From the monthly archives:

May 2009

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

3 pounds potato
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
6 ounces cream cheese
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Boil potatoes with salt until tender; drain. Peel potatoes; place in large mixing bowl and mash. Add 2 Tbsp. butter and next 4 ingredients, mixing until all ingredients are blended. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased [...]

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Caribbean Chicken Salad

2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
3 cups cooked rice, cooled
1 cup finely sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
8 ounces unsweetened crushed pineapple
2 tablespoons sliced pimiento
1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine chicken, rice, celery, green pepper, pineapple and pimiento. In small bowl or jar, [...]

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Onion Soup

6 large onion, sliced
6 tablespoons butter
6 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon flour
4 French bread slices, 3/4″ slices
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Spread French bread with 1/3 of butter; toast till brown and set aside. In a soup pot melt remaining butter. Add onions and sauté until tender. Add stock. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add flour [...]

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Chili Dogs

6 frankfurters
1/2 pound hamburger
2 tablespoons oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound canned kidney beans
8 ounces tomato sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

Brown hamburger in heavy skillet. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is tender. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 15 min. Preheat franks and buns. Place franks in buns; top with sauce. Sprinkle cheese and chopped [...]

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Potato Gratin

5 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 medium onions, sliced
2 tablespoons margarine
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash pepper
Dash of nutmeg
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 cup whipping cream

Sauté onions in margarine. In shallow baking dish arrange potatoes and onions in layers. Sprinkle with garlic and spices in between layers. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Add whipping cream [...]

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Classic Mediterranean Salad

1 medium head romaine lettuce, torn
3 small tomatoes, diced
1 medium cucumber, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, sliced
1 small onion, cut into rings
6 radishes, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, crushed
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon mint
pita halves
Combine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, radishes and parsley in a salad bowl. Whisk [...]

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Tonight’s Dinner Morphed into Tomorrow’s Lunch

Tonight’s Dinner Morphed into Tomorrow’s Lunch
Why buy lunch when you may have everything you need for a healthy and delicious lunch right at your fingertips? It takes so little extra effort during your dinner preparation to ensure you and your family has a tasty lunch.
Try some of these ideas and find that you’re saving money and [...]

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Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance
Do you have work-life balance? If you are in the majority of Americans these days, you answered “No” to this question. Many factors contribute to the stress and lack of work-life balance that many people experience in our modern world. Stress factors include the fact that the majority of households are now dual-income [...]

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Hearty Beef Vegetable Soup with Noodles

1 pound ground beef
14 ounces tomato sauce
8 cups water
2 onions, chopped
1 pound frozen mixed vegetables
6 ounces egg noodles
1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons red cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
Put 8 cups of water, 14-oz can of Italian tomato sauce, 2 medium-sized onions (chopped), and 1 [...]

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Antipasto Pasta Salad

1 pound penne or rotini, etc. pasta, uncooked
12 ounces roasted peppers strips
12 ounces marinated artichoke hearts
1 cup diced muenster, or brick, or provolone cheese, etc.
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2/3 cup lowfat Caesar or Italian salad dressing
freshly ground pepper
sliced pepperoncini peppers
Prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is [...]

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Angel’s Pasta

1 cup thinly sliced strawberries
1/3 cup dark brown sugar, divided
3/4 cup whipping cream
4 ounces angel hair pasta
4 tablespoons chopped toasted hazelnuts
In a small bowl, gently toss the sliced berries and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Cover and set aside. In a medium saucepan, mix the cream and the rest of the sugar. Bring to a [...]

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How to Introduce New Foods to Baby

How to Introduce New Foods to Baby
When baby is ready for solid foods, don’t reach for that glass jar of baby food just yet. Starting off slow is better for baby. Don’t stop the milk most importantly. Instead of giving baby three different meals, start off with one meal a day.
Even when baby is ready [...]

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Beer-Batter Onion Rings

This batter also works well on other vegetables besides onion rings; it’s great on fish, too.

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon oil
2 egg yolks
3/4 cup beer
2 large white onions, sliced 1/4-in thick
oil for deep frying
Mix the flour, salt, pepper, oil and yolks together. Gradually whisk in the beer. Refrigerate batter 3 [...]

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Black Forest Potato Salad

1 1/3 pounds potatoes (4 medium), cut into 1/3-inch slices
1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup diced tart red apples
1 pound light polish sausage, sliced 1/3-inch thick
10 ounces sauerkraut, rinsed and thoroughly drained
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped parsley
salt to taste
In 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook potatoes, covered, [...]

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Apple Crisp for One

1 cooking apple, peel, slice
1 teaspoon orange juice
2 teaspoons granulated sugar replacement
2 tablespoons crushed cornflakes
1 teaspoon margarine
Place apple slices in small baking dish. Sprinkle with orange juice, sugar replacement and crushed cornflakes; top with margarine. Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes. MICROWAVE: Cook on high for 3-4 minutes. Hold 2 minutes before serving.

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Asparagus with Mustard Sauce

1 1/2 pounds asparagus, cleaned and cut in pieces
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
In 2 quart microwave-proof casserole, combine asparagus and water. Cover. Cook on High (maximum power) 6 to 7 minutes, or until tender, stirring once during cooking time; drain. Combine remaining [...]

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Chopped Salad

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped tomato
1 cup chopped cucumber
1 cup chopped red and green bell peppers
1 cup chopped tart apple
3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
Mix chopped vegetables and apple together in mixing bowl. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over vegetables and apple. Toss. Refrigerate to allow blending.

Serves 6

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Safety Tips for Grilling

Safety Tips for Grilling
by: Dorothy Duncan
BBQing as it is commonly known or grilling is one of America’s favorite summer past times. Why grill? Grilling provides an opportunity to entertain family and friends. It is a stress-free and relaxing way to prepare delicious nutritious meals on weekdays or weekends. Preparing meals during the summer months [...]

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Rhubarb Slush

12 cups rhubarb
9 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 sm. box strawberry Jello
16 oz. can frozen lemonade
1 cup vodka
1 cup gin

Bring rhubarb, water and sugar to a boil, simmer 1/2 hour. Run through a colander. Mix the Jello and frozen lemonade. Let cool, add vodka and gin.

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