Tuscan Skillet Supper

Another FAST dinner that's very tasty and good for you!

Yield 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups)
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup diced tomato
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
2 rosemary sprigs
1 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and next 5 ingredients (zucchini through garlic); sauté 2 minutes. Stir in tomato, beans, and rosemary; cook 2 minutes. Stir in spinach and remaining ingredients; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts and cheese begins to melt. Discard rosemary.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 205 (29% from fat)
Cooking Light, JUNE 1998

Cavatappi with Spinach, Beans and Asiago Cheese

Yield 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)
Ingredients
8 cups coarsely chopped spinach leaves
4 cups hot cooked cavatappi (about 6 ounces uncooked spiral-shaped pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, drained
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Asiago cheese
Fresh ground black pepper (optional)
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and toss well. Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper, if desired.

Calories: 401 (27% from fat)
Cooking Light, OCTOBER 1996

One of Penny's favorite Pasta Dinner options the night before a race. Yum!

Caramel Pecan Bars

This is a bar cookie that looks unassuming--but you'll have a hard time staying out of them--they taste a lot like pecan pie.

1 c. margarine, melted
2 1/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 cps. chopped pecans

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine the margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In a seperate bowl combine the baking powder and flour. Then add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture and mix well. Then fold in the chopped pecans and pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out with a few crumbs (but no batter). They will be golden brown--and yummy. Can cut with a plastic knife while still warm if you can't wait until they cool.

Superfast Salisbury Steak

Satisfying but not too rich or heavy.

This has become a staple in our menu rotation--it's quick to make, tasty, and the uncooked patties freeze well and make for a second easy--quick dinner later on.

--Penny

pss

Yield 6 servings (serving size: 1 patty and 2 tablespoons sauce)
Ingredients
3/4 pound ground turkey breast
3/4 pound ground round
1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
2 large egg whites
Cooking spray
3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Madeira wine or dry sherry
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed French onion soup (such as Campbell's) **SUBSTITUTION--I use a package of Dried French Onion Soup mix and add extra water--because I'm more likely to have that in my cupboards.
Preparation
Combine first 4 ingredients. Divide meat mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add patties; cook 6 minutes or until browned, turning after 3 minutes. Remove patties from pan; keep warm. Stir in water and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; add patties. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until wine mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup (about 10 minutes).
Nutritional Information
Calories: 210 (25% from fat)
Tamar Haspel, Cooking Light, JANUARY 2001