Everyone Wins
I wish everything in life had a Participation Award. It’s so satisfying to know that it’s not always about what place you finished, how valuable you were to the team or even if you improved. You showed up and were a part of the process, and that’s enough.
The girls were pretty proud of their certificates and Tootsie Pops. I’ve decided to issue my own Swim Lessons Participation Award to myself, for:
- Having bladders emptied pre-swimming so no one peed in the pool (that I know of);
- Ensuring that Lulu’s blonde locks did not turn green;
- Dealing with the rapid removal of wet swimsuits during bathroom emergencies;
- Not making fun of my own children for wearing hideous and pointless eyewear.
I thought I’d be getting a bit of my life back now that swim lessons are over. I thought wrong.
You see, today was the Open House at a local ballet academy we’ve talked about enrolling Gigi into. She wasn’t excited or anything.
The school offered a free introductory class to all prospective students. And I do mean ALL prospective students.
Mid-tantrum for not having worn a tutu. I had a tantrum on the way there for not having worn under-eye concealer. Poor, poor Pea Daddy.
You didn’t see this one coming.
So now, in addition to kindergarten, soccer practice, soccer games and Sunday school, we now have not one, but TWO ballet classes to work into our weekly schedule.
I told Pea Daddy I was worried about the girls being overscheduled at such a young age. He said, “Why? They love it!” I retorted, “Not for them…for me!” I know the girls come alive in their tutus, they love working with teammates on the soccer field, they enjoy learning songs and doing crafts at church. Problem is, I’m selfish.
I like taking showers. I miss having clean hair. I’m tired of having to stick little bits of wet toilet paper on my legs to stop blood loss after gashing myself with Pea Daddy’s my razor when furiously shaving my legs on the counter with water and hair conditioner (the first, and perhaps only beauty tip you will get from this blog). Plus it’s unnerving to do all my plucking at stoplights. The high school boys in the car next to me kept staring. I think it’s because they were jealous that I could grow so much facial hair.
One of my biggest fears, though, is that we’ll be in such a hurry running from place to place that I won’t have as much time to be innovative in the kitchen. I don’t want to rely on chick’n nuggets or frozen veggie burgers on those busy weeknights. It doesn’t just rob my family of nutrition, it robs me of my “ballet.” You see, the activity in which I “come alive” is cooking. It’s creating. It’s sharing my successes with you.
Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna
Serves 4-6
- 2 large zucchini, cut into 12 thin, 1/4 in. thick slices
- salt
- 1 c. quinoa, rinsed
- 2 c. vegetable broth
- 1/2 c. tomato sauce
- 1/4 c. minced onion
- 1 t. dried oregano
- 1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 T. organic or non-dairy cream cheese, i.e. Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 jar organic marinara sauce
- 1/2 c. organic or non-dairy cheese, i.e. Daiya (optional)
Preheat oven to 400.
To prepare zucchini, cut a strip off of one side to make a flat base.
Then, thinly slice zucchini into “noodles.” You’ll want 12 noodles in total.
Place noodles in a colander and sprinkle with salt, layering between paper towels.
Let this sit and absorb moisture while preparing the quinoa.
Combine quinoa, vegetable broth, tomato sauce, onion and oregano in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Cover and lower heat, simmering for 20 minutes.
When quinoa has absorbed all the liquid, fold in cream cheese and herbs.
Add salt and pepper to taste, and try not to eat the whole pot.
Believe it or not, it gets better.
Pour enough of marinara in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish to cover the bottom. Using a clean dry towel, blot remaining moisture and salt from zucchini and layer 4 noodles across the sauce.
Put a layer of quinoa across the zucchini,
and cover with another 1/3 c. of marinara sauce.
Repeat with another layer of quinoa, sauce and zucchini.
Top the final layer of zucchini with remaining sauce and 1/2 c. of cheese, if using.
Bake lasagna for 30 minutes, until heated through and zucchini is tender.
I worried it would be too soupy. I worried it wouldn’t hold together when I cut it. I worried it wouldn’t be filling enough for a man, but pH balanced for a woman.
It was fabulous.
I worry too much. Maybe on those hurried nights every dinner won’t be as successful. But the other activity that makes me come alive is being a mom and a wife. And even if it means I don’t get an award, even if it’s a test of my patience and more accurately, my hygiene, I insist on doing more than just showing up and being part of the process. It’s making sure that I have happy, confident children who love life and all it has to show them.
You can keep your participation certificate. I aim higher.
A co-worker gave my family a gigantic zucchini the other day that must have been a b*tch to carry all the way from her car. It literally weighs more than 10 lbs and i was puzzled as to what the heck i was going to do with it. (POOF) MP to the rescue. Now i will have enough zucchini lasagna to feed, well, me for at least a couple nights
Don’t think i will be able to find Tofutti anywhere, but i will find something! I consider myself a much better cook than baker so here is to this turning out 100 times better than the last time i attempted your recipe without all of the ingredients… P.S. Gigi will be a Rockette one day, that or part of the Russian ballet… and Lulu will have to take on the part of a sugar plum fairy or something ridiculously close to Gigi in her off time from her professional swimming career in between Olympics!
I just adore your blog!!! I have bookmarked so many recipes in the last 24 hrs its not even funny. I can’t wait to make this one! Hope you’re having a great weekend
As a product of a stay at home mom I can tell you that YOU are the best thing for your kids.
I may just need to make the quinoa mixture and eat that straight up – sounds fabulous
Can you give me tips on how to get your children’s fancy hair do? So cute!
I use shampoo on my legs when shaving sometimes. The hair going down the plughole may not be smooth, but it is clean. Also I find shampoo lifts the hair away from the skin a little better than conditioner! Congrats to the girls on their certs! Gigi is the cutest thing in a tutu!
Hmm….I like this post. It shows the true balance/struggle you have to have been a mom and being a woman and being a career woman. You need time to be you and do you the things that bring you your liveliness, while at the same time you’re a mom, which means your world isn’t exactly your world anymore.
I always said I truly don’t think I can be a parent (I’m almost 30 and I still have no interest to be honest), a person needs to be totally not selfish in order to be a parent….and I have to admit that I am still in that selfish-mode…I think I’ve missed so much in my past, or lost alot, that I finally want to try to focus on me for once and live life for me, so I could never devote the time and passion to kids.
Moms and dads never cease to amaze me. A life-changing experience that is not a light one!
I feel you are “superwoman” and can do it all…your children are happy and healthy and you guys seem so down to earth and neat…still, don’t try to use up all your superpowers! Hope you still have time for “you”
Oh my goodness – you keep blowing me away. Now, not only do I have to make your “cheeseburgers” this week, but this lasagna also has to make an appearance!!!
Your girls are so cute!
I haven’t been reading your blog for long, so please excuse this question if you’ve already mentioned it before, but do you have a crock pot? They are life savers on crazy nights.
This time of year our kid’s schedules get a little busier, but at least when you’re at soccer practice you have the opportunity to chat with other adults. I don’t know about you, but that is my favorite part of soccer season!
Your girls are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful mom.
That lasagna looks amazing! Oh, quinoa, how I love thee.
That pic of Gigi looking down at Lulu is ADORABLE. And it’s so hard to get unblurry pics at dance classes, isn’t it?
Excellent post!! You really are a great wife and mother! Thanks for this example!
Yeah it totally gets crazy without you even realizing it. Now that both of my boys are in school during the day, I take that opportunity to cook. Their lives get even busier with homework (every night) and then school activities. We have drama, chorus, band and lego robotics. I love seeing them be themselves though. I love baked quinoa! Your lasagna looks delicious. Oh and I just decided to give in and discover my inner hippie since I don’t have the time to deal with all the hair fixing and makeup. (I do have to shower though…I just have to) Have a great Sunday Sarah!
Don’t know how you balance it all!!
But coming from someone who started dancing when I was 3 and was active in other activities through school, I think the girls will flourish and somehow (?) my mom made it out alive?
Oh my. What a fantastically written post. I amen-ed several times while reading. I can so relate. From the challenge of quickly removing wet swimsuits (while telling the non-bathrooming child not to lick the floor – or is that just my kids?), to the balancing between activities and family time, to making time to not lose yourself, I’m there!
You’re doing a great job mama!
how adorable are your kids?! I loved ballet as a kid, I hope your girls do, too
yeah, you totally win a life participation award for this recipe! i am making this this week…and nate will probably freak out before he realizes it’s amazing.
Lulu almost looks MORE excited for dance than Gigi!! haha i didn’t know such a thing was possible.
I am not a wife or mother but reading through what you take on makes me appreciate my own Mom MUCH more. You guys are all superwoman!!
Looks delicious! It seems Lulu has grown up just in the last week or so! Such adorable kids.
You have touched on a really important point. I had a life before children and I now have a life after children. But making a life during children is an art…surviving life during children is so difficult. I got my B.A. in Theater (Acting) and was active in community theater until my kids were born when I was 29 and 32. I was a radio news woman and TV and radio commercial artist until my kids were born. Then, I had to define a life for myself that revolved around my kids and their needs. You are doing it much more richly and sanely than I ever did. You Go Girl!
I love the ballet photos. There’s really nothing that makes me smile more than little girls in tutus!
While I’m not a mother yet, I can understand your desire to shave your legs properly and safely =) I think that in determining children’s schedules, everyone’s needs should be taken into account. But don’t give up on the ballet. I need more photos!
Great post- it was so funny and real! Thanks for writing such entertaining posts (with amazing recipes) despite the time crunch you may be in! P.S. That lasagna looks soo good!
Another beautiful post and creative recipe. <3 ya Mama Pea!
Yum! I love veggie lasagna in any form- I hadn’t thought of using quinoa!
I have a suggestion for simplifying your life: stop shaving your legs! (gasp!). I haven’t shaved mine in about 3 years now and I don’t plan on doing it any time soon. I just don’t see the point. It’s a completely cultural preference for women to have smooth, shaved legs, and it’s nothing but a pain in the ass for us to maintain that. I save a lot of time in the shower now. Just a thought
Such pretty hair for such pretty girls!! I remember getting blow pops after completing my swim lessons week as a kid, so fun!!
What a yummy gluten-free lasagna idea!! It looks soooooo delicious!!
Love. Just…love. Your kids are beautiful, and that lasagna doesn’t look half bad either.
There is seriously nothing cuter than little girls in pink tutus!
omg I totally do the hair conditioner and razor routine sometimes (but I don’t have kids…which just makes me too lazy to go buy shaving cream when I run out)
hahah oh my god sarah. i just spat out my water from laughing at the whole “i think these high school boys are jealous” line.
awe, congrats to the girls (and you!) for completing swimming lessons! i LOVE how lulu copies gigi with everything she does. it’s cute. i mean, as long as gigi isn’t plotting anything naughty
the lasagna looks awesome. when i was making lasagna earlier this week i honestly was thinking about you. i thought to myself “this is the most NON vegan meal ever” and then i pondered you making a vegan lasagna. and here it is. spooky? yes. delicious? definitely.
i once made a lasagna with zukes instead of noodles and it ended up SUPER soggy because of the moisture in the zucchini. i should have done that paper towel trick!
the lasagna looks awesome and i am glad you find time to make up recipes in the midst of the obligations you’ve got going on. i am sure you will be able to take a shower once they get into school
that is, unless, you are home schooling? i never considered that, but it seems like they’d get a real good education from you. you are the smartest SAHM ever to live!
okay, done rambling. love you.
You should get an award for those adorable side braids!
I swam competitively for a long time, and my mom used to have to drive me to practice at 3:30AM. THREE THIRTY! She also was up with me many weekend mornings to drive to local swim meets and cheer me on all day long. And she wrote the team newsletter, ran the team snackbar, and planned/directedall the swim meets at our pool. And worked full time for an “evil corporation.” I do not know how she did it all, but I know that I appreciate it more than I could ever say or show, and I’m sure that your girls will feel/show the same gratitude toward you.
Also, I totally do that conditioner as shaving cream thing. And I’m a childless, husbandless 22 year old.
OMG Mama P. Cookbook sold. How soon can I make that? I love recipees that use healthy ingredients but remain savory. Quinoa in lasagna?!? Ingenious!
Sooo happy to see that lasagna recipe after your twitter announcement of it last night. I was practically drooling, it looks sooo tasty and I love lasagna!!
It’s funny, you really do sacrifice so much of yourself when you have kids. You not only sacrifice your weekend nights out, your freedom to come and go as you please, your privacy, but also simple things, like washing your hair and spending time putting on make up. As much as I want children someday, this is how I know I’m not quite ready yet. I will be, I know I will, especially when I see how rewarding and amazing it is through people like you. You are such an incredible woman and mother Sarah!
Wonderful. What a creative recipe! Posts like these — come to think of it, ANY of your posts actually — are what make me excited for your book! Can’t wait for when it comes out
Oh that looks delicious – I will have to try making that very soon. Like maybe tonight. Yum.
The other day I was in a public pool and heard a little girl (4 yrs or so) say to her brother (7 yrs) “I’m peeing! Are you peeing?” And he said “yes”. They were talking in very hushed tones and they stopped talking when they noticed me watching them. I quickly exited the pool, but crossed my fingers that whatever amount of chemicals were put into that pool killed off those pee germs. Hopefully. Ick.
It almost seems like every girl’s dream to do ballet. I loved it when I was 5 years old, then moved onto soccer, baseball and basketball.
Your girls always looks so neat and adorable! I mean look at those braids!
It’s soooo hard to balance everything! But the joy on their faces somehow makes it happen. Where do we get those magic powers to use for ourselves I wonder?
M already wants to do dance or gymnastics because we’ll play it at home. I have a feeling we’ll be checking out local things sooner than I think. Eep.
Yup. Knew I should have waited to go grocery shopping until AFTER I checked your blog. Oh well, this yummy creation will be on next week’s menu. I will just have to suffer through trying out the Vegan Cheese Burgers this week…tiss a shame
Your girls are incredibly adorable & I LOVE how excited Lulu looks to be right up there beside Gigi!
Your little girls are *precious*! Those pictures reminded me of my childhood ballet classes – awe
Nostalgia is a beautiful thing.
p.s. Definitely making that lasagna soon! Love zukes
And quinoa, oodles
one, lasagna looks amazing. two, love the faces at ballet class. i started taking ballet as a grown-up and i still kind of look like that when i make it to a class. you daughters are beautiful and i look forward to you blog everyday.
Aw, thanks Bo. I look forward to writing it each day.
Awesome post and recipe. I actually read part of it out loud to my mom (the reasons you wish the girls were less busy and scheduled) and I had her laughing out loud (as I always am doing while reading your posts). The recipe for Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna looks AMAZING. My mom is a huge Italian food fan so I am totally bookmarking this one for the fall to make for her on one of our girls nights (nights when my dad and brother are not around and demanding meat and potatoes).
Beautiful! Looks like it came straight out of a magazine.
OH yes, ballet!! I hope you sign them both up. I’ve really enjoyed the swimming lessons and now I will look forward to ballet class. I can’t get over how you take life and make a story of it every day. You are the best!
Yes, they both will be enrolled. I’m hoping they can be in the same class. Life really is a story every day, isn’t it?
Thank you for such a wonderful blog. I made this tonight and it was delicious! I love quinoa and this was a really creative way to do veggie lasagna. I also made your cheeseburgers today, and wow, they are great. Thanks Mama Pea!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed them. We had the leftover lasagna tonight and it was even better!
WOW, that lasagna looks fantastic! YUMMMM
Love the idea of quinoa and zucchini together in a lasagna form! I would love a slice… or maybe two!
HUGS
That lasagna looks delicious. I have no doubt that you will excel in being a mom and wife in addition to creating wonderful meals for your family. I’m also really excited to read all about the girls’ ballet classes. First swimming, now ballet! So great!
I’m going to try to make this next week. It looks beyond delicious!
As I’ve said before- you are such an Amazing Mom!
And that lasagna looks wonderful! I may test it out with the zucchini I have in my fridge…
Amazing recipe, and its gluten free! Definitely on my to-try for the fall
This looks amazing!!! I can’t wait to try it!
i’ll be inviting myself over for this recipe… what day works for you? haha
how bout if i promise to bring dessert? in whipped flavored liquid form????
and i will definitely need the ballet recital schedule… although it probably won’t shock you to know i only lasted a week in ballet as a child (my mom said after a week of me sitting on the floor pouting with zero interest while all the other girls danced around me, she was done, and therefore, so was i haha)… it’s one of my favorite things to watch my nieces do. your girls are going to be awesome!!
Your kids are too too precious! And I’m making that quinoa lasagna this week! Yum!
Everyone wins with this recipe! I whipped this up this afternoon and my hubs and I are looking forward to a DELICIOUS dinner! Thanks for the good eats!
It’s so wonderful to see your girls getting along so sweetly — they seem so close. That’s wonderful. It makes me wish I had a sister!
Oh my goodness, this meal is going on my menu next week! It looks amazing!
Mama Pea:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and am having fun trying your recipes but (and perhaps you have heard this before, I’m a new reader so I apologize if you have addressed this previously) I wish they were in a format that I could print out… it’s hard to run back and forth to the computer while I am cooking and/or print the page with all the pictures. Now it is entirely possible that there is a solution to this dilemma that I am missing, if so please enlighten me! Thanks again!
Hi Cary! I apologize for the inconvenience! You could certainly try cutting and pasting the recipes into a word document, then deleting the photos before printing. Or you can wait until August of next year and get a lot of great recipes in book form! At some point I may try to re-format my recipes, but for now, I simply have so many things on my plate, it would create a lot of extra work that I don’t have time for. I hope you stick around anyway!
Thanks for the reply, I can’t wait for the cookbook and I’ll stick around
I’ll try the cut and paste method next time.
my ovaries are crying cause I want a lil gigi and lulu for myself. you are gonna be a busy momma with that schedule but look how happy it makes them.
Excellent post. I’ve wanted to make a cheese-less and noodle-less lasagna for some time and now plan on shopping for some zucchini this week! Thank you for sharing your creations; I (and many others) can completely understand and relate to kitchen creativity being your “ballet.” And you juggle all these responsibilities and hobbies so well.
That picture of Gigi looking down @ Lulu while they skip around in the circle is PRICELESS! She has a look of SUCH love and care for her sister! Frame that picture and cherish it! It’s number 5 of your ‘Ballet- Installation”! I almost feel like blowing the print up myself, zooming in and sticking it into a ‘SISTER’ frame myself! lol. Your daughters are radiant, happy, full-of-life, BEAUTIFUL (again, inside and out) and just full of life and vitality. You should feel so proud Mama Pea! I also think you need to consider adopting me as your ‘bonus’ daughter! I would help a, eat the food you make b, raid your fridge for left-overs, allowing you to shave hermorrhage free, c,provide baby-sitting (as long as snack were provided) lol. Although I don’t think I could rock those Tutu’s!
I do the same thing with the conditioner/shaving. I have tried everything- body lotion, conditioner, shampoo, body oil, massage oil, dishwater detergent etc. My personal favorite is the first time I attempted shaving as a pre-teen: I grabbed my mom]s expensive European imported cream, and used the entire tube on my now “baby bottom smooth” leg. Yup- that didn’t go over too well.
Barbara
I will be trying that recipe tonight – a few of my favorites: lasagna, zuchinni, basil and quinoa.
This was so good! I can’t wait for your cookbook!
I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I think I’m already addicted. I want to try ALL the recipes. I’ll be the first person standing in line to purchase your book. I can’t wait! 11 months and counting!
Thank you, Emily!
I made this recipe tonight and my family enjoyed it: “Very gourmet!” Thank you for sharing.
Just made the zucchini quinoa lasagna last night. It was fantastic! Mine turned out a bit soupy but we just soaked up all that goodness with some sour dough bread. Thanks for such a delicious recipe!
Thank you for this recipe, I loved it!! http://yumventures.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/quinoa-zucchini-lasagna/
I have been eying this recipe since you posted it but hadn’t had the time to make it. You are a genius. It was awesome. Thanks for sharing!!
Hello from another Portlander (I was so excited when I discovered this, I love your blog!). I just wanted to stop and say thank you for such an awesome recipe. I made it last night and was super impressed. A few weeks ago, I also made the Spicy African Peanut Stew, although I was out of lentils and used quinoa as you suggested and butternut squash instead of sweet potato (I haven’t been able to find any good sweet potatoes!), it came out delicious! I always enjoy reading your blog, seeing your beautiful daughter’s faces, and hearing about your adventures. I cannot wait for your cookbook to come out, I’m sure it will be full of all the things I love about your posts.
Thank you, Kassi! I may be pulling out the crockpot myself this week for a little stew myself. Thanks for saying hello and for all your support!
I am making this tonight! Can’t wait to try it
What a great recipe!! I just used Quinoa tonight in a Paella, but I love the idea for using it as a filling in lasagna! I’m definitely going to try this in the next week or so – thanks for sharing
Btw – I use the same Trader Joe’s quinoa and Tomato Basil Marinara sauce in a lot of my recipes – aren’t their products great? 
Anyway – my friend just recommended your blog to me since I recently started one of my own and I’m really enjoying reading your posts. Will be a regular follower from now on!
Hi Mama Pea – just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna recipe – I finally made it the other night and it was fabulous – this one is certianly going in my “favorites” file. Love your site and enjoy reading your blog …..your entire family is adorable.
Thank you, it’s one of our favorites too!
I just made this last night (after having it bookmarked for a while) and loved it! I am gluten and lactose intolerant and don’t regularly eat meat, but I made it for people who can eat “everything”, and they appreciated the flavors. Thanks
I just made this for my family for dinner and its absolutely delicious!! I hope there will be enough for leftovers!! Thanks for this recipe
Fantastic! Yes, it’s one of my favorites!
Just found your blog through HEAB. I am so excited to try this recipe! Thank you!!
You’re welcome! Glad you found me!
I just have to thank you. I made this last night (although I didn’t have the fresh herbs), and it was earth-moving. I never would have thought to use quinoa this way! I can’t wait to work through the rest of your recipes–thrilled to have found this site (thanks to HEAB’s “one bowl” post the other day).
I’m so glad. I never used to like quinoa either. Now I just know how to zest it up!
I recently found you blog through HEAB, and it’s a great
Best of luck to you with your book!
read! I’m not vegan, or even vegetarian, but am trying to eat less
meat, and healthier overall. Can’t wait to try a few of your
recipes. This quinoa lasagna and your pumpkin spice chickpeas will
be ther first. I’m also no stranger to the baby wipes &
deodorant shower, I hate to admit, so thatnks for sharing that one!
I sometimes shower right after my son goes to bed. Not quite the
same as the AM shower, but a little more effective thatn the baby
wipes
Thanks for saying hi and for the shower tip
Absolutely delicious, Mama Pea!!!!!
LOVE your blog. Always puts a smile on my face
I’ve been following for a few months now but this is my first time posting….I made this lasagna and it is by far my favorite recipe this year so far. Delicious! And my meat-eater boyfriend loved it as well. Thank you Mama Pea!
I’m so glad! This is one of my favorite recipes too!
I made this last night and wanted to tell you it was EXCELLENT!! Me and my boyfriend loved it. And also the cookie-dough hummus dip with pretzels and oatmeal creme sandwich cookies are very dangerous to have in the house haha, we creamed that batch of cookies in like two days (embarassed face) !!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!!!
This was absolutely fabulous! It was easy to make and delicious to eat!
how am I just finding this recipe? genius!!! i cannot wait to try it! <3
Love this recipe. Making it for the second time. Very creative. Thanks for sharing! Will definitely be getting the book when it comes out…and did check out the amazon store! Trying to be good this lenten season
Ha ha, understood!
Made this tonight and it was fabulous! Meat eaters were even loving it! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe that I know I will be making again and again.
You are welcome! Glad you liked it!
This looks positvely yummy!
Apologies for a silly question … but for someone not living in the states, just how much is ‘one jar of marinara sauce’ in cups? I tried to firure it out from the photograph, but no luck!
No problem! It’s about 3 cups of sauce.
thx! I made this over the weekend. I made it before I got the sauce. It did not make it past your caution of ‘try not to eat the whole pot.’
Which is a grand excuse to make it again – as if I need one!
THIS IS BEYOND DELICIOUS
Absolutely amazingly delicious!!!!!!! And the best part is that my 3 boys gobbled it up and loved it! Thank you for posting such yummy family friendly vegan recipes. I finally cut out all dairy from my vegetarian diet and could not be more happy with how I feel, and I never thought I could get my family to LOVE to eat vegan meals, but they do!
This makes my heart so happy! Thank you, Katie!
making this for the 2nd time! perfect weeknight meal for this super busy dietitian.
Reading about Mama and her peas warms my heart.I am sharing the love around New Zealand with all your recipes and they are a hit. Especially MMM Sauce I think I talk about it at least once a week.
Thanks, Nat. I’m always surprised at our following in NZ, but I love it! Thanks for your support.
hey mama pea, would this work with eggplant too? I only have one zucchini in the fridge..so I was thinking about making alternating zucchini and eggplant layers!
Oh absolutely! Just don’t skip the salting/moisture removal process. It will take the bitterness out of the eggplant too. And you might want to peel it first.
oh. my. gosh. and i thought it couldn’t get any better than dough balls..
your recipes never fail me, mama pea. THANK YOUU
So the eggplant worked? Good to know! Thanks for the feedback
So nice to see a whole grain recipe that tastes good! http://papastoolshedmamaskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/07/get-your-whole-grains-on.html
I just discovered your blog through another blog, The Simple Dollar, who had shared a link to this recipe and (his own version), while I haven’t made it yet, I definitely will sometime soon.
Also, your daughters are adorable and certainly look very happy to dance ballet.
Thanks, Justine! Glad you found me and I hope you do try the recipe. And I hope you check out the rest of the site…lots more cuteness
redirected from The Simple Dollar, great recipe idea! Can’t wait to try it!
Hi Joan! Enjoy!!!
I finally got around to making this dish and it was AMAZING! Thanks so much for the great recipe, I am going to go order your book right now!
Thank you, Christine!
Made this tonight. Ah-mazing. The end.
Thanks!!!
hi Mama Pea!! I am catching up on some older posts and trying to plan some “freeze-able” meals for my sister, who has a busy 8month old on her hands. Have you tried assembling and then freezing this lasanga?? any luck? thanks- and I am loving all your recipes.
I haven’t personally, but others have reported success!
One of my family’s favorite meals has always been zucchini casserole made with ground beef and cheddar cheese….THIS recipe now takes it’s place! It’s sooooo delicious!!!
Super yum! I was skeptical all the way through, but I will never doubt you again PM!
Ok, yeah I will.
When I made up the mixture and tasted it, I was all – meh, this isn’t so fabulous. Something magical happened in that oven, cause WOW it knocked my socks off. I substitued some brown rice I had to use up – still held together great.
Somehow convinced the uber-picky kids to try it too – woohoo, success! I am elated!
If I make the quinoa version I cannot be held accountable. I have been know to polish off sizeable portions of that stuff, plain!
Two thumbs up lady!
i wanna make this!! i just got quinoa today! but no tofutti…what do your recommend to substitute mama pea? greek yogurt be ok?
Oh no. If you have to substitute, use cream cheese.
Made this last Sunday and ate off it all week. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Instead of faux cream cheese I just made cashew cream (blend soaked cashews, tahini and water) and used that. I can say without a doubt that this will become a new staple recipe in our householed….and we aren’t even vegan.
Mike, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed the lasagna and I love the cashew cream idea! You are so smart.
Can’t wait to try this tonight….YUM – drying out my zucchini now!
xoxo from Trinidad
I hope you love it, Corey!
I loved this recipe! Definitely a keeper. I’m a vegetarian and I try to cook for my parents and brother (meat eaters) a couple times a week. The parents usually go for it, and they loved this. They were particularly impressed with the awesome quinoa part of it. I loved it too, as a longtime vegetarian it’s always nice to impress meat-eaters with a really unique dish. It came together very quickly… I had the idea for it at 4:15, got home from the store at 5 on the dot, and was serving at 6. It took some hustle (my zucchini were WRECKED!), but it was awesome to have a great healthy lasagna on the tabe in barely an hour.
My 17-year-old brother just was not having it though. He would not eat the zucchini! I was trying not to be offended– I know you can’t make everyone happy at every meal. The kid is an athlete, and he doesn’t make good eating choices at all. He’s pretty typical of people in my area– he eats a lot of fast food (socially, we don’t eat it as a family). I’m doing my best to get him to eat more vegetables. And not sneaking them into stuff like he’s a little 5 year old. This is pretty much as good as zucchini gets but he would not eat it. Yeah, he tried it, but he picked around it after that. I’m frustrated! I can’t find a vegetable (non-white potato) that he’ll eat and enjoy! I almost fell over dead when he ate some edamame I’d put in some stir fry. Until I tried it and realize that it was essentially flavorless in the meal. The kid is frustrating! He’s 17!! Eat your veg already, kid.
Anyway, thanks so much for a great recipe. I really enjoy your take on food– fast, simple, delicious, veg. Great work
I’m glad most everyone liked it
Your brother may realize when he’s a parent how important it is for kids to eat their veggies. Let’s hope it doesn’t take that long! Keep trying!!!
http://www.thehealthseekerskitchen.com/2011/07/easy-quinoa-lasagna-with-pumpkin-seed.html
Hmmm.
Made this tonight and it was incredible – my meat loving fiance loved it too! Thank you so much for the delicious meal!!
You have me so inspired….I cook all the time. In fact, so much so that our family of 3 can’t possibly eat it all. I share with friends and take food to my friends at work.(That is the ones that will appreciate vegetarian food) And….I have frozen and frozen and now 2 freezers are full. I can’t stand to waste food and I am not going to stop cooking, so now I am feeding my australian shephards the left overs. They LOVE the veggies! They are 10 years old and have never jumped and are now jumping on me when I leave the house. Today they had something with chic peas and rice that I cooked last week from Wendy at the Healthy Girl blog. Thank you for all your hard work! Our family is greatly appreciative. Of course I have your book and can’t wait for the next one. Now I must get busy making the Paella….
Hi Sarah, this is a winner recipe! Our daughter made your quinoa lasagna, told me she & her non-vegan husband & a friend liked it a lot, and said I should try it sometime; so I made it today. My husband and I really enjoyed it, was simple to whip up, very satisfying, and have leftovers. Those are the best kind of recipes!!!
Oh my, I think we lead the same life. Seriously! And, I made your lasagna– it was divine! I made a few tweaks (nothing substantive) and it was FABULOUS!! Thanks for the recipe and thans for sharing the frustrations and joys of being a wife and Mom! I am a full time exec at a big telecom and also have kids with very busy schedules so I feel what you are talking about!! I am going to post the lasagna on my blog (with credit of course) tomorrow! Hugs to you!
I made this last night and it was delicious. I love the idea of using zucchini in place of pasta.
Thanks for posting this recipe, it was so yummy. Very healthy and very delicious.. my favorite combo! It may seem strange but my vegan lasagnas have a 100% success rate, much different from my hit and miss lasagnas in my carnivorous days.
I just have to tell you, I came across this recipe a while ago and have followed your blog religiously ever since. It’s on our menu at least every other week and-honestly- it tastes better every time I make it. Thank you so very much for sharing!