Easy Vegetable Lasagna

This dish is made with frozen veggies.  When you are pressed for time, starting with pre-cut and pre-seasoned ingredients is a time saver.  Each bag was just $1.49 -- which really isn't much more (in truth, my guess is it's less) than going with fresh.  In the winter, it's probably the best option.

Our stand mixer is where my recipe started.  This is the easiest way to blend the filling.   I found that pre-sliced Belgioso cheese is the same price per pound as the large block of store brand cheese.  It's what I start with because whole milk mozarella is usually to moist too grate by hand.  I just use kitchen shears to cut each wedge into slices.

The veggies went right into the mix with the cheese and some sliced Italian sausage (three links, already cooked).  This is when I add the spices too.

I like to pour in the sauce at this point.  If I had more time, I'd have then dumped it into a large pot on the stove to melt it all together.  Or, you can do that with the cheese and sauce, then add the veggies and meat.

No-boil lasagna is another time saving step.  The noodles cost only a little more than the traditional variety.  The concession is that they aren't quite as tasty.  This pan has three layers. Three pieces fit perfectly for each layer.

Once all the layers were put in place, more sauce was poured over the top.  The standard amount required is two jars, but since we make ours from scratch, we have to approximate.

Putting a layer of parchment paper over it all prior to wrapping in foil means less burnt on cheese when it comes time to uncover it in the oven.  This needed about 35 minutes at 375(f) then ten more minutes uncovered.

A large container of filling was put into storage for another meal.   This will save time next week!

This lasagna might not look like much, but it tasted really good!  Not only was the filling chock full of vegetables, the home-made sauce started with a can of Roma tomatoes, and a vegetable base of onion, peppers and carrots.  The bread is from-scratch made partially with whole wheat flour.

One tray of lasagna creates six portions.  This pan cost approximately eight dollars to make -- and that includes the excess filling that will become the basis of another meal.

We love veggie lasagna because it is a frugal and easy meal to make -- well, except for the sauce...