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.

Spinach and Cheese Lasagna

2 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
salt
1 15 oz container ricotta
1/2 cup grated parmesan
16 oz grated part skim mozzarella
12 lasagna noodles
1 10 oz packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1. Combine tomatoes, garlic, oregano and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. In a seperate bowl, stir together ricotta, parmesan and 3/4 of mozzarella.

2. Spoon 1/4 of tomato mixture into bottom of a slow cooker. Top with a layer of noodles, breaking to fit, if necessary. Sprinkle 1/3 of spinach over noodles. Spoon 1/3 of ricotta mixture over spinach. Top with 1/4 of tomato mixture. Repeat iwth two more layers of noodles, spinach, ricotta micture and tomatoes. Top with a layer of noodels and remainign mozzarella.

3. Cook on low heat until noodles are soft and lasagna is warmed through, 2 to 3 hours.

Tips: This recipe calls for the regulare lasagna noodle, not the no-boil variety. To make sure the lasagna is cooked insert the tip of a sharp paring knife into the nodles; it should pierce them easily. Try different veggies: try broccoli and mushrooms.

Apple Walnut Rice Stuffing

2 tbs margarine or butter
1/2 cup each chopped celery and chopped onion
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 tart apples, chopped
1 1/2 cups minute original rice, uncooked
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tbsp chopped parsley

Melt margarine in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Add celery, onion and poultry seasoning; cook and stir until onion is tender. Add broth, bright ot boil.

Stir in apples, rice and cinnamon; cover. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 mintues. Stir in walnuts and parsley.

Makes 8 servings.

Chinese Braised Short Ribs

1 large onion, sliced
4 lbs beef short ribs
lemon pepepr
garlic salt
2 tbs canola oil
2 cups beef broth
1 packet (1.1 oz) beefy onion soup mix
2 cans tomatoes with green pepper, celery and onion
2 tbs five spice powder

1. Add sliced onion to the bottom of a 4-5 qt slow cooker. Season short ribs with lemon pepepr and garlic salt. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown all sides of short ribs. Place into slow cooker on top of onion.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Pour over the top of short ribs. Cover and ocok on low-heat setting for 9-10 hours or high heat setting for 3-4 hours.

Hamburger Stroganoff

1 bag (12 oz) yolk free egg noodles
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 9-oa package frozen french style green beans
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 tbs ketchup
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp paprika
1 can (10 3/4 pz) reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
2/3 cup reduced fat sour cream
salt and black pepper

Place the noodles in 2 1/2 quarts of alrady boiling unsalted water and cook 5 mintues.

Heat a 12 inch non stick skillet over medium heat.

Add the beef to the skillet, raise the ehat to medium-hgh, and cook, stirring often, turning and breaking up the meat as it begins to brown. Coarsely chop the onion, adding it to the skillet as you chop. Add the garlic and mushrooms. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is crumbled and browned, about 5 mintues. Add the green beatns to the pasta pot, cover the pot to bring it back to a boil, then crack the lid, and cook until the noodles are tender and the beans heated through, about 5 mintues more.

Meanwhile, add the sherry, ketchup, mustard, worcestershire, paprika and mushroom soup to the skillet. Stir well until it is completely incorporated. Lower the heat to simmer the mixture, then add the sour craem and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the soure cream is completely incorporated, about 1 mintued. Season with salt and pepper.

Drain the noodles and toss to evenly distribute the beans. Place some on each of the serving plates. Top with the sauce and serve.

Serves 6.

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

Veal parmigiana

1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbs cracker crumbs
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 veal cutlets, about 1 lb
2 tbs vegetable oil
1/4 cup dry vermouth
1 medium onion, minced
1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1/8 tsp pepepr
1/8 tsp oregano

Beat egg and salt in shallow dish. Combine cracker crumbs and parmesan cheese on waxed paper square. Place each veal cutlet between 2 pieces of waxed paper and pound with smooth surfaced meat mallet until 1/4 inch thick. Dip veal in egg, then in cracker crumbs, and set aside. Preheat 9 inch microwave browning dish 7 minutes on High, adding vegatable oil after preheating. Brown 2 veal cutlets at a time as follows: lay cutlets on dish, cover with waxed paper, and cook on High 1 1/2 -2 minutes. Turn and cook on High 1- 1 1/2 minutes. Remove and set aside. Brown second 2 cutlets in same manner. Then, arrange all 4 cutlets in browning dish. Add vermouth, sprinkle onion over meat, top with cheese, then sauce and season with pepper oregano. Cook, covered on BAKE (level 60) for 10 mintues, or until sauce is hot and cheese melted

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.

Pasta Salad

1 package (12 oz) uncooked tricolor spiral pasta
6 oz thinly sliced hard salami, juliendded
6 oz provolone cheese, cubed
1 can (2 1/4 oz)sliced ripe olives, drained
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 small zucchini, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 gralic clove, minced
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
dash pepper
2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges

Cook the pasta according to package directions;rinse in cold water and drain. Place in a large bowl; add the next nine ingredients.
In a jar with tightfitting lid, combine oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, basil, oregano, salt and pepper; shake well. Pour over salad; toss to coat.
Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight. Toss before serving. Garnish with tomatoes.

Makes 10-12 servings

Bean Salad Medley

1 16-oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 1/4) oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 1/4 oz) lima beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 oz) cut green beans, drained
1 can (14 1/2 oz) wax beans, drained
1 jars (4 1/2 oz each) whole mushrooms, drained
1 medium green bell pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve with a slotted spoon.
Makes 24 servings

Chicken Stew with Apples

1 tbs olive oil
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 large red onion, cut in thin wedges
2 medium size Granny Smith apples
4 skinless, bonelesss chicken breast halves (about 1 lb) cut into bite size pieces
2 small zucchini, sliced in 1/2 inch thick rounds
1 tbs minced fresh garlic
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 tbs chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 package (20 oz) frozen butter nut squash chunks

Heat oil in a 4-5 qt pot over medium heat. Add bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes or until onion is softened.
Meanwhile core and coarsely choppe the apples (leave skin on if desired).
Add apples, chicken, zucchini, garlic, chicken broth, thyme, pepepr and salt to pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 8-10 minutes, stirrin goccasionally, until zucchini is crisp-tender.
Stir in buttnut squash. return to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 3-5 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately.
Serves 4.

Lemon Turkey Cutlets

1 1/2 lbs refrigerated boneless curkey cutlets
salt and pepper
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 egg lightly beaten
2 tbs lemon juice
1 cup italian style bread crumbs
2 tbs finely chopped onion
1/3 cup vegetable oil


1. Rinse cutlets with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle cutlets with salt and pepper.

2. Place flour in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, combine egg and lemon juice. In a third medium bowl, combine bread crumbs and onion.

3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, dip cutlets into flour, then egg mixture, and then bread crumb mixture. Place cutlets in hot oil and cook until brown, about 3 mintues on each side.