For Joy, eating imitates comedy

Wed., July 5, 2006

Steven J. Austin King Features Syndicate

As co-host of “The View” on ABC-TV, Joy Behar’s brilliant comedic talent is non-stop. Joy originally began a career in teaching, but then set out to pursue comedy professionally. You’ve seen her on her own TV specials, as a repeat guest on every talk show you can imagine, and recently as a judge on the reality series “Last Comic Standing.” Joy has also appeared on the big screen and on Broadway. You can find her book “Joy Shtick: or What Is the Existential Vacuum and Does It Come with Attachments?” online and at bookstores everywhere. For more info, go to: www.abc.com.

Q.: Of all the foods you regularly enjoy, which best fits your personality?

A. Fusilli, because it looks like my hair on humid days. And then there’s roasted large-mouthed bass … it’s self explanatory, isn’t it?

Q. Can you compare stand-up comedy to cooking?

A. They are both risky, especially if you are naked!

Q. In addition to following the Jenny Craig program, did any of your friends give you dieting advice?

A. On maintaining your weight loss, my friend, Fran, said to never wear an elastic waist again.

Q. Name three foods you wish didn’t have any calories.

A. Pizza, French fries and rice pudding.

Garden Vegetable Lasagna

1 pound cottage cheese

1 zucchini, diced

2 (7 ounce) cans chopped button mushrooms

1 (14 ounce) can whole leaf spinach, drained

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup dried parsley flakes

1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 1/2 cups minced onion

2 (10 ounce) jars marinara sauce

1 (8 ounce) package oven-ready (no boil) lasagna noodles

1/2 cup pepper-jack cheese

In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic powder, minced garlic and onion.

Layer bottom of a 12-by-9-inch pan with 1 cup marinara sauce. Place 3 uncooked lasagna noodles on top of sauce. Top with layer of 1/3 of mixture. Layer another 3 noodles on top of mixture. Pour 2 cups marinara sauce over noodles (this prevents noodles from burning while cooking). Layer another 1/3 of mixture on top. Repeat with another layer, then place 3 noodles on top. Top with 1 cup marinara sauce and pepper-jack cheese. Cover dish with foil. Bake at 375 F for 70 minutes.

Recipe courtesy Jenny Craig, Inc.

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