Getting it done over the holidays, with a little help from the pantry.

Sometimes you just have to take a load off and use the can opener. It’s ok. This is the holiday season. Any day we consume something healthier than stollen, chocolate and egg nog is a good day. I recently heard a healthy living expert endorse the 80/20 rule for eating over the holidays. Do the right thing 80 percent of the time and don’t stress about slacking off for the other 20 percent.

Here’s your dish for the 20 percent. It’s not health food, but it is quick and delish and uses up leftover turkey. What more can we ask? This recipe came from my son’s school advisor, who served it to a pack of hungry boys one night. My son was smitten—both with the textural joy wrought by condensed soup and the butter soaked stuffing on top. Really, what’s not to love?

Stay warm out there and dig in to winter!

CHICKEN LASAGNA

Courtesy of Emily Luker, tamer of hungry boys

Ingredients

2 cups (16 oz) 2% cottage cheese
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted 
1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted 
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt 
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained (or no cook noodles and add some baking time)
1 package (6 oz) chicken stuffing mix (or cornbread stuffing or actual leftover stuffing. See note)
1/2 cup butter, melted 

Method

In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese & cream cheese. (I add 1/3 cup milk here too). In a large bowl, combine chicken, soups, milk (or the other 1/3), onion & salt.

Spread half of the chicken mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. (or 2  9×9’s) baking dish. Top with three noodles. Spread with half the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Toss stuffing mix with butter; sprinkle over casserole. 

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 8 servings.  

Note: Clearly you can freelance at will here. Make your own bechamel sauce instead of using the soups if you are game. Or use actual leftover stuffing instead of the stuffing mix and butter. Add veggies. Use turkey. Add some grated Italian cheese when you find out you don’t have nearly enough cottage cheese. Relax, throw it all in a pan and bake at 350. Your family will love you.