White Lasagna Roll Ups

I've been organizing my cookbooks on my new kitchen cookbook shelf and this weekend came across a Hometown Cooking magazine from 2001.  YES, 2001!  In it, I found this recipe for Lasagna Blanca,  which was an Iowa State Fair prize winner, courtesy  of  Luanna Evans  who entered and won with this tasty pasta dish...so thank you Luanna, wherever you are! 

It's not that I have tons of magazines just laying around, stacked on tables and chairs and all over the floor   (they were in a tub in the garage) but the ones I did have, I spent the better part of the weekend going thru and tearing out one or two recipes from each and tossing the remaining magazine away.
That's a story for another time when I show you pictures of my finished kitchen, for now, I am going to share these great lasagna rolls.

The only part I'd do different next time would be to make more sauce. I might even double it next time.  The Handyman and I love some cheesy, creamy, sauce, and we think more is better.  We loved the spicy filling in these.  This is definitely a crowd please, no matter how much sauce you like. It would be a great dish for a potluck or when you have to bring " a dish to pass" as my Minnesotan friend Mitzi says.

Which brings me to this:  (I am veering off the subject now--which is a habit I have) My friend Theresa is starting a  neighborhood  'dinner share' group. She didn't ask me to participate, but I had to decline anyway.
She says she needs just the right people--and she really does.
She's starting slow with just one neighbor now, and they will see how it goes and then invite up to 2 more (just not poor me)
You want to know how it works? On Monday, she made dinner for two households, for her family and the neighbor on Wednesday the neighbor then reciprocated and brought them a complete meal. 
As I said, if it works out well for them, they will add someone to Tues and Thu, that way they all only have to cook one night a week.
It's a cool idea and  THESE LASAGNA ROLLS would be a great dish to make.
Too bad no one invited me to take part...

I am  just teasing, because since we no longer have kids at home, we sometimes just eat sandwiches, or go out on a moment's notice, or work in our garden thru dinner time.  I can't be held accountable to cook or eat on a regular basis, but I LOVE this idea.  It would have been so great when I had teenagers with busy sports shedules!

Okay now go make these lasagna rolls!!


White Lasagna Roll Ups 
(I changed the name from Lasagna Blanca)

1 lb spicy bulk pork sausage  (I used hot Italian sausage in bulk)
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese  (I used low fat ricotta)
4 oz cream cheese 
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterrey Jack  Cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1 17oz pkg frozen no-boil lasagna noodles, thawed  (I couldn't find, so I just boiled myself some regular lasagna noodles)
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1 Tbs butter
1 Tbs all purpose flour
1/8 tsp dried tarragon, crushed
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup milk

In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion until sausage is cooked through; drain well.  Stir in 1/4 tsp garlic powder and  1/8 tsp pepper. Set aside.
For the filling, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the cheddar or Jack cheese,  1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/8 tsp pepper.  Set aside.
Grease a 2-quart rectangular baking dish; set aside.
Place noodles on a clean surface. Spread cheese filling evenly over noodles.  Sprinkle sausage mixture  and mushrooms on top.   Roll up each noodle into a spiral. Place lasagna rolls, seam side down, in the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour, tarragon and 1/8 tsp pepper. Add milk and cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.  Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of the cheddar or jack cheese.  Pour sauce over the lasagna rolls.
Cover and bake in a  350 degree F oven for  25 minutes. Remove cover and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Bake about  10 minutes more or until heated through.

Makes 12 lasagna rolls.