Chili Pie

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chpped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 141/2 oz can diced tomatoes
salt
1 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 8oz box corn bread mix
1 larege egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400'. Warm vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook, stirring to break up meant, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, tomatoes and 1/2 tsp salt; cook mixture, stirring occasionally, until iquid is almost evaporated, another 5 minutes. Stir in beans and season to taste.

2. White chili is cooking, combine corn bread mix, egg, milk and cheese. Scrape chili into a 9 inch pie plate. Spread batter over chili. Bake until golden, 15-20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes and serve.

Tips: You can use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. Or use 2 more cans of beans instead of meat. For more of a bit, try pepepr jack cheese insetad of cheddar. Or add a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.

Stuffed Crescents

1 8-oz container refrigerated crescent roll dough
6 tbs shredded sharp cheddar cheese
6 shredded parmesan cheese
6 tbs onion flavored cheese spread

1. Preheat oven to 350' Lay dough for each crescent roll flat on a clean surface. Fill each of 3 rolls with 2 tbs cheddar cheese, each of 2 rolls with 3 tbs prmesan cheese, each of 3 rolls with 2 tbs ccheese spread. Roll up each crescent to enclose filling.
2. Places, seam sides down, onto a cookie sheet. bake for 20 minutes or until cooked thoroughly and golden on top. Cut each roll in half and serve hot.

Creamy Tuna Melt

2 large ribs of celery, diced
1 small onion, chopped
cooking oil spray
1 large can (12 oz) white tuna packed in water
1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
1 tbs lemon juice from frozen concentrate
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3 english muffins
1 cup (4 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Place the broiler rack in the position nearest the heating element and turn on the broiler.

Dice the celery, peel and chop the onion. Spray a 12 inch nonstick skillet with the cooking oil spray and place it over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until the onion is tender, about 2 minutes.

Drain the tuna and add it to the skillet along with the cottage cheese, maynnaise, lemon juice, and garlic powder. Stir well to combine and break up the tuna chunks. Cook just long enough to warm the ingredients, 2-3 mintues, stirring frequently. Remove th epan from the heat and set aside.

Spray a 13x9 inch glass baking dish with cooking oil spray. Split the english muffins in half and place the halves, split side up, side by side inthe baking dish. Spread the tuna mixture evenly over the muffins and sprinkle with the cheese. Broil until the cheese melts, 2-3 mintues. Serve

Makes 6 servings

Beef and Chorizo Chili

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 lbs chorizo sausage, casings removed, meat cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
1 medium size onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1-4 tbs chili powder
1 tsp each dry oregano leaves and ground cumin
1 can (14 1/2 oz) disced otmatoes in purree
1 can (l lb) tomato sauce
4 -6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce or corn chips
about 2/3 cup each shredded jack cheese and sharp cheddar cheese

Crumble beef into a 3-4 quart microwave safe casserole; add chorizo. Microwave,uncovered, on High for 8-10 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink, stirring every 3 mintues. Spoon off and discard all but 2 tbs of the drippings. Stirn in onion, garlic, chili powder, oregano and cumin. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH for 3-5 minutes or until onion is soft, stirring after 2 mintues.

Stir in tomatoes, undrained beans, and tomato sauce. Cover and microwave on High for 12-15 minutes or until chili is bubbly all over, stirring every 4 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 3-5 mintues.

Line individual bowls with lettuce and top with chili. Sprinkle with jack and cheddar cheese.

Makes 4-6 servings.