Chef Winkie’s Black Bean Lasagne

9 lasagna noodles (8 oz)
2 15 oz cans black beans, rinse and drain
Nonstick spray coating (which I did not have to use with the stoneware pan)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic minced
2 15-oz cans tomato sauce or tomato sauce with seasonings
1/4 cup snipped cilantro
1 12-oz container low-fat cottage cheese
1 8-oz package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup light dairy sour cream
Halved tomato slices (optional)
Cilantro (optional)

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Mash 1 can of black beans; set aside

Spray a large skillet with nonstick coating; add onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir over medium hear til tender but not brown. Add mashed beans, unmashed beans, tomato sauce and snipped cilantro; heat through.

In a large mixing bowl combine cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream; set aside. Spray a 3-qt rectangular baking dish with nonstick coating. Arrange 3 of the noodles in the dish. Top with 1/3 of t he bean mixture. Spread with 1/3 of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice, ending with bean mixture and reserving the remaining cheese mixture.

Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through. Dollop with reserved cheese mixture. Let stand for 10 minutes. If desired, garnish with tomato and cilantro. Makes 8 main dish servings.
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Chef Mark thinks that this recipe would be good with some chicken added in, but we have not experimented yet.

Pics from Black Mountain

This is when Anna informed our hostess "I am wonderful." We couldn't agree more, Anna!

More cooking and cleaning.

Weren't the stories over dinner great?

Cooking and cleaning.

Telling us about her niece's pole dancing.

Beautiful Masako

TK deep in thought, no doubt solving one of the world's problems. Or maybe just listening to a Salem sister's story........

Beautiful Teleia is furthering the race! Our own pregnancy pioneer!

Winkie and Wahwah make black bean lasagna.

Winkie and Wahwah make black bean lasagna. Part Deux.

Click on pics above to enlarge.

Welcome

After the fun and utterly inspirational Reunion Weekend 2008 at Black Mountain, I decided that we need a clearinghouse for information — things to share as well as plans to get together in the future. Here it is: our blog: FlowerOfTheSouth. The name, of course, comes from LuAnn’s immortal words in Shag.

Once I get everyone signed on, anyone is welcome to change anything about the blog at any time. In order to protect our privacy — this is, after all, just for us — this blog cannot be retrieved by internet searches and the page with our personal information is password protected. The password? The first name of person who was president our beloved alma mater during our years there, whom Katie can imitate so well.