and cheese and noodles.
It was delicious and incredible and fabulous. But atrocious to look at.
Just like Hayley in Pretty Face by Mary Hogan. Poor Hayley is a big girl with a fabulous wit, personality and brains trapped in Los Angeles with a weight-obsessed mother and weak father. Every meal revolves around calories and fat grams, which leads poor Hayley to binge more. The guy she likes is crazy about her skinny, gorgeous best friend and her mother monitors every mouthful and drags her to weight-loss meetings.
Hayley is invited to stay with her mother’s college friend in Italy and she is convinced she’ll spend all summer eating only vegetables and jogging. Instead, she is given freedom and love. Her mother’s friend and the tiny Italian village they live in (with a really cute Italian guy) teach Hayley that food is like life, and should be approached with love and joy instead of fear. She learns that she is more than a body, more than a face everyone sees on the outside.
Like Hayley, my poor lasagna was a mess. But it was made with love and tasted great.
And although I may not have a picture for you, I couldn’t care less.
His and Her chicken lasagna
(serves two-three)
4-8 lasagna noodles
1 zucchini, sliced and roasted
1 red pepper, sliced and roasted
3 chicken breasts, shredded and cooked
Marinara sauce (several cups)
1/2 container 15 oz. ricotta
1 large egg
1 tblspn Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 red and green pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup cooked spinach, drained.
Chop zucchini and pepper into thin slices and roast at 400 for 40 minutes or until crisp and starting to black. While that’s cooking, saute onion and peppers in a bit of olive oil until tender. Add chicken and cup of chicken broth. Simmer for 30 minutes, drain off excess broth and add a cup of mariana sauce. Simmer for 15-20 more minutes, then shred. Mix ricotta cheese with egg and Italian seasoning.
His way:
In pan, pour cup of sauce. Layer lasagna noodles, then ricotta cheese, then chicken, then mozzarella. Repeat three to four times, topping with sauce. Bake 35-40 minutes covered, then uncover and add cheese. Cook for 5-10 more minutes until browned.
Her way: Place lasagna noodle on bottom, then ricotta cheese, chicken, mozzarella. Then alternate layers of zucchini and peppers with noodles. Repeat twice, topping with sauce. Bake 35-40 minutes covered, then uncover and add cheese. Cook 5-10 more minutes until browned.
Hayley would have loved it.
I know we did.
For more chicken breast recipes….
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a new Butterfly Dress tomorrow! Stay tuned!
July 21st, 2011 at 3:52 am
mmmm I haven’t ever put chicken in lasagna- a great idea! And of course I love the his way/her way!
July 21st, 2011 at 4:26 am
I’m really craving lasagne now.
July 21st, 2011 at 4:29 am
Sometimes the ugliest dishes taste the best!!
July 21st, 2011 at 5:20 am
Sounds like an inspiring book. I’m definitely inspired by the lasagna! Have a great day
July 21st, 2011 at 5:25 am
Lasagna never looks all that pretty when we serve it, does it? I haven’t tried chicken in lasagna before, it sounds delicious! I’m saving this recipe. Thanks!
July 21st, 2011 at 5:39 am
Daaaaaaahling, I know exactly what you mean. There is this curry that I absolutely love, it is like heaven on a plate, but it looks like dog food. I will blog it one day, but photographing it will be a challenge.
Also yesterday i was eating a yummy bagel. I wanted to photograph my sandwich. I cut it in half and the whole thing fell to pieces. I really dont like food photography.
Sounds like a great book, I love how you made the lasagna the basis of your book review.
*kisses* HH
p.s. the secret to good food pics is not delicious food unfortunately, its photoshop
July 21st, 2011 at 5:51 am
Sounds like a must read for me!
July 21st, 2011 at 6:03 am
Hmmm… I’m not much on chicken, but I’m trying to find ways to “hide” it. We are BIG lasagna lovers in the woods, so this is a must-try. I’m thinking Sunday night for duty crew…
July 21st, 2011 at 6:25 am
Sometimes if you let it cool just a bit before serving (10 minutes more than you think you should, lol), it will come out in those nice, neat slices that make for pretty pictures. But never the first slice, that one you always have to fight.
We love chicken lasagne–a little bit of cinnamon adds a whole new dimension to the dish!
July 21st, 2011 at 6:34 am
Pretty Face sounds a really interesting book that I have to add to my list of books to read. I can almost taste the lasagna.
July 21st, 2011 at 6:58 am
Might not look good but it does sound like it tasted great
July 21st, 2011 at 7:26 am
Its too hot to cook here so I think I’ll just come to your house
July 21st, 2011 at 8:06 am
Mine always falls apart and looks awful too, but it’s the taste that counts!
July 21st, 2011 at 10:04 am
Is lasagna fattening?… Maybe, a bit!
July 21st, 2011 at 11:02 am
Lasagna is always a mess. But that’s when you know it’s really good, right?
July 21st, 2011 at 11:38 am
I am drooling and his and her lasagna is a uniquely fantastic idea. Did you let yous sit for about 10 minutes before cutting into it? I’m thinking you couldnm’t wait – lol…lasagna makes us do crazy things!
July 21st, 2011 at 2:08 pm
I know i would be licking that plate!
July 21st, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Yumm! It sounds great. My lasagna always looks a hot mess by the time I get it on the plate, too. But as long as it tastes great, that’s all that matters!
July 21st, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Chicken lasagne sounds amazing!
July 22nd, 2011 at 5:16 am
Don’t worry Duckie, Lasasgne is the hardest thing to plate up and make look good when it’s hot. It’s easier when it’s cold!
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:47 am
The Lasagne looks DeLISH! I love chicken in mine.
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:20 am
I wish my hubby would eat lasagna.
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:03 pm
love lasagna!
July 23rd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
It’s definitely all about the taste for me!
July 24th, 2011 at 8:09 am
The taste is far more important!
July 24th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Looks so yummy! Thanks for the review and recipe! xo style, she wrote
July 24th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
What a great lighter version for summer.
July 25th, 2011 at 12:06 am
lasagna is definitely not easy to capture in a picture–those that you’ve found probably aren’t edible at all! i much prefer a sloppy batch.
July 25th, 2011 at 3:26 am
I adore lasagne!
July 25th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
You are a natural blond. Rare and blessed and BEAUTIFUL!
Some of the best food looks the messiest!