Peanut Butter Frosting

This is a great icing recipe that is more peanut buttery than sugary. I used with the Reese's Peanut Butter Cake.

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

Adapted from Ina Garten and the blog, Annie's Eats

Steamed Carrots with Garlic-Ginger Butter

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound baby carrots
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt



1. Steam carrots, covered, 10 minutes or until tender

2. Heat butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger to pan; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in carrots, cilantro (or parsley), and remaining ingredients. Serve.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

I made this cake for the "Welcome Home," dinner for our new nephew. This is an impressive looking cake, and according to my Dad, the peanut butter and chocolate complement each other very well. :) Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 ½ cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (optional - I did not use this.)

For decorating

1 ½ - 2 batches peanut butter frosting (see post above)

miniature Reese’s cups, halved and/or chopped

Directions

For the cake, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 9×2” round cake pans, dust the insides with flour, tap out the excess and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Place the pans on a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for about 2 minutes, until thoroughly blended into the butter. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk; add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the buttermilk in 2 (beginning and ending with the dry ingredients). Mix each addition only until it is blended into the batter. Scrape down the bowl and add the melted chocolate, if using, folding it in with a spatula. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
Bake for 26-30 minutes or until the cakes feel springy to the touch and start to pull away from the sides of the pans. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.

To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on serving dish. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake layer. (If desired, sprinkle with chopped Reese’s cups.) Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Frost the top and outside of the cake with remaining peanut butter frosting. Decorate with halved and chopped Reese’s cups as desired.

Adapted from the blog, Annie's Eats, Smells Like Home, cake from Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, frosting from Ina Garten

Green Peas and Limas with Pine Nuts

I made this with with almonds instead of pine nuts. Seemed to work just fine.


1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth
1 (10-ounce) package frozen baby lima beans
4 1/2 cups frozen petite peas (1 1/2 [16-ounce] packages)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup pine nuts
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
3 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter or margarine


Bring broth to a boil in a saucepan; add lima beans. Return to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Stir in peas and 1/2 teaspoon sugar; cook 2 minutes. Drain.

Sauté pine nuts in 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat until golden. Add bean mixture, green onions, and next 3 ingredients; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons butter until melted.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Hot Bean and Cheese Dip

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (16-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16-ounce) can fat-free refried beans
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
Cooking spray
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese


Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine 1 cup tomatoes and the next 7 ingredients (1 cup tomatoes through chiles). Spoon tomato mixture into a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.


--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Jelly Drops

These are not too sweet, and would be perfect with a cup of tea on a snowy day. This is the first recipe I'm trying out from the book, 500 Cookies that I received as a birthday gift from my sister and her family.

1/2 c. (1 stick) sweet butter

2/3 superfine sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 c. jelly, any flavor

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well.

Sift the flour and baking powder and stir into the butter mixture. Roll the mixture into balls and place them at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Press a finger into each ball and fill the hole with a little jelly. Bake for 10 minutes until golden. Add a little more jelly while the cookies are still warm.

Cool on a wire rack, and store in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days.

Adapted from 500 cookies by Philippa Vanstone

Baked Spaetzle with Ham and Cheese

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/4 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
4 large eggs, divided
2 quarts water
Cooking spray
3/4 cup finely diced ham (about 4 ounces)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese



Preheat oven to 375°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together 1 2/3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and baking powder. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 2 eggs, stirring with a whisk. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring with a whisk until combined. Let stand 10 minutes.

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Hold a colander with large holes (about 1/4-inch in diameter) over boiling water; spoon about 1/2 cup dough into colander. Press the dough through holes with a rubber spatula (droplets will form spaetzle); set colander aside. Cook 3 minutes or until done (spaetzle will rise to surface). Remove with a slotted spoon; drain in a strainer (spaetzle will stick to a paper towel). Repeat procedure with remaining dough.

Combine spaetzle and ham in a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray, tossing gently.

Combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons flour, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Pour milk mixture over spaetzle mixture. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups regular rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons granulated sugar


1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, oil, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, applesauce, and vanilla until well blended.

2. In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir or beat into butter mixture until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

3. Spread dough evenly in a lightly oiled 8-inch square baking pan. Sprinkle top evenly with granulated sugar.

4. Bake in a 350° oven until pale golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a rack about 10 minutes, then cut into 1- by 4-inch bars. Let cool completely.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Roasted Vegetable Chicken Soup

1 cup (1-inch) cubed carrot
1 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms
1 cup (1-inch) pieces celery
1 cup (1-inch) pieces red bell pepper
2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
1 cup water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups uncooked rotini pasta



Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; drizzle with oil, and toss well to coat. Arrange vegetable mixture in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan lined with foil. Bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally.

Combine water and next 5 ingredients (through chicken) in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes. Add roasted vegetables; simmer 30 minutes. Bring soup to a boil. Add pasta; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.


--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Barley Pilaf with Sauteed Mushrooms

1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (about 1/2 ounce)
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cups chopped button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 1/4 cups water
1 cup uncooked pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon butter
4 cups sliced button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)


Combine the dried porcini mushrooms and boiling water in a bowl; cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain in a sieve over a bowl, reserving mushroom liquid. Finely chop porcini mushrooms; set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add chopped button mushrooms; cook for 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Add porcini mushrooms, wine, pepper, and garlic; cook 1 minute or until liquid almost evaporates. Remove from heat.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauce-pan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 3 minutes. Add reserved mushroom liquid, 2 1/4 cups water, porcini mixture, barley, and salt, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until barley is tender. Fluff with a fork; stir in parsley.

Carefully melt butter in a cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add the sliced button mushrooms, and sauté for 5 minutes or until browned. Top the pilaf with sautéed mushrooms.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Roasted Potatoes with Tangy Watercress Sauce

Sauce:
1 1/2 cups plain fat-free yogurt
1 cup trimmed watercress
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Potatoes:
3 pounds small red potatoes, quartered
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray


Preheat oven to 450°.

To prepare sauce, place first 9 ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth, scraping sides. Cover and chill.

To prepare potatoes, combine potatoes, oil, pepper, and salt in a jelly roll pan or shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray, tossing to coat. Bake at 450° for 35 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Serve with sauce.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Lime-spiked Black Bean Dip

2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper



Place beans in a food processor, and pulse until almost smooth. Combine the beans, carrot, and the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring until well blended. Let stand 30 minutes. Serve with baked tortilla chips.






--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Chocolate Chip Dutch Baby

I have no idea about the name, but this is tasty. It's basically a big baked pancake.


3/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 large firm bananas, halved lengthwise
1/2 cup coffee-flavored liqueur (Kahlúa)
1/2 cup frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed



Preheat oven to 450°.

Place a 9-inch cast-iron skillet in a 450° oven for 15 minutes. Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in preheated pan until browned, swirling to evenly coat pan. Add batter; sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until puffed and browned.

Cut banana halves in half crosswise. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bananas; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Add liqueur; simmer 1 minute. Serve with Dutch baby; top with whipped topping.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Braised Herb Chicken Thighs with Potatoes

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 chicken thighs (about 2 pounds), skinned
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups (2-inch-thick) slices carrot
1 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes, quartered



Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag, shaking to coat.

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken and remaining flour mixture to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly brown. Add carrot; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add broth, wine, and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Sparkling Cranberry Tea Cocktails

4 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
2 family-sized tea bags
2 1/2 cups no-sugar-added cranberry juice
1 cup vodka
1/4 cup Grand Marnier (orange-flavored liqueur)
4 cups ginger ale, chilled
Orange rind strips (optional)



Combine 4 cups water and sugar in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Pour over tea bags. Cover and let stand 5 minutes; discard tea bags. Cool. Stir in juice, vodka, and Grand Marnier; chill.

Gently stir in ginger ale. Serve over ice; garnish with rind, if desired.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Chicken-and-Bean Slaw Wraps

2 (6-ounce) packages fully cooked chicken strips, chopped
1 1/2 cups coleslaw mix with carrots
1 (15-ounce) can chili powder-seasoned pinto beans, drained
1/3 cup Ranch dressing
1/2 cup chopped green onions
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup barbecue sauce


Combine first 5 ingredients, and set aside.

Place tortillas on baking sheets, and sprinkle each evenly with Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350° for 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top evenly with chicken mixture. Drizzle evenly with barbecue sauce. Roll up, jellyroll fashion. Cut in half. Serve immediately.



--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Lime-glazed Carrots

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons garam marsala
1 lb. baby carrots


Bring 1 cup water and carrots to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook for 5 minutes, or until carrots are soft. Drain.

Combine sugar, lime juice, and garam marsala. Cook for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Return carrots to pan.

Ricotta Cappuccino

The texture on this dessert can be challenging for those not used to ricotta cheese. If you don't like the grainy texture, you could mix in a container of Cool Whip (or even softened ice cream, I imagine).


1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
1/2 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 (3-inch) biscotti, crushed
Pinch ground cinnamon
Pinch cocoa powder



Place the sugar, ricotta, vanilla extract and espresso powder in the food processor. Blend for 1 minute. Stop the machine to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Blend for another minute.

Spoon the mixture into 4 small coffee mugs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. To serve, top the ricotta cappuccino with crushed biscotti. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cocoa powder.



--Adapted from Giada de Laurentiis

Lemon Chicken Tenders

These are tasty. The sweet sauce means you don't need any dipping sauce (but a spicy honey-mustard would likely be good anyway).


1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 large skinned and boned chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch strips
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder



Combine first 3 ingredients; sprinkle on chicken strips.

Dip chicken pieces in egg, and dredge in breadcrumbs. Arrange chicken in a single layer in an aluminum foil-lined 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes, turning chicken once.

Cook sugar, lemon juice, and curry powder in a small saucepan for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring till sugar dissolves. Drizzle over chicken; bake 5 more minutes.




--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Oven-fried Pecan Chicken Fingers

1 cup pecan halves
1 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (18.4-oz.) package boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
Vegetable cooking spray




Place pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan.

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring occasionally.

Process toasted pecans, baking mix, salt, and pepper in a food processor until pecans are finely ground. Place 1/2 cup pecan mixture in a large bowl. Add chicken, tossing to coat.

Whisk together eggs and buttermilk. Dip chicken in milk mixture; dredge in remaining pecan mixture. Arrange chicken in a single layer on a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Lightly coat tops of chicken with vegetable cooking spray.

Bake at 425° for 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is golden brown.






--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Buttermilk-brined Pork Chops

2 cups fat-free buttermilk
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray


Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; shake well to dissolve salt and sugar. Add pork; seal and refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally. Remove pork from bag; discard brine. Pat pork dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle pork with pepper.

Heat a large nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat the pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook 3 1/2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.


--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Pepper Jelly-glazed Carrots

1 (2-pound) package baby carrots
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed chicken broth, undiluted
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 (10 1/2-ounce) jar red pepper jelly


Combine carrots and chicken broth in a skillet over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring often, 6 to 8 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender and broth is reduced to 1/4 cup.

Stir in butter and red pepper jelly, and cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and glazes carrots.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Green Beans with Walnuts

1 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed
2 teaspoons butter
2 tablespoons finely crushed walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground whole nutmeg


Place beans in a large saucepan of boiling water; cook 5 minutes. Drain.

Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add walnuts; sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add beans, salt, and nutmeg; cook for 1 minute.


--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Potato and Cheese Biscuits

These would be a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. I'm not much of a biscuit maker, so I didn't try to cut the dough into rounds. I just dropped it on the pan. Maybe it wasn't as pretty, but it tastes just the same.



1 cup (1-inch) cubed peeled Yukon gold or red potato
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup minced green onions



Preheat oven to 425°.

Cook the potato in boiling water 15 minutes or until very tender. Drain well; mash potato, and cool.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add mashed potato, cheese, buttermilk, and green onions; stir just until moist.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and knead lightly 5 times. Roll dough to a 3/4-inch thickness, and cut with a 3-inch biscuit cutter. Place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until golden.






--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Tuscan Bean and Barley Soup

Very simple, very tasty.


2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5 cups water
1 cup canned cannellini beans or other white beans, drained
1/2 cup uncooked pearl barley
2 beef-flavored bouillon cubes
4 cups fresh spinach




Put the oil and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in rosemary, salt, and pepper. Add water, beans, barley, and bouillon. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the barley is tender.

Add spinach. Serve immediately - before the spinach loses its bright green color.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Sichuan Green Beans

1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon canola oil, divided
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


1. Cook beans in boiling water 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse under cold running water; drain. Pat beans completely dry with paper towels.

2. Heat a 14-inch wok over high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to wok, swirling to coat. Add green beans to wok; stir-fry 3 minutes or until browned. Spoon green beans into a bowl.

3. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to wok, swirling to coat. Add shallots, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper; stir-fry 15 seconds or just until garlic begins to brown. Return green beans to wok. Add vinegar, soy sauce, and salt to wok; toss to combine.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Chicken and Bean Slaw Wraps

2 (6-ounce) packages fully cooked chicken strips, chopped
1 1/2 cups coleslaw mix with carrots
1 (15-ounce) can chili powder-seasoned pinto beans, drained
1/3 cup Ranch dressing
1/2 cup chopped green onions
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup barbecue sauce


Combine first 5 ingredients, and set aside.

Place tortillas on baking sheets, and sprinkle each evenly with Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350° for 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top evenly with chicken mixture. Drizzle evenly with barbecue sauce. Roll up, jellyroll fashion, and cut in half. Serve immediately.



--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Beer-Cheese Spread

This is surprisingly tasty. I used a Bass instead of the amber ale it calls for. You can taste the beer, so I imagine using different types will result in different tastes. Also, notice that it is not cooked - which means all the alcohol is still present. Plan accordingly.



(2-lb.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (12-oz.) bottle amber beer, at room temperature
Salt and pepper to taste



Beat together first 5 ingredients at low speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended. Gradually add beer, beating until blended after each addition. Beat at medium-high speed 1 minute or until blended and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and chill 2 hours. Garnish, if desired. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.



--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Grits Casserole with White Beans and Rosemary

Very tasty. Looks impressive.



4 (1-ounce) slices French bread or other firm white bread, cubed
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
7 cups boiling water, divided
3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, cleaned and separated
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, drained
1 1/2 cups uncooked regular grits
2 tablespoons butter
Cooking spray


Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1 cup. Combine breadcrumbs, cheese, and parsley in a small bowl; set aside.

Combine 3 cups boiling water and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl; let stand 10 minutes or until soft. Drain tomatoes over a bowl, reserving 1 cup liquid.

Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks, rosemary, crushed red pepper, and garlic; saute 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and reserved 1 cup liquid. Bring to a boil; cook 7 minutes or until most of liquid evaporates. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and beans.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine 4 cups boiling water, 1 teaspoon salt, grits, and butter in a large saucepan. Cook 8 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Pour grits mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spoon tomato mixture evenly over grits; top with breadcrumb mixture. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels, divided



Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; add butter and vanilla, and beat at low speed with an electric mixer until blended. Stir in 1 cup chocolate morsels.

Press dough into an ungreased 9-inch square pan; prick dough with a fork.

Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup morsels over top, and spread to cover. Cut shortbread into 25 (about 1 3/4-inch) squares; cut each square into 2 triangles. Let cool 30 minutes in pan before removing.



--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Sugared Cranberries

I'm not sure what to make of these. They are tasty, but you really don't want to eat a whole bunch. Still, they would make for interesting conversation, if nothing else.

You can make your own superfine sugar by putting regular white granulated sugar in a food processor for a minute or so.


2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
2 cups fresh cranberries
3/4 cup superfine sugar


Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat. (Do not boil or the cranberries may pop when added). Stir in cranberries; pour mixture into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate 48 hours.


Drain cranberries in a colander over a bowl, reserving steeping liquid, if desired. Place superfine sugar in a shallow dish. Add the cranberries, rolling to coat with sugar. Spread sugared cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature 1 hour or until dry.





--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Spicy Herb Roasted Nuts

Instead of buying all the different varieties of nuts, Target sells a great big container of mixed nuts under the Archer Farms brand. We get the Deluxe Roasted Unsalted to make these. Best thing about them is no peanuts! So if you want to stretch the container, add your own.

If using dried herbs, use half the fresh amount.



1 1/2 cups almonds
1 1/2 cups walnut halves
1 cup hazelnuts
1 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh savory leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram leaves
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Mix almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, maple syrup, cayenne, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and oil in a 10- by 15-inch rimmed pan. Sprinkle nuts with 1 teaspoon salt.

2. Bake in a 300° oven, stirring occasionally, until all liquid evaporates and nuts are golden under the skin (break open to test), about 30 minutes. You'll want to start checking on them about 20 minutes in. Don't let them burn!

3. Let cool. Taste and add more salt if desired.




--Adapted from Sunset magazine

Linguine with Peas and Mushrooms

1-ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1 pound linguine
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 leeks, chopped
2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese


Soak porcini mushrooms in 1 cup hot water for 15 minutes. Drain, reserve soaking liquid and set aside.

Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and cook 2 minutes. Add drained porcini mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Add sage and stir to coat. Add peas, broth and reserved porcini soaking liquid (strain liquid through a paper towel to remove debris) and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes. Add mixture to linguine, add parsley and toss to combine. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Transfer to a serving platter and top with Parmesan.




Adapted from Robin Miller

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Perfect Christmas buffet appetizer. I made this in the oven, but I see no reason why you couldn't do it in a slow cooker. Just adjust the cooking time to 4 hours or so.

This recipe calls for a lot of black pepper. You may want to add half the amount, and taste at some point in the cooking. As the sauce reduces, the pepper flavor will intensify. I happen to like pepper, so it doesn't bother me. Your tastes may differ.


2 1/2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
Black pepper (about a tablespoon)
1/4 cup tablespoons pineapple juice (reserved from the cans listed below)
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup chopped green onion
6 cloves chopped garlic
2 pounds cooked and frozen mini-meatballs, thawed
2 (8-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained, juice reserved

Coarse black pepper




Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the first 10 ingredients (ketchup through garlic) in a large bowl. Stir well to combine. Add meatballs and pineapple chunks. Stir again to coat.

Add the meatball mixture to a deep greased baking dish. Bake 1 hour, stirring after 30 minutes. If the mixture looks dry, add the rest of the reserved pineapple juice. Season with more cracked pepper, and serve hot.



--Adapted from Shane Grenald and Paula Deen

Pan-fried Salmon with Pineapple Relish

2 cups chopped pineapple
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic-chile paste (more if you want it really spicy)
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup plain bread crumbs
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin removed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil


Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt.


Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over fish. Gently press salmon fillets into bread crumbs to coat. Add fish to pan, skin side up; cook 2-4 minutes on each side (depending on thickness) or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with pineapple mixture.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

New Mexican Hot Chocolate

I listed the stove-top directions, though I made this is in a pitcher in the microwave.



1/2 cup water
1/3 cup honey
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Combine first 6 ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk and extract, stirring constantly with a whisk. Heat to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge, stirring with a whisk (do not boil).

Beef Daube Provencal

2 teaspoons olive oil
12 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (2-pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 cup red wine
2 cups chopped carrot
8 oz. whole mushrooms
1 cup less-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon herbes de provence
Dash of ground cloves
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
3 cups cooked medium egg noodles (about 4 cups uncooked noodles)



Preheat oven to 300°.

Heat oil in a small Dutch oven over low heat. Add garlic; cook 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add beef to pan; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from pan. Add wine to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add garlic, beef, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrot, and next 8 ingredients (through bay leaf), and bring to a boil.

Cover and bake at 300° for 2 hours or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Pancotto con Broccoli (Toasted Bread with Broccoli)

This is a great recipe.


2 1/2 pounds broccoli
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for garnish
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 red chile pepper, cut in half (or big pinch of crushed red pepper flakes)
5 (1-inch) slices day-old Italian peasant bread, cut into 1-inch chunks
Salt
Grated Parmesan, for garnish



Bring 8 quarts water to a rolling boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Add the broccoli and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain, reserve the cooking liquid and set aside.

In a 12-inch saucepan, heat the olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the garlic and chile pepper halves and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 5 minutes. While the garlic and pepper cook, cut the drained broccoli into small florets, about 1/2-inch each.

Add the bread to the pan with a few ladles of reserved broccoli water. Then add the broccoli, season with salt and simmer 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish with extra-virgin olive oil and grated Parmesan. Serve very hot.



--Adapted from Mario Batali

Honey-Maple Chicken Salad

This is a very sweet chicken salad. It gets a bit cloying when you eat a lot, but is very tasty in small doses. So it is probably better suited to an appetizer than a main dish.


4 cups chopped cooked chicken
3 celery ribs, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Garnish: chopped toasted pecans


1. Combine first 4 ingredients.

2. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 3 ingredients. Add to chicken mixture, stirring gently until combined. Garnish, if desired.





--Adapted from Southern Living magazine

Sausage and Rice Soup with Spinach

1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
1 pound turkey Italian sausage
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
3 cups water
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 (16-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 cups torn spinach
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese



Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add wild rice; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour or until tender. Set aside.

Cook the sausage in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until browned; stir to crumble. Drain sausage; set aside.

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and sauté for 1 minute. Add the sausage, 3 cups water, and the next 5 ingredients (water through tomatoes); bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in cooked wild rice, spinach, salt, and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with cheese.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

French Toast

3 large eggs
3/4 cup nonfat milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking oil spray
8 slices sweet French or challah bread, about 1 inch thick (8 to 12 oz. total)
Powdered sugar
Maple syrup
Orange wedges


1. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, whisk to blend eggs, egg whites, milk, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

2. Soak bread overnight, in egg mixture.

3. Lightly mist a 10- by 15-inch nonstick pan with cooking oil spray.

4. Place slices slightly apart in a single layer in baking pan.

5. Bake in a 500° oven until toast is golden on bottom, about 5 minutes. With a wide spatula, turn slices over and bake until other side is browned, about 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer hot French toast to plates.

6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, and serve with orange wedges, squeezing juice onto toast.





--Adapted from Sunset magazine

Mashed Potato Gratin

I used Swiss and Munster cheese, and it was perfectly tasty.


4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
1 cup (4 ounces) fontina cheese, shredded and divided
3/4 cup (3 ounces) Gruyère cheese, shredded and divided
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup warm 1% low-fat milk (100° to 110°)
Cooking spray



Preheat oven to 400°.

Place potatoes in a large Dutch oven. Cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tender; drain. Return potatoes to pan. Add 3/4 cup fontina cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyère cheese, butter, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to pan; mash with a fork or potato masher until well combined. Add warm milk to pan; continue mashing potato mixture until desired consistency. Spoon into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 cup fontina cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese. Cover with aluminum foil lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; remove and discard foil.

Preheat broiler.

Broil gratin 5 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Jezebel Sauce

Serve with ham, or just eat with crackers - maybe add some cream cheese.


1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup dried apricots
2/3 cup pineapple preserves
1/3 cup red pepper jelly
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish
Dash of freshly ground black pepper


Combine 1/2 cup boiling water and apricots in a bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Drain. Finely chop apricots.

Combine apricots, preserves, and remaining ingredients in a bowl. Cover and chill.


--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Sweet Potato Tart with Pecan Crust

The interesting thing about this recipe is the use of silken tofu in the place of eggs and cream. It gives the pie a custard-like texture, but without nearly as many calories.


Crust:
1 cup pastry flour
1/4 cup pecans
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Cooking spray


Filling:
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes
3/4 cup soft silken tofu, drained
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange rind
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Syrup:
1/2 cup maple syrup



Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare crust, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour, pecans, and salt in a food processor; process until pecans are finely ground. Add butter; pulse 4 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal.

With processor on, slowly add 2 tablespoons syrup through food chute, processing just until combined (do not form a ball). Place dough on a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 4 or 5 times (dough will be sticky).

Place dough in a 9-inch round removable-bottom tart pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over dough; press dough into bottom and up sides of pan. Discard plastic wrap. Pierce bottom and sides of dough with a fork; bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

To prepare filling, combine 1/2 cup syrup and cornstarch. Place syrup mixture, sweet potato, and next 6 ingredients (sweet potato through nutmeg) in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides. Spoon mixture into prepared crust, spreading evenly. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.

Place 1/2 cup syrup in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1/3 cup; remove from heat. Cool and drizzle about 1 1/2 teaspoons over each serving.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Holiday Brunch Punch

Very tasty. The rosemary gives it a unique flavor, but it doesn't taste like a Christmas tree.

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
4 rosemary sprigs
4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
2 cups fresh orange juice (about 6 oranges), chilled
3 cups club soda, chilled


Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Add rosemary; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour sugar syrup into a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.

Uncover sugar syrup; remove and discard rosemary sprigs. Combine the sugar syrup, juices, and soda in a large pitcher. Serve immediately over ice.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Stir-Fried Broccoli with Oyster Sauce

2 pounds broccoli
6 cups water
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons rice wine or sake
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup minced green onions
1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 8 cloves)


Cut broccoli florets and stems into bite-size pieces to measure 10 cups.

Bring water to a boil in a large Dutch oven; add broccoli. Cook broccoli 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain.

Combine broth and next 6 ingredients (broth through sesame oil); stir well with a whisk. Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, ginger, and garlic; sauté 15 seconds. Add broth mixture; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly. Add broccoli; cook 30 seconds, tossing to coat.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Creamed Corn with Bacon and Leeks

2 lb frozen cut corn, thawed
2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 slices bacon
1 cup chopped leek


Place 1 1/2 cups kernels, low-fat milk, cornstarch, sugar, salt, and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth.

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Add leek to pan; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add pureed corn mixture, 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, and corn milk mixture to pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes or until slightly thick. Stir in crumbled bacon just before serving.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Maple-Orange Sweet Potatoes

The microwave makes this quick and convenient.


2 1/2 pounds peeled sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon stick margarine or butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted



Place the sweet potato slices in a 2-quart casserole.

Combine juice and next 5 ingredients (juice through cloves) in a small bowl. Pour juice mixture over potatoes. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and microwave at HIGH 10 minutes. Stir after 5 minutes. Uncover, and microwave at HIGH 5 minutes or until potato is tender. Sprinkle with pecans.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Tropical Shrimp Salad

This was pretty good. It made for a nice change from the traditional.


1/2 lb cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. Tails off.
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon canned chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained
1 (8-ounce) can pineapple tidbits in juice, drained
Salt, to taste.




Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.






--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Creole Shrimp Remoulade over Baby Arugula

Shrimp:
4 cups water
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 bay leaf
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined


Sauce:
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Creole mustard
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

4 cups baby arugula



To prepare shrimp, combine the first 6 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add shrimp; cook 2 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water until cool. Drain; discard bay leaf.


To prepare sauce, combine green onions and next 8 ingredients (through 1/8 teaspoon salt) in a large bowl; add shrimp, tossing to coat. Cover; chill 20 minutes. Arrange 1 cup arugula on each of 4 salad plates; top each serving with 1/2 cup shrimp mixture.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Creamy Tomato-Basalmic Soup

1 cup less-sodium beef broth, divided
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
5 garlic cloves
2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, drained
Cooking spray
1/2 cup half-and-half
Cracked black pepper (optional)



Preheat oven to 500°.

Combine 1/2 cup of broth, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Place onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Pour broth mixture over tomato mixture. Bake at 500° for 50 minutes or until vegetables are lightly browned.

Place tomato mixture in a blender. Add remaining 1/2 cup broth and half-and-half, and process until smooth. Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Garnish with cracked black pepper, if desired.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

One-dish Rosemary Chicken and White Beans

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, drained
2 tablespoons cup chopped capers



Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Combine rosemary, salt, and pepper; sprinkle over one side of chicken. Place chicken in pan, seasoned side down; cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; turn chicken. Add tomatoes and beans; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in capers.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Linguine with Red Clam Sauce

12 ounces uncooked linguine
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
1/2 (25.5-ounce) bottle fat-free marinara pasta sauce
2 tablespoons sun-dried or regular tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 (6 1/2-ounce) cans chopped clams, undrained


Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce, tomato paste, and red pepper; bring to a simmer. Drain clams in a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid; set clams aside. Stir reserved clam liquid into marinara-sauce mixture. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in clams, and simmer 3 minutes. Serve pasta with sauce.





--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Hasselback Potatoes

2 pounds potatoes, medium sized (your choice of type)
Salt
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup canola, vegetable oil
1/4 cup very finely parsley leaves


Peel the potatoes and rinse to remove any traces of dirt. Cut into the potatoes into uniform pieces. (This will help in cooking time if they are all similar.) Take a sharp knife and beginning on 1 end, cut about 2/3 through the potato. Repeat the same incision from 1 end of the potato to the other, spacing the cuts uniformly.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add a pinch of salt and cook until just tender. (Do not overcook. The potatoes should remain a little hard, as they will continue to cook during roasting.) Drain the potatoes and place them on absorbent toweling to remove excess water.

Mix the flour and salt and pepper, to taste, in a bowl and carefully toss with the already blanched potatoes. Place the floured potatoes onto a baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Bake until golden brown, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

To finish, scoop the potatoes with a slotted spoon onto absorbent paper toweling and to drain any excess oil. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the parsley.





--Adapted from Robert Irvine

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Very, very good. One of the best desserts we've tried.



1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/3 cup light-colored corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 cup frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa (optional)



Preheat oven to 350°.

Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold edges under; flute. Place pie plate in freezer until ready to use.

Combine brown sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, and flour in a large bowl. Combine milk and next 5 ingredients (milk through egg whites); stir with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to brown sugar mixture; stir until combined.

Pour mixture into crust. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until just set. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Cover; chill at least 4 hours. Spread whipped topping evenly over filling; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon cocoa, if desired.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Classic Steakhouse Rub

2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks, trimmed (1 inch thick)
Cooking spray



Prepare grill.Place peppercorns and rosemary in a spice or coffee grinder; pulse until the pepper is coarsely ground. Combine pepper mixture, dry mustard, salt, and garlic powder; rub evenly over both sides of steaks. Place steaks on a grill rack coated with cooking spray, and grill 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

This "cake" has a texture and flavor closer to pumpkin bread. It is more of a breakfast cake than a dessert cake.


Cake:
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour (about 13 1/2 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk

Glaze:
1/3 cup fat-free buttermilk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare the cake, lightly coat a 10-inch tube pan with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour. Spread pumpkin over 2 layers of paper towels; cover with 2 additional layers of paper towels. Let stand about 10 minutes. Scrape drained pumpkin into a bowl.

Place 3/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 3 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla. Lightly spoon 3 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and 3/4 cup buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan, and cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare glaze, combine 1/3 cup buttermilk and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Drizzle cake with glaze.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Kinda Classic Chex Mix

6 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup goldfish crackers
1 cup bite-size pretzels
6tablespoons butter or margarine
2tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2teaspoon onion powder



In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, goldfish, and pretzels; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Roasted Garlic-Potato Soup

3 whole garlic heads
2 bacon slices, diced
1 cup diced carrot
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups diced baking potato (about 2 pounds)
4 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1 cup 2% low-fat milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley


Remove white papery skin from each garlic head (do not peel or separate cloves). Wrap each head separately in aluminum foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour; let cool for 10 minutes. Separate cloves, and squeeze to extract 1/4 cup of garlic pulp; discard the skins.

Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until crisp. Add carrot and minced garlic, and sauté 5 minutes. Add potato, broth, salt, pepper, and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potato is tender; remove bay leaf.

Combine garlic pulp and 2 cups potato mixture in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return purée to pan; stir in milk, and cook over low heat until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, and stir in chopped parsley.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Sweet and Sour Grilled Salmon

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup lemon juice
About 1/2 teaspoon salt
About 1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 pieces (about 6 oz. each; max. 1 1/4 in. thick) boned, skinned wild salmon fillet
1/4 cup (1/8 lb.) butter
Lemon wedges


1. In a large, wide bowl or 9- by 13-inch baking dish, stir brown sugar, wine, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until sugar is dissolved.

2. Rinse fish and pat dry. Add to marinade and turn to coat. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.

3. Lift salmon from marinade and transfer to a 12- by 17-inch baking pan. Pour marinade into a 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan over medium-high heat; add butter and stir until butter is melted and mixture is simmering, 4 to 5 minutes.

4. Lay salmon, skinned side down, on a generously oiled grill over a solid bed of medium-hot coals or medium-high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 3 to 4 seconds). Brush fish generously with the baste; close lid if using a gas grill. Cook until salmon pieces are well browned on the bottom, 3 1/2 to 4 minutes (keep a spray bottle filled with clean water on hand to spritz any flare-ups). With a wide spatula, carefully turn pieces; brush tops with baste and continue to cook, basting often, until the salmon is just opaque but still moist-looking in the center of the thickest part (cut to test), about 5 to 6 minutes longer. Discard any remaining baste.

5. Transfer salmon to a warm platter or plates and garnish with lemon wedges. Add more salt and pepper to taste.




--Adapted from Sunset magazine

Macaroni Salad with Dill and Ham

2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for salting water
8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup sour cream
6 ounces cooked ham, cut into 1&3-inch cubes
3/4 cup frozen baby peas, thawed (about 4 ounces)
2 ribs celery, with leaves, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill



Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the macaroni and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the macaroni in a colander, put in a serving bowl, and toss with the milk. Allow the macaroni to cool slightly while you make the dressing.

Whisk the vinegar, mustard, the 2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper to taste in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick dressing. Whisk in the sour cream. Add to the macaroni along with the ham, peas, celery, and dill. Add the dressing and fold to coat the pasta evenly. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.



--Adapted from Food Network Kitchens

Four Cheese Macaroni

1 pound uncooked medium elbow macaroni
1 (1-ounce) slice white bread
2 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Emmenthaler or Swiss cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
2 teaspoons butter or stick margarine, melted



Preheat oven to 400°.

Cook pasta in boiling water 5 minutes or until almost tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place pasta in a large bowl.Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.

Bring milk and bay leaves to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour in a small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until well-blended. Return milk mixture to pan. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat. Add cheeses, salt, and pepper; stirring until cheeses melt. Pour cheese sauce over pasta; stir well. Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine breadcrumbs, sage, and butter in a bowl; toss with a fork. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over pasta mixture.

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

White Bean and Roasted Garlic Dip

2 cans white beans (such as cannelloni or great northern), rinsed and drained
1 head roasted garlic, cloves removed from peels
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon herbes de provence
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons grated or shaved Parmesan, for garnishing
Sea salt, for garnishing



In the bowl of a food processor, combine the beans, the roasted garlic, olive oil, herbes de provence, salt, pepper, cayenne, and red wine vinegar and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as necessary. (If the dip seems too thick, thin with a bit of chicken broth or water.)

Transfer to a saucepan and heat gently over low heat until warm. (Dip may also be served at room temperature if desired.) Transfer to a shallow serving bowl or wide rimmed plate, smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Garnish with Parmesan, and salt and pepper. Serve with crostini or crackers.



--Adapted from Emeril Lagasse

Mint Julep Iced Tea

Maybe this isn't traditional. It's still tasty.


8 mint stems, leaves attached
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 cup bourbon
3 cups cold sweetened tea
Cubed or crushed ice


Combine first 3 ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher, pressing with spoon to crush mint. Stir in bourbon and tea. Add ice.



--Adapted from Coastal Living magazine

Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings

1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Asian chili paste
2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, cut apart at joint
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 green onion, trimmed and chopped



1. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and chili paste. Add chicken and let marinate for 15 minutes, stirring often.

2. Set up a gas or charcoal grill for medium heat (350° to 400°; you can hold your hand 5 in. above the cooking grate only 5 to 7 seconds). Put chicken on grill and cover with lid. Cook, turning often, until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, combine honey and hoisin sauce. Using a pastry brush, generously baste chicken wings with honey glaze. Cover grill with lid and cook till honey glaze starts to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Turn chicken wings over and baste again, using the remaining honey glaze. Cook 3 minutes more, being careful not to let the glaze burn, removing pieces from the grill as they're done. Alternatively, if you don't plan on serving immediately, you can grill the wings for closer to 20 minutes, and toss them into a baking dish. Cover with the honey mixture, and keep them warm in the oven at 250, until needed.

4. Transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onion. Serve any remaining honey glaze on the side.




--Adapted from Sunset magazine

BBQ Snack Mix

This is an interesting snack mix. You might want to add some Tabasco, if you want it spicy.


2 cups crisscross of corn and rice cereal (such as Crispix)
1 cup tiny pretzel twists
1 cup reduced-fat cheddar crackers (such as Cheez-It)
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon bottled barbeque sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray



Preheat oven to 250º.

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Combine butter, stir-fry sauce, powder, cumin, and salt; drizzle over cereal mixture, tossing to coat. Spread mixture into a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 250º for 30 minutes or until crisp, stirring twice.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Fruit-filled Acorn Squash

I made this with the oven directions. I have also included the microwave directions from the original recipe.


2 medium acorn squash (about 1 pound each)
1 tablespoon margarine
1 1/2 cups diced Granny Smith apple
1 (16-ounce) can whole-berry cranberry sauce


Place squash in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 400° for 45 minutes or until tender.

Melt margarine in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add apple; sauté 5 minutes. Stir in cranberry sauce; cook 2 minutes or until apple is tender, stirring occasionally.

Cut squash in half lengthwise, and discard seeds and membrane. Cut squash lengthwise again to make quarters. Peel the tough skin from the squash (it should just pull right off). Spoon 1/3 cup fruit filling into each squash quarter.


Microwave directions: Pierce squash with a fork, and arrange on paper towels in microwave oven. Microwave at HIGH 9 to 10 minutes or until tender. Prepare fruit fillings as directed above.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Flank Steak with Mushroom Sauce

Add some cooked elbow macaroni to turn any leftovers into a decent pasta dish.


Steak:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed
Cooking spray


Sauce:
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 1/2 pound mushrooms)
1 cup less-sodium beef broth
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup minced green onions



Preheat broiler.

To prepare steak, sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over both sides of steak. Place steak on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove the steak from oven; loosely cover with foil.

To prepare sauce, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add mushrooms; sauté for 4 minutes. Add broth, wine, and vinegar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, and cook until reduced to 1 1/4 cups (about 6 minutes). Add green onions, and cook for 1 minute.

Slice steak diagonally across the grain into 1/4-inch slices. Serve steak with mushroom sauce.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Spaghetti Squash with Lemon and Capers

2 large spaghetti squash
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons sweet butter
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
1/4 cup tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced



Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut both squash in 1/2 lengthwise and scoop out all seeds. Rub them inside and out with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the squash cut side down on a sheet pan or cookie sheet and cover with foil. Place in the oven and cook until the rind is slightly soft or gives with a little pressure, about 20 minutes.

When they are done, scrape the meat out with a fork and reserve, keeping warm.


In a hot skillet, melt the butter and continue to cook until dark brown. Add the capers, zucchini, and bell pepper to stop the butter from cooking any further, and cook, stirring, until tender. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley and season with salt and pepper. In a large mixing bowl mix the squash, butter sauce, and tomatoes and serve.


--Adapted from Food Network