Marianne's Spinach/Mushroom Dip

1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

3/4 cup 100% grated parmesan cheese

3/4 cup mayo (Light Mayo if on South Beach Diet)

1/2 cup 2% milk shredded mozzarella cheese (reduced fat if on South Beach Diet)

1 cup chopped Canned or cooked mushrooms

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients until well blended.

Spoon into 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish

Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips (or with assorted cut-up fresh vegetables if on South Beach Diet)

Nutrition

Calories 70

Total fat 5g

Sat fat 2g

cholesterol 10mg

sodium 210mg

carbs 2g

dietary fiber 1g

sugars 1g

protein 4g

Almost Homemade Applesauce Steusel cakes

oven 400 degrees
Bake 18-20 min or until toothpick is clean. Remove from pan after a couple min. and Cool on rack for 15 min.
Makes 12 muffins
1 Pkg. a cinnamon swirl muffin mix or Streusel muffin mix right around 20 oz. or so. (Disregard instruction on box)
1-1/4 cup un-sweetened applesauce
1 lg. egg
1 T. real vanilla extract

Mix together with mixer until mixed and it will be slightly lumpy. Spray with Pam well and fill muffin tins with equal amounts in each holder, Mix topping (Below) to a crumble and hand sprinkle it over each cup of batter

Streusel Topping
the cinnamon sugar packet from box of mix (disregard Instructions on box)
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1-2 T. flour (white or wheat no matter)
2 T. Butter at room temp or slightly melted

Finish with a
Drizzled garnish
1/8 almond flavoring
1 1/2 Cup powdered sugar
Heavy cream or milk enough to make a loose paste
Pop in microwave until thinned down 10-25 seconds watch and check often. Cool a little and put in a baggy and cut the corner for a small spout and drizzle.

they will last 5 days at room temp, ***Not at my house***or freeze up to 6 mo. drizzle when ready to serve if you plan to freeze.

German Chocolate Cake

Before you get started take the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk and submerse it it a deep pan and bring to a boil in the can unopened, simmer in can completely submersed for 2 hours. Cool...Now the carmelizing of the milk is done. set aside. This can be done days ahead of time.
German Chocolate Cake
ingredients
For cake layers
3 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cup whole milk
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cup boiling-hot water
For filling
16 oz unsweetened large flaked coconut if available
8 oz coarsely chopped pecans (2 cups)
2-14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoon vanilla

For glaze or Chocolate Ganache
2 sticks unsalted butter
18 oz fine-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
6 tablespoons light corn syrup

Heavy whipping cream to thin to desired thickness

Special equipment: 3 (9-inch) round cake pans

preparation
Make cake layers:
Preheat oven to 350°F and oil cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with rounds of parchment or wax paper. Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together whole milk, butter, whole egg, yolk, vanilla, and almond extract in another large bowl until just combined. Beat egg mixture into flour mixture with an electric mixer on low speed, then beat on high speed 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and beat in water until just combined (batter will be thin). Divide batter among cake pans bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, ***(Important)***switching position of pans and rotating them 180 degrees halfway through baking, until a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes total.
Cool layers in pans on racks 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove parchment or wax paper and cool layers completely.

Make filling:
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Put canned milk in a small pan and warm being careful not to scorch and set aside.

Spread coconut in a large shallow baking pan and pecans in another. Bake pecans in upper third of oven and coconut in lower third, stirring occasionally, until golden, 12 to 18 minutes. Remove pans from oven.

Stir in sweetened C.milk, coconut, pecans, and vanilla and keep warm, covered with foil.

Make glaze while milk is baking:
Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate and corn syrup, whisking until chocolate is melted. Add whipping cream a little at a time to achieve desired thickness. Set aside.

Assemble cake:
Put 1 cake layer on a rack set over a baking pan or sink (to catch excess glaze). Drop half of coconut filling by spoonfuls evenly over layer and gently spread with a wet spatula. Top with another cake layer and spread with remaining filling in same manner. Heat reserved glaze in pan over low heat, stirring, until glossy and pourable, about 1 minute. Pour glaze evenly over top of cake, making sure it coats sides. Shake rack gently to smooth glaze.

Chill cake until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer cake to a plate.

notes:
• Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

• For easier handling when assembling cake, place bottom layer on a cardboard round or the removable bottom of a tart or cake pan.

Luscious Low-Fat Chocolate Cheesecake

Luscious Low-Fat Chocolate Cheesecake
Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray
16 oz fat-free cottage cheese
3/4 c frozen egg substitute;
-thawed
2/3 c granulated sugar; plus
2 tb granulated sugar; divided
4 oz fat-free cream cheese;
-softened
1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 ts vanilla extract
2/3 c nonfat plain yogurt
*optional
sliced strawberries or
mandarin orange segments for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.

2. In food processor, combine cottage cheese, egg substitute, 2/3 cup
sugar, cream cheese, cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.

3. Pour into prepared pan. Bake about 35 minutes, until edges are set.

4. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together yogurt and the remaining 2
tablespoons sugar until well blended. Carefully spread topping over top of
warm cake. Return cake to oven; bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven to cooling
rack. Cool completely. Remove side of pan; refrigerate. Serve with
strawberries or oranges.

Makes 12 servings. Preparation time: 20 minutes. Baking time: 40 minutes.
Chilling time: 3 hours.

Per serving: About 109 cal, 9 g pro, 18 g car, 1 g fat, 8% cal from fat, 2
mg chol, 221 mg sodium, 0 g fiber.

A happy alternative to butter

Terrific Turkey & Black Bean Chili

Turkey and Black Bean Chili
Serves 4 Hint make double batches for ease thruout the week. Makes a wonderful chili and brown rice burrito (Whole Wheat tortilla) for lunches. Microwave at work and eat.

2 tsp.ex. virgin olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper seeded and chopped
4 garlic cloves minced
3/4 pound ground turkey
1 15oz can black beans rinsed and drained
1 14oz. can diced tomatoes

*1 tbs. chili powder
*2 tsp. cumin
*1 tsp. dried oregano
*1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 shedded cheese fat free sharp cheddar
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
1/4 c sliced scallions

You know me I can't leave a recipe alone if I can make it easier or more palatable so here's my Tweeks.
****I sometimes substitute a package of chili flavoring for these four ingredients. No change except sodium.

This is a core recipe for Weight Watchers and it has the point value of 4 for flex
Serving size 1 cup and 2 tbs. cheese, 1 tbs. sour cream 219 Cal. per serving

Pure Comfort Cookbook, Weight Watchers

Marvelous Mini Meatloaves

Preheat oven to 350F, spray baking sheet with canola pam spray.
This is the single recipe~I double or triple it to make ahead for lunches or easy dinners. Just remember to split into 6 equal portions for each recipe made.
Serving size 1 loaf, Fat 7g. less if turkey is used. 4 points or 2 for turkey

1-1/2 pounds lean beef or *ground turkey (*My tweeks on the recipe)
1 med onion (*I use Walla Walla Sweets for mildness)
1 sm. green bell pepper seeded and chopped (*I use half red and half green for more color)
1/4 c +6 Tbs. ketchup
1Tbs. yellow mustard
1 lg. egg lightly beaten
2 Tbs. cornmeal
1 *clove elephant garlic minced (also more mild)
1 tsp.dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt or To Taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper or to taste
* sometimes I add some salsa for spiciness.

combine the meat, onion, bell pepper,1/4 c ketchup,mustard, egg, cornmeal, garlic, salt, ground pepper, and oregano. mixing just till blended. Divid into 6 equal portions and form sm. loaves. put 1 tbl. ketchup over each loaf. bake until center reaches 160f or 40-45 mins. let stand for 5 mins and serve.

I prepare more and save in saran wrap individually fully cooked for future use and freeze for Lunches or emergency meals when life is hectic.
Serve with Baked potato or brown rice or cous cous, or baked sweet potato or even polenta would be good.

From the Pure Comfort Cookbook, Weight Watchers but don't let it fool you they are good.

This is my favorite cake, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

This brings back many good memories for me. My Mom used to make this for me and my Dad for birthdays and special occasions. Yummmmm!
It has that deep chocolate taste and not to sweet. Mom always made homemade butter cream frosting. Either vanilla or chocolate was good.

CHOCOLATE MAYO CAKE

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups water
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Lightly grease
two 9 inch layer pans.

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, and sugar
into a large bowl. Stir in mayonnaise. Gradually add water
and vanilla and blend until smooth. Pour batter into pre-
pared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Cool,
remove from pans.

Peabody's Doughnuts

These were good, A lighter cake doughnut than my Mom's recipe but good all the same. We test them plain without the sugars and jams, Doughnuts have their own character, and I haven't found one I really didn't like.
I'll drive 2 miles out of my way to avoid the Krispy Kreme shop...It's too tempting!

My Moms Doughnuts

A family tradition, One of many that I can remember vividly. Making oodles of doughnuts from a young girl on. I remember my brother helping and he was told not toss the doughnut in the fat fryer, Did he listen? You guessed it. No. He was burned by splatters and learned a lesson. So don't throw in the doughnuts, Just touch the oil with one tip and let go easy.

Moms Doughnuts
4 eggs beaten
1 TBSP. Vanilla
2 C. Sugar
6 TBSP. melted Shortening
2 C Milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp Almond Extract
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cardamom
5 tsp. baking powder
6-1/2 to 7 C Flour

Oil or crisco for frying

Mix all ingredients in the order given and spoon and turn unto floured board and toss in the flour till its just firm enough to handle and not sticky. roll to flatten and cut with a well floured double cutter. gather scrap and do it again.
Heat oil to 350 degrees F. Fry until brown on both sides. Turning once, Place on paper towels to drain. Tradition says turn them in sugar. We liked them plain.

We have made do with a glass and clean pill bottle for cutters especially with more workers than cutters.

And another tip the doughnut holes are good too and make a great snack. Enjoy.