Diet Friendly Veggie Overload Lasagna

I came up with this recipe because I wanted to be able to enjoy lasagna but I didn't want all the calories, carbs and fat usually associated with it. It is loaded with so much flavor that you don't miss the extra pasta and cheese! Serve it with a big tossed salad and you have a very healthy meal that is waistline friendly...it is also a great way to get some extra veggies into the kids diet.

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 1 pan

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) jar  tomato and basil pasta sauce
• 4  lasagna noodles (I used the no boil type by Barilla)
• 1⁄2 cup  grated carrot
• 1  cup broccoli floret, chopped
• 1  medium zucchini, sliced thin
• 1  medium  summer squash, sliced thin
• 1⁄2 cup onion, diced
• 6  mushrooms, sliced thin
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped sweet bell pepper (I used orange and yellow combined)
• 1 (2 1/4ounce) can sliced ripe olives
• 1  cup  baby spinach leaves
• 2 -3  tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1  cup lowfat mozzarella cheese

• Note

•  if you like a bit of spice you can sprinkle the layers of pasta sauce with crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Pour enough sauce to cover the bottom of an 8x8" baking dish; about 1/3 of the jar.
3. Sprinkle grated carrot and chopped onion over sauce in bottom of dish.
4. Top sauce with two of the Barilla noodles.
5. Layer the slices of zucchini, summer squash, and mushrooms and spinach over the noodles.
6. Sprinkle the broccoli, bell pepper, fresh basil and sliced olives over the spinach leaves.
7. Top with half cup of the mozzarella cheese.
8. Pour 1/2 of the remaining sauce over the mozzarella cheese and top with the last two lasagna noodles.
9. Pour the last of the pasta sauce over the top noodles and spread out evenly.
10. Top with the the last of the mozzarella cheese.
11. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
12. Remove foil and continue to bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted.