Salsa Sausage & Potato Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 500 g package of ground mild Italian sausage
• 12 red baby potatoes
• 1/4 cup red peppers, chopped
• 1/4 cup green peppers, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 min  Total Time: 35 min  Yield: 3 Servings
1. Preheat oven to 375 C.
2. Place sausage in frying pan, and keeping in one whole piece, brown over low for about 1 minute, then flip whole piece to brown on other side for about 1 minute, then chop up into chunks the size of mini-meatballs, brown for another 3 minutes or so. Remove from heat.
3. While browning sausage, cut up potatoes into halves, microwave on high for about 3 minutes to pre-cook to reduce baking time.
4. Cut up peppers and tomatoes, add to salsa, then mix in with sausage.
5. In a 9x9 baking dish, place 1/2 of meat mixture on the bottom, place all potatoes on top of meat, then add mushrooms, top with remaining meat sauce and bake in oven for about 20 minutes.
6. Remove dish from oven, sprinkle cheese all over top and return to oven for another 5 minutes.

Approx. 500 Calories per serving

Creamy Vegetable Chowder

Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups navy beans, cooked 
• 2.5 cups cauliflower, cooked 
• 2 (400 ml) cans artichoke hearts, chopped (packed in water) 
• 900 ml low sodium chicken broth 
• 2 cups fat-free cottage cheese 
• 1 cups 1% low-fat milk 
• 3 tablespoons garlic-flavored olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon basil 
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions:
Prep Time: 90 min  Total Time: 90 min  Yield: 10

1. Cook beans and cauliflower according to directions.
2. Combine all ingredients in food processor, including water from artichoke cans, and puree.
3. Pour into crockpot and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours.

Approx. Calories 300 per serving

Root Beer Roasted Ribs (Boneless)

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs thick cut pork tenderloins
• 8 cups root beer (variation: orange soda)
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce (variation: raspberry chipotle sauce)

Directions:
Prep Time: 2.25 hrs Total Time: 5 hrs Yield: 4
1. Cut pork into 1/2 in by 2 in strips, and in a long shallow dish, cover the 'ribs' in root beer (about 7.5 cups) and salt mixture, cover and place in refridgerator for 2 hrs minimum.
2. Remove 'ribs' from brine, pat dry and season with pepper.
3. Wrap 'ribs' in foil, cook at 275F for 2-2.5 hours.
4. Remove 'ribs' and baste with mixture of BBQ sauce and 1/2 cup root beer. Broil for 2-5 minutes until sauce is cooked on and bubbly, flib 'ribs', brush on sauce and broil 2-5 minute.

Approx. Calories  600 per serving

Gourmet Tenderloin Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza crust, use recipe Pizza Dough 
• 2 cups asiago cheese, shredded 
• 1/2 lb veal or 1/2 lb lamb, cooked, shredded 
• 1 cup onion, caramalized 
• 2 medium potatoes, baked, thinly sliced 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 min  Total Time: 8  hrs Yield: 4 (2 slices each)
1. Preheat oven to 400°F Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese and garlic over pizza crust (preparation/cook time does not include making pizza crust).

2. Layer meat, onions, potatoes and walnuts over crust, then cover with remaining cheese (prep time doesn't include caramalizing onions or cooking meat and potatoes).

3. Place pizza in the oven and bake about 10 to 12 minutes. Let pizzas rest briefly before slicing.

Approx. Calories 500 per serving

Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 ounce) package light cream cheese, softened
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup low-fat whipped cream
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 36 tart shells (3-inch) or 1 graham cracker crust (9-inch)
• Optional: 8 pieces maple bacon, crumbled

Directions:Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 1.5-3.25 hrs Yield: 36 tarts or 8 slices

1. Bake crusts as per instructions on package.

2. With mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy.

3. Add pumpkin, sugar, and spices.

4. Gently mix in whipped cream and maple syrup.

5. For tarts - Spoon into crusts. Refrigerate three hours or until set. Garnish as desired.

For cheesecake - Bake at 325º for 1 1/4 hours or until center appears nearly set when shaken.

6. For the adventurous: sprinkle bacon over crust before spooning in mixture. After filling is in crust, sprinkle more bacon on top.

Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Approx. Calories 100 per tart or 400 per slice

Leader's Pie

Ingredients:

• 3 cups ground beef, cooked
• 2 potatoes, medium
• 1 (12 ounce) can spinach
• 2 cups mushrooms
• 1 (8 ounce) can cheese soup, condensed
• 3 cups spiral shaped pasta, cooked
• 2 cups cheese, shredded
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:

Prep Time: 25 min  Total Time: 1.25 hrs Yield: 6
1. Cook noodles, and at the same time cook ground beef (1 lb makes about 3 cups). I used Recipe #31008 All Purpose Ground Meat Mix that I made and froze ahead of time.
2. Slice potatoes and layer on the bottom of a 9x9 casserole dish (microwavable) and put in the microwave for about 3 minutes on high to soften up first.
3. Mix cooked noodles, cheese soup and spinach together and pour over potato slices.
4. Layer mushrooms over mixture.
5. Pour ground beef mixture over noodle mixture (if not pre-cooked, season as cooking).
6. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and turning brown.

Approx. Calories 625 per serving

Something Different Stew

Ingredients:

• 3 cups turkey, cooked
• 2 (8 ounce) cans condensed cream of potato soup
• 1 (8 ounce) can condensed cream of asparagus soup
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (12 ounce) can potatoes
• 1 (12 ounce) jar asparagus
• 1 (12 ounce) jar carrots
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 min  Total Time: 2.25 hrs Yield: 6
1. Cube turkey and dice potatoes, asparagus and carrots.
2. Pour all ingredients into crockpot, set on high (2 hours) or low (4-5 hours).
Approx. Calories 275 per serving

Monster Mashed Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cooked
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cooked
• 5 carrots, cooked
• 3 cups frozen cauliflower
• 1/2 (10 ounces) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
• 3/4 (12 ounces) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups mild cheddar cheese, shredded
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:
Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 90 mins Yield: 4-6
1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees and boil the frozen cauliflower.
2. Put each potato and carrots into separate bowls and mash, with potatoes add butter, milk, and seasoning as you would with normal mashed potatoes.
3. Mix in cheese soup with carrots until pureed.
4. Drain cauliflower, empty into bowl and mash, soaking up extra liquid with paper towels, and then mix in cream cheese until pureed.
5. In a 9X13 casserole dish, spoon in all the sweet potatoes into a layer, then spoon in all cauliflower mixture into a layer, then spoon in all carrot mixture into a layer, then spoon in all potato mixture into a layer.
6. Bake casserole for 45 minutes, then take out to cover with shredded cheese and any salt and pepper to taste, then bake for another 15 minutes.
Approx. Calories  775 per serving

Greek Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 cup frozen spinach, drained
• 3 tablespoons feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• salt and pepper

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 40 mins Yield: 2
1. Combine spinach, feta cheese, cottage cheese, garlic, and the egg, mix well.
2. Make a small slice in the side of the chicken breast and stuff with the spinach mixture.
3. Saute the chicken breasts in the butter until lightly browned on each side.
4. Season the chicken with remaining spices.
5. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Approx. Calories  375 per serving

Sweet Asian Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 8 slices mandarin oranges, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped cashews
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• salt and pepper
• 2 plain croissants

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins Yield: 2
1. Combine chicken, oranges, nuts, salt and pepper, and mayonnaise until all ingredients are coated in mayonnaise.
2. Cut croissants lengthwise and spread salad on croissants to make sandwiches.
Approx. Calories  1285 per serving

Tuna Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 (6 ounce) cans tuna in water, drained
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more to taste)
• 1/2 small white onion, minced
• 2 cups panko
• 4 tablespoons lowfat margarine, melted
• Optional: Cheese
• Optional: Curry

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 23 mins Yield: 4
1. Mix all ingredients. If runny add more panko. Can add shredded cheese at this point or add it on top later to make a Melt.

2. Form into patties.

3. Stir some of the margarine in frying pan, fry patties for approximately 4 minutes each side.
4. Make into a melt by adding to bread and swiss cheese. Add curry to the tuna and add pear or apple slices to the melt.

Approx. Calories  775  per serving

Curry Quinoa & Chickpea Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium chicken broth (optional)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic clove
• 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
• 3/4 cup garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon curry
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 cup mushroom, sliced
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:
Prep Time: 0 mins Total Time: 20 mins Yield: 3

1. Bring water and quinoa to boil, add broth for extra flavor, then simmer until water is gone, about 10 minutes.
2. Saute garbanzo beans (chickpeas) in EVO and garlic on low in separate frying pan.
3. Once quinoa is cooked, add to frying pan with spinach, curry and salt and pepper, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
4. Heat through on low for about 5 minutes, adding walnut pieces and sliced mushrooms in the last few minutes.

Note: Take out walnuts and add fried potatoes to a pita for a falafel, or stuff in pilsbury dough pocket and fry as a samosa.

Approx. Calories  300  per serving

Lemon Pepper Tuna Quinoa Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained
• 1 tablespoon low-fat margarine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 1/2 cup mushroom, sliced
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:
Prep Time: 0 mins Total Time: 20 mins Yield: 2
1. Bring water and quinoa to boil, then simmer until water is gone, about 10 minutes.
2. Saute tuna in margarine and lemon juice on low in seperate frying pan.
3. Move tuna to side of pan, scramble eggs in other side.
4. Once quinoa is cooked, add to frying pan with spinach, lemon pepper and salt and pepper, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
5. Heat through on low for about 5 minutes, adding sliced mushrooms in the last few minutes.
Approx. Calories  375  per serving

Hearty Homemade Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 (14 ounce) can sweet potatoes (can substitute with carrots)
• 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (10 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 3 cups dried navy beans cooked as directed
• 1 (10 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, including oil (if adding fresh peppers add 3 tbsp oil)
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup no fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• 1/4 cup onion flakes
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoon basil
• 1 tablespoon red pepper spice
• 1 tablespoon butter
• salt
• pepper

Directions:
Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Yield: 10
1. Simmer potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peppers in juices from canned tomatoes and broth.
2. Fry garlic, butter and onion flakes until brown, add to simmering veggies with basil.
3. After veggies simmered for at least an hour, add all other ingredients except cottage cheese and milk, then blend ingredients until pureed. Separately puree cottage cheese and milk.
4. Pour all pureed ingredients into crockpot, stir, and cook on low for 8 hrs
Approx. Calories  175  per serving

Ham Primavera

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tablespoon onion flakes
• 2 cups alfredo sauce with parmesan cheese
• 2 cups cooked ham, cubed
• 1 (7 ounce) package spaghetti, cooked and drained
• 10 ounces peas
• salt and pepper
• parmesan cheese

Directions:
Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Yield: 4
1. Fry ham and onion flakes in oil or butter until tender.
2. Add in 3 cheese alfredo sauce and salt and pepper, stir until smooth.
3. Bring to a light boil; stir for about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
4. Stir in spaghetti, mushrooms, and peas; stir until heated through.
5. Top with Parmesan cheese.

 Approx. Calories  445  per serving