Dairy – Page 7 – Busy in Brooklyn

Well hello there old friend!! I’ve been busier than ever in Brooklyn – well, everywhere really! It’s been a whirlwind tour ever since the book came out in March and time just got away from me – but here I am, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. (Well I’m not actually home, but home is where the heart is, and it all started right. here.)

I always come back for the holidays because they have a special place in my heart, especially ones where we celebrate over dairy delights like Shavuot. Gimme all the cheese!!!! This sheet pan lasagna is going to change the game for you – from a layered patchke dish, to a simple on-pan main! I used cottage cheese because the creamy curds are having a trendy moment all over our social feeds (it stops at cottage cheese ice cream for me!!), but feel free to use ricotta as well.

Happy Holidays!

Sheet Pan Lasagna

16oz lasagna sheets, broken into pieces
16oz whipped cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
1 clove of garlic, minced
Zest of half a lemon
2 frozen basil cubes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp Freshly ground pepper or pinch red pepper flakes
1 egg yolk
1 26oz jar marinara sauce
12oz shredded cheese, divided
3 cups kale or spinach
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna and cook until al dente, 8-10 minutes, stirring so it doesn’t stick together.

While the pasta is cooking, combine the cottage cheese, garlic, lemon zest, basil, oregano, pepper and egg yolk in a bowl. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Drain the pasta and spread it out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Add the marinara sauce, kale, and 12oz. of cheese and stir to combine. Spread the noodles out on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Top with dollops of cottage cheese, the remaining shredded cheese and parmesan.

Bake the pasta until the edges of the kale and pasta are crisp and the cheese is bubbly, about 18-20 minutes.

It’s been a cruciferous week here, and not on purpose! I had been eating all the wrong things, and my skin (and clothes!) were showing it, so I decided to clean up my diet a bit. I started with an apple cider vinegar detox – 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (raw, with the mother!) mixed into 8 oz. of water + the juice of half a lemon each morning. The enzymes, probiotics and protein in the vinegar help to give the gut lots of healthy bacteria that aids digestion, lowers blood sugar, helps to reduce acne and belly fat, to name just a few benefits! Just make sure to rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth after because the acid can ruin teeth enamel. And as always, consult your dr. first before starting any new regimen!

But I digress…onto the cabbage…. I made this amazing roasted cabbage pizza because I wanted something cheesy that was low carb and it came out BEYOND AMAZING! I was inspired to make the dish when I bought Trader Joes new pizza spice, so I cut the cabbage into thick slabs, brushed it with olive oil, sprinkled on the pizza spice (you can sub with Italian seasoning) and roasted at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Then I topped it with marinara sauce, shredded cheese and different toppings (jalapeno, olive, sliced onions) and returned to the oven until the cheese was melted. Holy Moly was it good!! Give it a try!

Watch me make it on Instagram!

I love cruciferious vegetables, and thankfully, so does my stomach! I whipped up this Salsa salad another day this week, and it was everything you want in a salad – lots of great textures and delicious flavor.

Salsa Salad!

1/3 cup salsa
3 tbsp light olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp honey
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium head cabbage, chopped (I like to cut it into squares for this salad)
1 avocado, diced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
Bunch of cilantro, roughly chopped
1 cup crushed tortilla chips

Whisk the salad dressing at the bottom of the salad bowl and add the salad ingredients. Toss to combine and serve!

Watch me make it on Instagram!

And lastly, with all the rain and cold weather, I wanted some comfort food – so Bubby’s Cabbage Soup for the win. I seared the meat and bones, sauteed the onions and added some tomato paste to really take it over the top. So. So. Good!

Watch me make it on Instagram!

What’s your favorite way to eat cabbage? Share it with me in the comments below!