“A good cook knows that it's not what's on the table that matters, it's who is in the chairs.”

Wednesday, November 21, 2007


Sweet Potato Pie


4 med sweet potatoes (or 2 gi-normous ones)
1 stick butter
1 ½ cup sugar
2 T Flour
1 ½ t baking powder
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Unbaked Pie Shells
Preheat oven to 425*. Boil the sweet potatoes with the skins on. Cook until you can poke with fork and the potatoes are tender. Dip in cool water and slide the potato skins off.
Mash the potatoes.

Add in butter and sugar. Mix well. Add flour, baking powder, sweetened condensed milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, extract. Mix well. Add eggs but make sure sweet potato mixture is not too hot or you will have scrambled eggs with your potatoes (gross!)

Pour mixture into 2 pie shells. Bake 35 minutes. Let stand until center is set.Enjoy


I made this recipe because I was making a basket for someone for Thanksgiving and I know he liked Sweet Potato Pie. It was a simple recipe and YUMMO! It makes two pies so you can be generous to two people or SUPER generous to one. Or you can be generous to one, and eat the other yourself.


The second pie I brought to Alive. Katie said to me the next day "I don't even like pumpkin pie, but I really liked yours", my reply "well, that's because it was sweet potato pie" and we laughed like old friends. HA!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Praline Pumpkin Cake

1 sprays cooking spray
15 oz canned pumpkin
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
18 1/4 oz unprepared white cake mix, 1 package
1/2 cup pecan halves, chopped
1/4 cup reduced-calorie margarine, melted


Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Stir pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, sugar and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl until smooth; pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and gently press it into pumpkin mixture to moisten. Sprinkle cake with pecans and then drizzle margarine evenly over top.
Bake, uncovered, until knife inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into 16 pieces.


POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 16

Friday, August 31, 2007

French Toast Apple Casserole

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (21 ounce) can1 apple pie filling

20 slices white bread
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup
DIRECTIONS
Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Spread the sugar mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the sugar mixture. Cut the bread in cubs, mix eggs, milk, vanila, maple syrup together. Mix in bread. Pour on top of apple pie filling. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. (but if you forget, it works if it sits for like an hour...shhhh...)

In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place covered pan into the oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 to 75 minutes. Invert the pan onto a serving tray or baking sheet so the apple filling is on top (I didn't do this part, I served it right out of the dish!!). Serve hot

Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS
1 pound pork sausage
6 (1 ounce) slices bread, cubed
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
DIRECTIONS
Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and set aside.
Layer bread cubes, sausage, and Cheddar cheese in a lightly greased 7x11 inch baking dish. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, salt, and mustard. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cube mixture. Cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!!

INGREDIENTS
· 1 cup butter, softened
· 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
· 2 eggs
· 1 cup peanut butter
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/4 cup cornstarch
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, peanut butter and vanilla.
3. Add flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Roll into balls about 1 1/2 teaspoonfuls (or use cookie scoop) and place onto ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly because they do not flatten much while cooking.
5. Bake for 10 minutes.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Baked Chicken

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (3 1/2) pound broiler-fryer chicken, cut up
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

DIRECTIONS
Combine the first six ingredients. Dip chicken in milk, then roll in the cornmeal mixture. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Drizzle with butter. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees F for 50-55 minutes or until juices run clear.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Got this from my meeting on 3-1-07

WW Fruit Pudding

15 oz pineapple in juice (crushed or tidbits)
1 pkg sugarfree/fat free butterscotch pudding
1 c FF cool whip
1 lg apple, diced

Mix - Chill - Serve

1 c = 2 points

Thursday, January 11, 2007


Apple Cake


3 c grated apple
2 c sugar
Place in bowl & let set


2 c flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1/4 c oil

Optional: 1 c raisins, 1 c nuts

Bake 350 35-40 minutes

If cut into 18 pieces: 202 calories, 6.8g fat, 2.2 protein, 33.6 carbs, .5 g fiber

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

I was visiting some new websites and some old ones too, looking for some healthy filling stuff because of my new quest to be healthy. I am pretty excited that I have some new bean soups... I know, my life if thrilling!!

Hopefully they will be good and I can share!! Here's an article from allrecipes.com.

Ten Essential Healthy Foods
By: Tom Shea
Find out what made our must-eat list and get new ideas for adding them to your diet.
Eat Well
The key to healthy eating is variety. Try to incorporate these foods into your diet. Eating wholesome food doesn’t mean the flavors have to be bland: these ingredients can be used to make an array of meals that are tasty and good for you.
1. Yogurt
This delicious dairy product is vitamin-rich and nutritious. According to a University of Tennessee study, yogurt may help people lose weight while maintaining muscle. Other studies have found yogurt may bolster your immune system, prevent yeast infections and stop bad breath. Substitute frozen yogurt for ice cream as your dessert of choice.
Yogurt Chicken
2. Olive Oil
Ample medical research has shown that the benefits of olive oil may go way beyond its wonderful taste. A study by Greek scientists at the University of Athens in 2004 found that this monounsaturated oil, which is rich in antioxidants, may be the key to the healthy Mediterranean diet-meaning a lower risk of heart attacks, diabetes and colon cancers.
Italian Herb Infused Olive Oil
3. Beans
Whether you toss them in a salad or add them to a burrito, beans are a low-calorie, high-fiber ingredient. Packed with antioxidants, protein and iron, beans may be the ultimate healthy food. A USDA report in 2005 said that they may even reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Because beans are a complex carbohydrate, they provide plenty of energy while regulating blood-sugar levels.
Three Bean Salad I
4. Nuts
When life gets busy, it’s too easy to skip meals or cut corners. Grabbing a handful of nuts is a convenient way to make sure that you get enough protein. Like olive oil, nuts are a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated oil and antioxidant-rich, bone-strengthening magnesium. Add chopped walnuts to a salad or cashews to a stir fry.
Authentic Thai Cashew Chicken
Almond Green Beans
5. Spinach
This leafy green is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat. Spinach is uncommonly rich in a variety of nutrients including calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins A, K, and C. A study published in 2004 by the Journal of Nutrition found that spinach combats prostate cancer, while other studies have shown spinach may protect vision and bolster cardiovascular health.
Spinach and Orzo Salad
6. Barley
In addition to being a hearty soup staple, barley is a cholesterol-lowering grain high in fiber and niacin. Barley also produces butyric acid, a fatty acid that fights colon cancer. Try mixing barley flakes into your morning cereal for a wholesome breakfast.
Beaker's Vegetable Barley Soup
7. Garlic
Used for centuries to ward off everything from vampires to evil spirits, garlic is high in vitamins C and B6, and it contains powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents that help fight common colds and flu. Regular consumption of garlic is also believed to protect against cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Sauteed Garlic Asparagus
8. Fish
Studies have shown that fish is one of the world's healthiest foods. Fatty fish such as salmon is packed with protein, niacin and Omega-3, an essential fatty acid that promotes healthy cardiovascular activity. Omega-3 may also protect against a host of health concerns from obesity to sunburns. A 2005 study published by the Archives of Neurology claims that eating fish once a week may even slow the rate of cognitive decline.
Soy Ginger Salmon
9. Tomatoes
Fiber-rich tomatoes are low in calories and high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and cancer-preventing lycopene. Like olive oil, tomatoes are an important part of the touted Mediterranean diet. Several studies have found tomatoes are also beneficial in fighting various forms of cancer. Fact: although often classified as vegetables, tomatoes are, technically, fruit.
Garden Fresh Tomato Soup
10. Avocados
The nutrients in this creamy, sinfully rich-tasting vegetable read like a list of essentials for a healthy diet: cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fat, fiber, copper, potassium and vitamins C, K, and B6. Add chopped avocado to a salad, or mash avocados to make fresh guacamole.
Avocado Feta Salsa