BUFFALO SHRIMP NIBBLES

2 1/2 tbsp butter

3 1/2 tbsp hot sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
2 dozen deveined extra-large shrimp with tails on
4 ribs celery, cut into sticks
lime wedges for garnish

Preheat broiler.
Line a baking sheet with rim with aluminum foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or on stove top in a small saucepan.  Remove from heat; stir in the pepper sauce and garlic. 

Place the shrimp on the prepared baking sheet.  Drizzle shrimp with 3 tablespoons of the butter mixture.  Broil, turning once, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through.  Toss in the remaining sauce. 

To serve, arrange the shrimp on a serving platter and serve with the celery sticks and remaining butter sauce.  Garnish with the lime wedges, if desired.

 

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STUFFED ZUCCHINI SQUASH

1/4 tsp salt
4 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
2 cups prepared cornbread stuffing from your favorite mix
1 can (7-oz) corn
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly grease a cookie sheet with sides; set aside.

Fill a large saucepan or Dutch oven about halfway full of water; add salt and bring to a boil. Drop the 8 zucchini halves into the boiling water and boil 6 to 8 minutes until tender. Drain water from zucchini. Using a spoon, scrape the seeds out of the zucchini and invert on paper toweling to drain.

In a medium mixing bowl, mix the 2 cups of prepared stuffing, the corn, and mozzarella cheese together. Lay the zucchini halves out on the prepared cookie sheet; mound the stuffing onto the hollowed zucchini halves and bake at 400 degrees 10 minutes or until hot and the cheese melts.

file photo for reference. This picture shows bacon, but this recipe doesn't use bacon. Bacon sounds good and would be easy to add.

CHEESY MACARONI

1 pkg (8-oz) elbow macaroni

1 1/2 cup low-fat calcium-fortified cottage cheese

1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 1/2 shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

2 egg whites

3/4 cup evaporated skim milk

2 Tbsp finely chopped onion

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/8 tsp white pepper (optional)

Paprika

1 tsp Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup toasted croutons

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Cook macaroni according to the package directions.

In a large bowl, combine cottage, mozzarella and cheddar cheese with the egg whites, milk, onion, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and pepper. Mix until blended. Fold in the cooked macaroni. Spoon the mixture into a lightly sprayed 2 1/2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the paprika and Parmesan cheese over the macaroni mixture. Top with the croutons and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until bubbly.

Yield: 8 servings

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LEMON-BUTTERED SPINACH

1 pkg (10-oz) frozen chopped or whole-leaf spinach

1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp lemon juice

Cook spinach as directed on package. Drain; stir in the butter and lemon juice.

Yield: 4 servings (skimpy servings--I recommend doubling the recipe)

 Photo from allrecipes.

EASY CRANBERRY RELISH

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1 medium orange, peeled

4 tbsp sugar

In a blender or food processor, process all ingredients until coarsely chopped. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes before serving.

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WHIPPED SWEET POTATO BAKE

3 cans (15-oz each) sweet potatoes, drained
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 cups miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly spray a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine the sweet potatoes, butter, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Top with the mini marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and the marshmallows are lightly browned.

 

 

 

BEEFY BROCCOLI & CHEESE SOUP

2 cups chicken broth

1 pkg (10-oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1/4 to 1/2 lb ground beef
1 cup milk
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
4-oz sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp oregano
salt to taste
freshly ground pepper to taste
hot pepper sauce to taste, optional

Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; add broccoli and onions. Cook the mixture for 5 minutes or until the broccoli is tender.

While the above cooks, brown the ground beef in a small skillet and drain well. Rinse with hot water to rid of excess fat and drain in a colander.

Gradually stir the flour into the milk in a small bowl until well blended. Slowly stir into the broccoli mixture, add the drained beef and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly.

Add the shredded cheese, oregano, salt, pepper, and got sauce if using.

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

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QUICK AND EASY FRUIT FILLED SUGAR COOKIES

1 pkg (20-oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1/4 cup your favorite jam or jelly
Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degree.

Slice 24 (1/8-inch each) cookies from the dough. Refrigerate remaining dough. Place the slices on ungreased cookie sheets. Spread each of the slices with a half teaspoon of the jam or jelly. Spread to within 1/4-inch of the edge.

Slice the remaining cookie dough into 24 (1/4-inch) slices. Cut a design out of the center of each slice. Place these slices atop the jam or jelly covered cookies. Press edges together to seal each cookie so jam won't escape.

Bake filled cookies at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with a light dusting of powdered sugar, if desired. Allow to cool on cookie sheets for a minute. Using a thin spatula, remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 2 dozen filled cookies

Note: You can bake the designs from the centers until lightly browned, if desired. Sprinkle baked mini cookies with powdered sugar.

File Photo for reference only.

PARMESAN TURKEY BURGERS

1 lb lean ground turkey

1/3 cup grated low-fat Parmesan cheese

1 tsp chopped fresh chives or 1/2 tsp dried chives

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic salt

2 tsp fat-free Italian salad dressing

Mix all ingredients together and shape into 6 patties. Grill patties on oiled grill rack over hot coals 12-15 minutes, turning once during cooking. May be cooked in a sprayed pan until no longer pink in the center. Serve on buns with your choice of toppings.

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REUBEN SANDWICHES

1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp chili sauce
12 slices rye bread, buttered
1/2 lb sliced Swiss cheese
1/2 lb sliced cooked corned beef
1 can (16-oz) sauerkraut, drained

Mix the mayonnaise and chili sauce; spread on 6 slices of the bread. Layer cheese, corned beef, then sauerkraut on the mayonnaise slices. Top the sauerkraut with the other six remaining bread slices.

Yield: 6 sandwiches

Note: Replace the mayonnaise/chili mixture with coleslaw for a different sandwich.

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