Protein Noodle White Lasagna

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A publisher just picked up my book: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism and has made it into an audio book! What a perfect gift for a friend who commutes to work and doesn't have time to sit and read! To check it out, click HERE. 

If you have read any of Suzanne Somers’ books, you already have read about the amazing properties of human growth hormone. She is a huge advocate increasing this hormone and injects it into her body every night. I also believe that we need to increase this awesome hormone, but unlike Susan, I have tips and tricks on how to boost it through diet and exercise; which come with no scary side effects.

Human growth hormone, also known as hGH, is an amazing hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. This hormone stimulates cell production and is responsible for increasing height, building muscle mass, keeping bones healthy, controlling sugar and insulin levels, absorption of calcium, reducing fat as well as helping numerous other functions that are fundamental for growth.

The human growth hormone is produced at full-speed when we are young but the pituitary gland slows down the production as the body ages; usually around age 30 it really starts to decline. The level of hGH peaks during puberty when there is a growth spurt. The levels continue to decline throughout our adult life. This decrease in the levels of HGH is what causes elasticity in our skin, wrinkles, increase issues with diabetes, depression, loss of energy, and loss of muscle mass. Increasing the levels of human growth hormone can make you look young and feel healthy.

Foods play a huge role in the secretion of HGH, as well as WHEN you eat and types of exercise, sleep and hydration. To read more on this awesome hormone, check out my chapter on Hormones in Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism. Thank you for your support!

3/4 cup minced shallots
8 TBS butter
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
6 TBS cream cheese
3/4 cup chicken stock
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/4 pound grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup), divided
6 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pound deli shaved chicken breast or ham
OPTIONAL: artichokes, capers, mushrooms, peppers or my favorite addition CRAB! LOTS of crab!

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Cook shallots in butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add nutmeg, then slowly whisk in cream cheese and stock. Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, stirring occasionally, just until sauce lightly coats back of spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool to warm, stirring occasionally. Stir in eggs, sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Spread about 1 1/4 cups sauce over bottom of an 11- by 8-inch baking dish. Cover with a layer of shaved chicken (for the "noodles"), then additional fillings such as artichokes, mushrooms, capers and crab if desired. Then top with 2 cup shredded mozzarella. Repeat layering 3 more times, then top with remaining sauce and remaining 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Bake, uncovered, until browned, 45 to 55 minutes. Makes 12 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per cup):
White Flour Noodles = 246 calories, 43 carbs, 5 fiber
"Healthified" Noodles = 84 calories, 2 carb, 0 fiber

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional White Lasagna = 439 calories, 26g fat, 22g protein, 31g carbs, 0.9g fiber (30.1 effective carbs)
"Healthified" White Lasagna = 376 calories, 28g fat, 25g protein, 5.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber (5 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Lasagna with artichokes, capers and crab = 394 calories, 28g fat, 29g protein, 7.4g carbs, 1.4g fiber (6 effective carbs)