Tomatofredo Sauce

*1-8 oz can tomato sauce
*3/8 cup powdered milk
*2 cups water
*1 Tbsp. butter
*2 oz. cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat)
*1 tsp. salt (Note: If you're sensitive to salt, only use 1/2 tsp. or 3/4 tsp.)
*1 tsp. basil
*1/2 tsp. garlic powder
*pepper, to taste
*1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
*1/2 pound ground turkey
*1 pint diced tomatoes, drained (optional)

-In sauce pan, combine all ingredients except meat and diced tomatoes.

-Cook over medium heat until boiling.

-If your sauce is lumpy, put it in the blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

-Brown and season meat.

-Add sauce to meat.

-Add drained tomatoes, if desired.

-Continue to cook over low-medium heat until sauce thickens.

-Serve over pasta.

From the Critics
Brittany: 4

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 10

Fruit and Yogurt Waffles

I was pleasantly surprised at how good these waffles were. Didn't miss the syrup at all.

*1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
*1/2 cup flour
*1/2 cup oats
*1/4 cup sugar
*2 tsp baking powder
*1 tsp baking soda
*2 1/2 cups milk
*1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 eggs)
*2 Tbsp oil
*fruit
*yogurt

Combine all ingredients except fruit and yogurt. Mix well. Cook in waffle iron as per usual. Top with your favorite yogurt and fresh or frozen fruit.

From the Critics
Brittany: 7

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 9

Parmesan-crusted Chicken

*1/3 cup bread crumbs
*3 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
*4 boneless-skinless chicken breasts (cut into strips if desired)
*1 tsp. season salt

Mix bread crumbs, cheese and season salt. Coat chicken with mixture and cook over medium (Spray pan generously with cooking spray.) until chicken is done.

Gravy (not pictured)
*1/3 cup cream cheese (I use reduced fat. Do NOT use Fat Free, it doesn't work well, I've tried.)
*2 cups chicken broth
*chives, onion powder to taste

Remove chicken from pan, add broth and cream cheese and seasonings. Cook until cream cheese has melted and mixture is smooth.

Serve chicken and gravy with baked or mashed potatoes or rice.

From the Critics
Brittany: 10

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 10

Pumpkin Bars

I had this treat at an Enrichment activity quite a few years ago and it was so yummy. I got the recipe and tried to make it, it was awful. I never tried again until about a month ago. It still didn't turn out very well so I've been experimenting and I've finally figured it out.

*1/4 cup margarine, softened (REALLY soft)
*1/4 cup applesauce
*1/2 cup brown sugar
*1/2 cup sugar
*2 eggs
*14 oz can pumpkin
*1 cup flour
*1 tsp cinnamon
*1/4 tsp nutmeg
*1/4 tsp ginger
*1 tsp baking powder
*1/2 tsp baking soda
*1/4 tsp salt

Mix margarine, applesauce and sugars. Add eggs, beat well. Beat in pumpkin. Add dry ingredients. Pour into greased 9x13** pan. Bake 25-30 nminutes (my oven bakes it in 27)at 350 degrees.

**Do NOT use anything smaller than 9x13. The middle stays gooey and the edges over-bake.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
*4 oz cream cheese, softened (I use lowfat but not fat free, its gross.)
*1 tsp vanila
*2 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

From the Critics
Brittany: 9

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 9

Oatmeal Cake with Maple Frosting

Once again, my pictures just didn't do justice for this yummy dessert so I'm not posting any.

This cake is similar to a spice cake, my grandma used to make it all the time and its one of my favorites. My kids and I do not like pie, so I always make this cake for us on Thanksgiving. (Brent also does not like pie, but he doesn't like sweets in general so we don't have to share the cake with him either.)

*1 1/2 cups boiling water
*1 cup oats (quick oats work best)
*1/2 cup margarine
*1 cup brown sugar
*1 cup sugar
*2 eggs
*1 1/2 cups flour
*1 tsp baking soda
*1/2 tsp salt
*1 tsp cinnamon
*1 tsp nutmeg
*1 tsp vanilla

Pour water over oats. Add margarine and both sugars. Let cool slightly. Mix and add eggs. Beat well. Add all dry ingredients. Blend well. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool before frosting. Store in fridge. I think this cake best when its served cold.

Maple-Cream cheese Frosting:
*4 oz cream cheese, softened (I use low fat, but not fat free. Its gross.)
*1/2 tsp maple flavoring
*2 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

Note: If you don't care for the maple flavor, use vanilla instead of the maple.

From the Critics
Brittany: 8

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 8

Macaroni Tomato Soup

My mom used to make this when my siblings and I were little. It was a favorite of mine.

*1/2 - 1 lb. ground turkey, I use extra lean (or  you can use ground beef)
*2 - 2 1/2 cups macaroni, uncooked
*4-6 cups tomato juice
*parsley, to taste
*salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Brown meat and cook macaroni. In large pot, combine all ingredients. If more liquid is needed, add water. Simmer until heated through.


Note: My measurements are just guesses, because I don't measure anything except the macaroni, so just do what looks/sounds good to you.

Pumpkin Cookies

*1 1/2 cups brown sugar
*1/4 cup shortening
*1/4 cup applesauce
*2 eggs
*1 3/4 cups flour
*1 Tbsp. baking powder
*1 tsp. cinnamon
*1/2 tsp. nutmeg
*1/2 tsp. salt
*1/2 tsp. ginger
*2 cups chocolate chips

Combine sugar, shortening and applesauce, mix. Add eggs. Beat well. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes approx. 3 dozen cookies.

From the Critics
Brittany: 10

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 10

Manicotti

*2 cups spaghetti sauce
*1 egg
*1 3/4 cups cottage cheese (I use fat free.)
*2/3 cup Mozzarella cheese (I use partly skimmed.)
*1 Tbsp dried basil
*salt
*12-14 manicotti tubes
*1-2 packets Boca Meatless ground burger (optional)
*Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta until almost tender. Spread half of spaghetti sauce on bottom of 9X13 pan. Mix egg, cheeses, basil and Boca "meat" in medium bowl. Add salt as desired. Spoon mixture into large plastic bag. Snip corner of bag and squeeze mixture into pasta tubes. Place over sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over manicotti. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Note: If you prefer real meat, use 1/2 pound ground beef or ground turkey.

From the Critics
Brittany: 9 - "It was pretty good."

Brooklyn: 10 - "I loved it very, very, very, very much!"

Damon : 10 - "I love it so much."

Jodie's Carmel Popcorn

* 1 1/4 cups popcorn kernels

*1 cup butter (I use margarine)

*1/2 cup corn syrup
*2 cups brown sugar
*1 tsp. salt

Pop popcorn, put in really BIG bowl. Set aside. Combine other ingredients in sauce pan. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently. Boil for 5 minutes. (DO NOT stir while boiling.)

Add:
*1 tsp vanilla
*1/2 tsp. baking soda

Stir carmel mixture and pour over popcorn. Stir gently until well coated. Transfer to 2 large cookie sheets or large roasting pan. Bake one hour at 275 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes. Dump onto waxed paper and let cool.

From the Critics

Brittany: 10 - "Its super-duper yummy."

Brooklyn: 10 - No comment

Damon: 10 - "I like it really, really, so, so much!"

Pasta Soup

*1 3/4 cups macaroni
*3/4 cup dehydrated carrots

*1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

*3 1/2 Tbsp. minced onion

*3 1/3 Tbsp. chicken bouillon

*1 1/2 Tbsp. parsley

*1 3/4 tsp. oregano

*1/8 tsp. garlic powder

* 10 1/2 cups water

*1 large can canned chicken (optional)

In large pot, bring water to boil. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until veggies and pasta are tender.

Slow Cooker: Combine all ingredients in slow cooker EXCEPT macaroni and Parmesan cheese. Cook on low 5-6 hours. Add Parmesan cheese. Stir occasionally. Cook macaroni on stove top and add to soup just before serving.

From the Critics

Brittany: 10 - "Its yummy!"

Brooklyn: 10 - "I ate way too much! I have a big tummy ache."

Damon: 10 - "I like it so much."