Cheddar Vegetable Lasagna

1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, divided

4 cups shredded carrots

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

dash of pepper

2 1/2 cups milk

16oz cottage cheese

10oz baby spinach, wilted

9 lasagna noodles, cooked

12oz shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1) Preheat oven to 350F.  Cook and stir mushrooms in 1 Tbsp of the butter in large skillet on medium-high heat until tender. Remove from skillet; set aside. Add remaining 3 Tbsp butter, the carrots and onions to skillet. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until carrots are tender. Reduce heat to medium. Blend in flour and seasonings. Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in mushrooms.

2) Combine cottage cheese and spinach. Place 3 of the noodles on bottom of greased 13x9-inch baking dish; top with half each of the cheddar cheese and the carrot mixture. Cover with 3 more noodles and the cottage cheese mixture. Top with the remaining 3 noodles, remaining cheddar cheese and remaining carrot mixture.

3) Bake 30 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with parsley. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting to serve.

Review:  I had a rough morning.  I didn't sleep well and Daylight Savings further robbed me of precious sleep.  So, I stumbled downstairs to put together the menu and grocery list, in preparation of today's shopping trip.  However, I could not have my morning coffee, as I ran out of milk yesterday.  I didn't think it would be a big deal.  Yet, as I prepared to make this lasagna, I found I had not put the carrots on the grocery list, nor did I add the cottage cheese.  I had too many mushrooms for a later recipe, and stole some from that container.  Yet, Mike still had to run out for the ingredients.  I was very thankful, even more so when he returned with the right ingredients and a brownie.  :)  So, the recipe was saved and it was a lot of work.  I dirtied a lot of dishes (I also made ice cream, to freeze for tomorrow night's consumption).  But, this was totally worth it.  It had such a great, savory flavor.  It had also called for Parmesan cheese on top, but I forgot to add it.  Mike thinks it had enough cheese and Parmesan may have been too much.  So, we have lots of leftovers and full bellies.  :)