Spinach Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups

    These meatless spinach lasagna noodle roll ups are perfectly paired with Homemade Alfredo Sauce.  It was a hit at our most recent dinner party.  I love Alfredo Sauce that is not from a jar!  This sauce never fails me, always so rich and flavor-filled.  The roll ups I've done many different ways, from the fillings to the sauces, its always tasty working off the basic lasagna idea.  ~Enjoy! Diane 

Roll Up Ingredients:
Homemade Alfredo Sauce (see recipe below) 
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed & well-drained 
1 pint ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided 
1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded 
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
8 lasagna noodles, prepared according to package directions

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Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, room temp
2 cups heavy whipping cream, warmed 
4 ounces cream cheese, room temp
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp garlic powder, see note below**
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

Sauce Directions:
In a medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted. Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. Add the grated Parmesan cheese.
Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Leave this on low, stir often and Continue on with making Roll Ups 
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**garlic note: if you love garlic, add 1 tsp powder and the minced garlic. if you just "kind of like" garlic, add in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. if you prefer no garlic, then omit garlic entirely.
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Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
Lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil (I use a paper towel just to smear around inside and on bottom of dish) 
Pour 1/4 cup Alfredo sauce over the bottom of the baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine spinach, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, beaten egg and salt until well blended.
Spoon cheese mixture along one side of cooked lasagna noodles, distributing evenly, and roll up.  Place roll-ups seam-side down in prepared baking dish; top with a little Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Loosely cover with foil, and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until heated through.  Once out of the oven, pour remaining Alfredo sauce over the lasagna rolls, sprinkle with parsley and serve. 

Diane's Kitchen Tip: 
Keep Alfredo Sauce warm on your stove-top and spoon finished sauce over entire dish when its fresh out of the oven.  The reason not to place all the Alfredo in the baking dish, is that this sauce is easy to "break."  Meaning, the butter & oils separate from the cheeses in the sauce, to help prevent this - use only a little sauce to coat the bottom of baking dish and a little atop the roll ups.  
Side Note: starting with warmed cream, and room temp butter and cream cheese will help to keep your sauce from 'breaking' later on.