This has got to be the tastiest lasagna that I have ever tasted. It comes together with a few untraditional ingredients, but that's what makes it extra special and extra flavorful. 

Ingredients: 

1/2 package whole wheat lasagna noodles

4 sprigs fresh rosmary

1/2 small package of lowfat cottage cheese

1 egg

1 ounce goat cheese

3 ounces sliced havarti cheese

3 ounces sliced gouda cheese 

salt & pepper

 1 tsp italian seasoning

1/2 cup seasoned tomato sauce

1 pkg baby portobello mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine

1/2 small onion, diced

Directions: 

Heat a large skillet and warm your olive oil. Slice your mushrooms (or if you are lazy like me, just break them over the pan into bite sized peices). Add your mushrooms and onion to the pan and cook on medium heat until they reduce down. Add your red wine and about a tsp of chopped rosemary until all the liquid is absorbed. Once your mushrooms have reduced down properly, remove them from the heat. In the mean time, boil a bot of salted water and boil your lasagna noodles for 8 minutes. While that boils, mix your goat cheese, cottage cheese, egg, salt & pepper, and a tsp of chopped rosemary. In a 9x9 casserole dish layer your noodles, then spoon some of the cottage cheese mixture over it, then spoon some of your tomato sauce over that. Then add another layer of noodles. Spoons some additional cottage cheese mixture, then add your mushroom mixture in a thin layer. Then add another layer of noodles. Spoon the remaining cottage cheese mixture on top, and some additional sauce. One more layer of noodles, some additional sauce, then top with your sliced cheese and italian seasoning. Bake in your oven at 375 for 35 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbly. 

This lasagna is much creamier and less sauce based than most lasagnas. Its meatless, but packs a hearty punch with your wine drenched mushrooms. You also have the wonderful depth of flavor from the rosemary. This is a lasagna you will be so happy you can go back for seconds with. Enjoy!

My lovely friend just completed his first deer hunt. His beautiful wife had no idea what to do with all of that venison, so they gifted a bunch of it to us. While deer and elk love to frequent the lavender apple farm, they don't frequent the kitchen. 

When I looked online for a good venison recipe, all I could find was hunting websites. And no offense to all of my hunter friends, but most of the recipes I found just had you brown the meat with a jar of marinara sauce and call it good. We wanted to try something a little bit gourmet. We also thought simmering the meat for 30 minutes removed the gamey-ness of the meat. By the time we were done you could not have guess this was not a beef sauce! 

1 lb venison
1/2 onion
1/2 bell pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp Tyme
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp parsley
Salt pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1 stalk celery
3/4 box spaghetti noodles 

Brown your venison in a large saucepan with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Salt and Pepper lightly.  
Once thoroughly browned, remove it from the pan and set aside. Using the left over grease in the pan, cook your onions, celery, and bell pepper until softened. Salt and pepper lightly. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. And 1/2 a cup of white wine and simmer for a few minutes. Add your diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, marinara sauce, oregano, tyme, parsley, and salt and pepper lightly. Simmer for 30 minutes. When you sauce has about 10 minutes left, boil your pasta in salted water. Combine pasta and sauce, top with fresh parmesan. 

This may not be the fancy Parisian dishes you are used to seeing from Peggy, but its the perfect down home farm meal for anyone looking for a great way to utilize your deer meat! 

Enjoy!