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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

LIGHT & LOCAL
Healthy cuisine goes global in new book

By Carol Devenot

 •  Chili supreme

Many of my readers have been asking me to assemble my columns in a cookbook, a sequel to my first book, "Island Light Cuisine," published in 2003. Finally, after a year of testing, retesting and writing, I have finished "Global Light Cuisine." The book contains some of the most popular recipes from this column, in which I lighten up both Island-style and international recipes. The recipes come from family, friends, acquaintances and my travels. I went from local to global. All the recipes have been tested and nutritionally analyzed. So, if you are watching your fat and carbohydrate intake, you can look at the bottom of each recipe and know just what you're getting.

"Global Light Cuisine" is in bookstores or can be ordered online from http://www.globallightcuisine.com. Or download it as an e-book.

Without you, my readers, this book would not have possible. Thank you for your continued interest in preparing healthful foods.

The following recipe is one that will appear in the cookbook.

Angela Inouye created this quick and delicious lasagna recipe for her food service class at Kaimuki High School and uses meatless Boca-brand burgers in place of meat. I am a big fan of Boca burger. It is still the best meat alternative I have found. If you have other favorites, let me know about them so I can try them. I am always open to try new products. I have used Boca burgers in place of ground beef in many of my recipes — lasagna, chili, tostadas, meatloaf and even adobo.

Boca burgers are made from soy and wheat gluten. Boca is a subsidiary of Kraft foods. Many of their products serve as a meat analog. You can usually find them in the frozen section of the supermarket or health food stores. They are a good source of protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber and are easy to prepare. I used to cut up the whole Boga burgers for recipes that call for ground beef, but now I can buy Boca Meatless Ground Burger.

ANGELA'S QUICKIE VEGGIE LASAGNA WITH BOCA

  • 1 (32-ounce) bottle Prego spaghetti sauce with mushrooms or 3 1/2 cups homemade sauce

  • 1 pouch Boca Meatless Ground Burger (1 cup)

  • 8 ounces water

    For the filling:

  • 1 (16-ounce) container Viva cottage cheese or 1 (20-ounce) block firm tofu, crumbled and drained

  • 2 ounces (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 2 green onions, sliced

  • 1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed well (or substitute chopped broccoli)

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional, use with spinach only)

  • 1 (8-ounce) package uncooked whole-wheat lasagna noodles

  • 1 (12-ounce) package low-fat mozzarella cheese, grated (3 cups)

    In a bowl, combine the sauce, Boca burgers and water. In another medium bowl, assemble the filling: cottage cheese, Parmesan, egg, green onions, spinach and nutmeg. In a 9-by-13-inch baking pan layer in the following sequence: 8 ounces sauce, 4 ounces noodles, half the filling mixture, 4 ounces grated mozzarella cheese, 16 ounces sauce, 4 ounces noodles, remaining filling mixture, 4 ounces grated mozzarella cheese (optional: may omit and, after baking, sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese instead), 16 ounces sauce.

    Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil so that the moisture is trapped and noodles cook in the sauce. Let it stand for 10 minutes to set before serving.

    Makes 6-8 servings.

    Per serving: 440 calories, 15 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, greater than 1200 mg sodium, 44 g carbohydrate, 9 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 34 g protein

    Want a local recipe lightened up? Write Light & Local, Taste Section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or taste@honoluluadvertiser.com. Carol Devenot is a Kaimuki-raised kama'aina, teacher and recipe consultant, and author of "Island Light Cuisine" (Blue Sea Publishing, paper, 2003). Learn more at www.islandlightcuisine.com.