Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Yield: 6-8 servings

1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 t vanilla extract
1 1/4 C chopped pecans
1 jar (12 1/4 oz) fat-free caramel ice cream topping
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1. Line a 9″ pie plate with pastry. Trim and flute edges. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, 1 egg and vanilla until smooth. Spread into pastry shell; sprinkle with pecans.

2. In a small bowl, whisk remaining eggs; gradually whisk in caramel topping until blended. Pour slowly over pecans.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned (loosely cover edges with foil after 20 minutes if pie browns too quickly). Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight before slicing.

Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo

Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 20 Min
Ready In: 40 Min
Serves 6

1 pound fettuccine pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound uncooked shrimp – peeled and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup half-and-half
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
salt to taste
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1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

2. In a large skillet, saute shrimp and garlic in the butter for about one minute. Pour in half and half; stir. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in one tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly. After all Parmesan is added, mix in parsley and salt. Stir frequently making sure it does not boil. Sauce will take a while to thicken.

3. When sauce has thickened, combine with cooked pasta noodles; serve hot.

Apple and Brie-Stuffed Bread

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves 10.

1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t sugar
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 t salt
1 (1 lb) round loaf sourdough bread
1 T butter, softened
2 (8 oz) rounds brie cheese, cut into 1/2″ cubes
1 large granny smith apple, cored, peeled and chopped
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1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine nutmeg, sugar, pepper and salt. Set aside.

2. Cut a thin slice from the top of the sourdough loaf. Remove bread from inside the loaf, leaving a shell 1″ thick. Cut removed bread into bite-size cubes; place in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container; set aside.

3. Spread butter inside the bread shell; sprinkle with half the nutmeg mixture. Add cheese and apple; sprinkle with remaining nutmeg mixture.

4. Place filled bread shell on a baking sheet. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve with bread cubes for dipping.

Harvest Frittata

2 to 4 servings

1 1/2 C diced zucchini
1 C fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 C chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 C chopped onion
1/4 t oregano, crushed
1 T water
4 eggs
1/4 C skim milk
1/4 C (1 oz) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
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In 10″ non-stick, ovenproof skillet, combine vegetables, oregano and water. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.

Thoroughly blend eggs and milk. Pour over vegetables. Cook over low heat until eggs are almost set. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil about 6 inches from heat until cheese is melted.

Cut into wedges and serve from pan or slide from pan onto serving platter.

Ham and Asparagus Strata

The savory bread pudding called strata has become one of America’s favorite egg casseroles. Strata means layers and layering is almost all you have to do to make one. Once you’ve poured on the custard, bake or microwave the strata right away or cover and refrigerate it for several hours or even overnight. With a cold mixture, allow a little more cooking time to serve up a quick meal whenever you need it the next day.

Makes 6 Servings

Cooking spray
12 to 16 (1/2″ thick) slices French or Italian bread (about 4 oz)
1 C (4 oz) shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella or Italian blend cheese, divided
1 C (4 oz) chopped cooked lean ham, divided
8 oz fresh asparagus spears, cut into 1″ pieces (about 2 C)
6 eggs
1 C skim or low-fat milk
2 T lemon juice
1/4 t garlic powder
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Even coat 8″ square baking dish with spray. Layer half of the bread slices on bottom of dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 C of the cheese, 1/2 C of the ham and 1 C of the asparagus pieces. Cover with the remaining bread slices, laying them flat or in a shingled pattern. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, ham and asparagus pieces. In medium bowl, beat together eggs, milk, lemon juice and garlic powder. Pour evenly over layers. Cover with plastic wrap.

Microwave on full power 5 minutes. Microwave on 50% power until thermometer inserted near center reads 160 degrees and/or knife inserted near center comes out clean, about 10 to 12 minutes.

OR

Cover dish with aluminum foil instead of plastic wrap. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven until thermometer inserted near center reads 160 degrees and/or knife inserted near center comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Greek-Style Skillet Supper

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Makes 6 servings.

1 lb ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
2 t oregano
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t garlic powder
1 (14-1/2 oz) can beef broth
1 (14-1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 T tomato paste
1 1/2 C uncooked penne pasta
1 1/2 C frozen leaf spinach or cut green beans, thawed
3/4 C crumbled feta cheese, divided
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Cook ground beef and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain fat. Add oregano, cinnamon and garlic powder; mix well.

Stir in broth, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to boil. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 10 minutes or until pasta is nearly tender. Stir in spinach and 1/2 C of the feta cheese. Cover. Cook 5 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 C feta cheese. Cover. Let stand 5 minutes.

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings.

1/2 of a 16 oz package linguine
1 C fresh or frozen broccoli florets
2 T butter
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 C milk
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 t ground black pepper
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1. Prepare the linguine according to the package directions in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of the cooking time. Drain the linguine mixture well in a colander.

2. Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until well browned and cooked through, stirring often.

3. Stir the soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and linguine mixture in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Meatless Stuffed Peppers

Prep Time: 25 Min
Cook Time: 45 Min
Ready In: 1 Hr 10 Min
Yield: 4 servings

1/2 cup uncooked white rice
3/4 cup water
4 green bell peppers
1 onion, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces textured vegetable protein
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 cups tomato sauce
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
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1. Combine rice and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).

3. Cut tops off peppers, seed insides, and arrange peppers in a large baking dish. Chop usable portion of the tops.

4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chopped peppers and onions in oil until soft. Stir in textured vegetable protein and parsley. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Mix in cooked rice and 1 1/5 cups tomato sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into the peppers, and top each with remaining tomato sauce.

5. Cover, and bake about 45 minutes. Uncover, top each pepper with mozzarella cheese, and bake until cheese is melted.

Variation: Use cilantro instead of parsley, brown rice instead of white rice and add about 1/4 tsp of cumin.

Sweet Potato Enchilada Stack

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. cubes
1 Tbsp. water
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3 flour tortillas (8 in.)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
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In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sweet potato and water. Cover and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes or until potato is almost tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, enchilada sauce, chili powder, oregano, cumin and sweet potato; heat through.

Place a flour tortilla in a greased 9-in. deep-dish pie plate; layer with a third of the beef mixture and cheese. Repeat layers twice. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Yield: 6 servings

Impossibly Easy Chiles Rellenos Pie

Chiles rellenos are cheese-stuffed poblano chiles coated in egg batter and fried until the outside is crisp and the cheese inside is melted. This recipe adapts the flavors of the much-loved Mexican classic.

Look for cans of whole green chiles in the grocery store’s Mexican foods section. Green chiles are mild, and removing their seeds ensures the pie doesn’t get too spicy.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves 6.

2 (4-oz.) cans whole green chiles, drained
6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) shredded Mexican cheese blend
3 eggs
3/4 cup baking mix
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup thick ‘n chunky salsa
Sour cream for garnish, if desired
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1. Heat oven to 400Ā°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Slit chiles lengthwise; remove seeds. Arrange chiles in single layer in bottom and up side of pie pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese over chiles.

2. Beat eggs in medium bowl with wire whisk. Add baking mix, garlic powder and milk; beat until well blended. Pour over cheese.

3. Bake at 400Ā°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve with salsa and, if desired, sour cream.

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