Easy Breadsticks

From: Rochelle

I LOVE breadsticks. Olive Garden breadsticks are my biggest weakness-- yikes! These breadsticks are made with whole-wheat which makes them healthy and they are done in less than 30 mins! Enjoy!

Easy Breadsticks

1 C	Warm Water
3 T	Brown Sugar
1 t	Salt
1/4 C	Oil
3 C	Whole-Wheat Flour
2 1/2 t	Yeast

1. Mix all the ingredients together to form a dough. Knead thoroughly to fully mix the ingredients.
2. Roll out on a floured surface and knead a few more times. Shape into a square. Roll out into a rectangle. If you roll it thinner, you will have crispier breadsticks. I like mine nice and soft and fluffy, so I like leaving mine 1/4-1/2" thick. 
3. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into 3/4 " strips.
4. You can twist the strips, but I like mine just straight with slashes cut with a knife for decoration. Let rise for 20 minutes in a warm spot. I like putting mine in a warm oven, it speed it up and makes the really rise!
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
6. Once they come out of the oven, brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt, parsley, and parmesan cheese.  You can also top with other seasonings like Italian dressing seasoning pouches, or actually mix an herb of your choice IN the dough like thyme or rosemary.

ENJOY!

Ravioli with Zucchini

From: Rochelle

At this time of year, EVERYONE's garden starts producing WAY too much Zucchini than one knows what to do with. I LOVE Zucchini grilled, roasted, even raw. This dish is SO easy and SO yummy .  . and, it uses Zucchini! I got this recipe from my Fast & Healthy Cookbook (by Pillsbury). I love that cookbook! Everything I make from it is WONDERFUL and full of flavor! Enjoy this wonderful light summer dinner idea.

Ravioli with Zucchini

From Fast & Healthy, Pg. 234

1 (9 oz) pkg. refrigerated cheese or beef filled ravioli (I got some WAY yummy beef ones that were on sale!)

3 C Zucchini, julienne-cut

1/2 C green onions, sliced

1 med. red bell pepper, coarsely chopped

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 t dried basil leaves ( I get the basil from Christopher Ranch in a jar; it tastes fresh, but lasts a  LONG time in the fridge).

1/4 t Salt

1/8 t Pepper

1/4 C Water

1/2 t low sodium chicken-flavor instant bouillon

1 oz (1/4 C) shredded reduced-fat Mozzarella Cheese

1. Cook ravioli to desired doneness as directed on package.

2. Meanwhile, spray large nonstick skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add zucchini, onions, bell pepper, garlic powder, basil, salt and pepper. Cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

3. Drain ravioli; rinse with hot water. Add ravioli, water and bouillon to vegetable mixture; mix gently. Cook over medium-low heat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Add cheese; toss gently to combine. 

Makes: 4 (1 Cup) servings

Ooey-Gooey Peanut Butter Brownies

From: Rochelle

I found these brownies on ourbestbites.com and I fell in love! Warning--this are not very healthy . . BUT. . . and occasional indulgence is not TOO bad IF it really is occasional. If you use fat-free sweetened condensed milk, smart balance for butter, non-fat milk, and just the egg-white, you've already cut out a LOT of fat. . SO . . try that and you don't have to feel guilty eating these! They are rich, gooey, and are actually best if you let the cool and set-up a little bit.

Ooey-Gooey Peanut-Butter Brownies

Recipe from Cooking Light, Sept. 2010

3/4 C sweetened condensed milk, divided (fat-free is fine)

1/4 C Smart Balance, melted and cooled (1/2 stick)

1/4 C non-fat milk

1  box devil’s food cake mix (18.25 oz)

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

cooking spray

1 7 oz jar marshmallow creme (about 1 3/4 C)

1/2 C peanut butter morsels (A very “heaping” 1/2 cup :)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With an electric mixer, combine 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, milk, butter, cake mix, and egg white.  Mixture will be very thick.  Spray 9×13 pan with cooking spray.  Press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Use either floured hands, or spray your hands with cooking spray in order to press it down without having it stick to your fingers.  The layer will be thin.  Bake for 10 minutes.

Combine 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk and marshmallow creme in a bowl and combine until smooth.  Stir in PB morsels.  No one will tell if you stir in some extras.  Spread marshmallow layer over brownie layer in pan.  Carefully drop remaining brownie batter by spoonfuls over marshmallow mixture.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool before cutting into squares.

Fruit Pizza OR Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies w/ Healthy(ish) Frosting

From: Rochelle

Last week, Austin and I bought some strawberries from Costco. What's a better way to eat them than on a fruit pizza! You can use these recipes to make a fruit pizza OR just a healthier sugar cookie. Your choice! I LOVE the frosting recipe because seriously, using these healthy ingredients almost gives it the texture of marshmallow creme, SO good!

Healthy Fruit Pizza OR Sugar Cookies

Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

·         2 cups whole wheat flour (If you aren't use to the taste of Whole Wheat, you might want to 1 C Whole-Wheat and 1 C White)

·         2 teaspoons baking powder

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1 cup sugar (You can use honey, I will be honest,  it needs the sugar. It's a cookie!) 

·          (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (Or ¼ C Oil, ¼ C Butter)

·         1 egg (Or 2 egg whites or ¼ C egg substitute)

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1.        In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour with the baking powder and salt.   In another bowl, cream the sugar with the butter until light lemon-yellow, about 4 minutes. Beat in the egg until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and milk, then add the  flour mixture ½ cup at a time and mix until blended.

2.        Form dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour, or until firm. This step is really important! 

               

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out until thin, about 1/8 inch. Cut into desired shapes, or make the size you want your pizza.  sprinkle with sugar and place on the prepared sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 4 dozen 2-inch cutout cookies.

Healthy(ish) Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 C Smart Balance Butter

1 (8 oz) Block of FAT-FREE Cream Cheese

2 C Powered Sugar (or to taste)

2 T Milk

1 tsp Vanilla

Blend with an electric blender until very smooth and fluffy. I recommend starting with the cream cheese, milk, and vanilla. Then gradually add the powdered sugar to taste. 

To assemble your fruit pizza:

1. Bake your sugar cookie crust. Let cool.

2. Spread frosting.

3. Put on desired fruit. We used strawberries & Pineapple, but blueberries and mango would be good too. 

4. Cut and eat!! 

Smothered Salsbury Steaks

From: Rochelle

These are SO good! I made these for our anniversary dinner! You can make them with ground beef, but I decided to use ground turkey instead it tends to be a little bit healthier and less fat. You have GOT to try these!

Smothered Salbury Steaks
Adapted from: <http://www.onelovelylife.com/?p=2467>

Ingredients:

1lb ground turkey

1/2 packet dry onion soup mix (or 2 1/2 Tbsp homemade)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4c milk

1/4c fresh bread crumbs (I actually used oatmeal and ground it up to be finer)

1 egg

1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, divided

2-3 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

1/2lb baby bella (or cremini) mushrooms, halved or quartered, if large (I left these out-Austin no likey)

1 onion, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbsp flour

1 1/2c beef broth (can use 1 1/2tsp bouillon and 1 1/2c water)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine ground turkey, soup mix, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add milk, bread crumbs (or oats), egg and 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce and mix with your hands until combined (try not to over-mix, as this can make the patties tough). Divide into 6 equal portions and shape into patties.

In a large saute pan, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the patties on both sides and place in a 9×13″ baking dish. Set aside and reduce heat to medium. Add mushrooms (if you are going to add them) to the pan and cook 4-5 minutes or until browned and tender. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle over the patties.

Return pan to medium heat and add onions. Add a little more olive oil if necessary to keep the onions from sticking. Cook onions until golden and tender, about 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle over the patties.

Add remaining butter, olive oil, and the flour to the pan. Stir over medium heat 1-2 minutes. Pour in beef broth and remaining 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce and stir to dissolve flour mixture. Cook 3-4 minutes over medium heat or until thickened to desired consistency. Pour gravy over patties, mushrooms, and onions.

Cover baking dish with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.

Serves 4-6.

* A note on the onion soup mix: If you want to make your own, you can combine 3/4c dried minced onion, 1/3c beef bouillon (msg-free), 4 tsp onion powder, and 1/4tsp sugar. 5 Tbsp of this mix is equal to 1 packet of soup mix.