Pesto & Roasted Garlic Bread

As I posted a couple weeks ago, I'm the proud new owner of a bread maker. I've used it quite a bit and this is, by far, one of the best things I've made with it. It's so yummy and goes great with pasta (like my Lasagna Roll Ups!).

Pesto & Roasted Garlic Bread
Makes one 1 1/2lb loaf

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup water, room temperature
2 tbsp evoo
1/4 cup pesto
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 3/4 tsp yeast
1 head of garlic, roasted* and mashed

Directions:
1. Add the water through yeast into your bread machine. Choose 1 1/2lb loaf and medium crust. When the 'add-in' chime sounds, add in the garlic. Let your bread maker do its magic! Enjoy!!

*Roasting garlic is super easy! Cut the top 1/4 inch off a head of garlic, place on a small piece of foil and drizzle with a little evoo. Wrap the foil around the garlic and place in a 400 degree oven. Roast for 30-45 minutes (until cloves are super soft), remove and squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out. Easy peasy!

Lasagna Roll Ups

Lasagna was always one of my favorite dinners growing up. What's more comforting than pasta, sauce and lots of cheese!? This is a more grown-up version I guess. No meat (obviously) and lots of veggies wrapped up in individual noodles. I served it with my Pesto & Roasted Garlic Bread.

Lasagna Roll Ups
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
1 box lasagna noodles (you'll need 14-16 noodles, but I always have lots that break)
1 tbsp grape seed or olive oil
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small zucchini, diced
1/2 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water
15 oz part skim ricotta cheese
8 oz (2 cups) shredded part skim mozzarella, divided
2 oz (1/2 cup) grated fresh Parmesan, divided
24 oz pasta sauce (I like Classico Tomato and Basil)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat the bottom of a large baking dish with pasta sauce; just enough to cover the bottom. Set aside. Heat oil over medium-high heat in large skillet and add peppers, zucchini, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Sauté until veggies are softened. While veggies sauté, cook lasagna noodles according to package. Drain, rinse and set aside.

2. Add spinach to veggies breaking it up with your fingers as you add it in. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Add in ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Mix well.

3. Lay lasagna noodles flat and fill with approximately 1/4 cup of veggie/cheese mixture. Smooth mixture out with the back of a spoon. Roll filled noodles up and place in prepared baking dish seam side down. Repeat with remaining noodles and filling.


4. Top the rolled lasagna noodles with the remaining sauce and cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!