Gramma's Lasagna

Ingredients:
3/4 lb hamburger
3/4 lb mild italian sausage
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves minced OR 3/8 t garlic powder
1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 cup salsa (medium is what I use)
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
2 t sugar
1 t chili powder
1 t fennel seed (I don't actually put this in, most of the time)
1 t dried oregono
1 t dried basil
12ish lasagna noodles
1 (16oz) carton cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozerella (I actually do cheddar and mozerella together)
3/4 parmesan cheese

In a large kettle or dutch oven, brown beef, sausage, onion and garlic. Cook until meat is browned and onion is tender; drain excess grease. (I buy really lean meat and don't end up draining it, but do drain if there is a lot of grease!) Stir in the next 9 ingredients (through basil). Cook lasagna noodles according to pkg directions, drain, and rinse in cold water. In a greased 9x13 pan (the taller the better, this is really a deep lasagna!) layer 1/3 of the noodles, 1/3 of the meat sauce, 1/2 of the cottage cheese, 1/3 of the mozarella cheese, and 1/3 of the parmesan. Repeat. Top with remaining 1/3 noodles, meat sauce, mozarella and parmesan. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes; uncover and bake for 20 minutes longer. Let stand 20 minutes before cutting.

This recipe freezes really well. Just spray some tin foil with cooking spray and wrap it tightly around the pan. If you are using a plastic lid I reccomend spraying it or using seran wrap first to help it seal. Freeze for up to 2 months. I usually do 2 of these when I'm going to all the work. Then I have a meal in the freezer for some lazy day, or for when I have company coming over!

Crockpot Chicken (or Beef!) Stroganoff

Dinner's on! And it's only noon!!! That's because I found me some crockpot recipes to try, and BOY AM I EXCITED! I know some of you out there (including my very own sister in law!) have a THING against crockpot foods....I have this to say to you. Get over it. You've probably only had foods that came from the campbell's "I don't have any taste" cookbook or some 3 ingredient or less thing. I LOVE my crockpot, and I'm not afraid to say it. For the rest of you, here's the recipe I'm trying. It originally calls for chicken, but I'm in the mood for some good red meat SOOOO true to my subconcious need to change every recipe, I have modified it some. I'll give it both ways in case you want to try the chicken one!

Ingredients:
4 chicken breast halves, cubed
(1lb-ish cubed deer or beef steak)
2 T butter or margarine
1 pkg (.7 oz) Italian Dressing Mix
1 (10.75 oz) can Cream of Chicken soup
(Cream of Mushroom would be good with the beef)
1 (8oz) block of cream cheese
OPTIONAL: 1 can sliced mushrooms or equivilant fresh
frozen broccoli (for the beef kind, not sure about broccoli with chicken..maybe?)

Throw the cubed chicken (beef) into the crockpot along with the butter and Italian Dressing Mix. Cook on low for 5 hours. One half hour before serving add the soup, cream cheese, and veggies and cook on HIGH until heated through. Serve over rice or egg noodles.

POINTS: 10 per serving
makes 4 servings
14 points if served over 3/4 cup cooked rice OR egg noodles. 13 points if served over 1/2 cup cooked rice.
Weight Watchers has changed their point system, so this point value is only valid with their NEW system. (My GUESS is that it'd be a few less points with the "old" system, but I can't be sure) Curse you WW for changing what I knew so well.

*I'm thinking I might try it next time with some garlic added. We'll see how that goes.*

Lazy Lasagna Chili

This is a Pampered Chef recipe that I did with my cooking club the other night. As we were making it I started realizing how few "points" it was! It is a quick recipe, and you could add more veggies to make it even better if you wanted!



Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1lb chicken kielbasa
1 26oz can original or mushroom spaghetti sauce*
2 cans fat free beef broth
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup uncooked wheat macaroni noodles

Directions: Coarsely chop onion and zucchini with food chopper. Cut kielbasa into bite size chunks. Heat pan over medium heat until hot. Add kielbasa, onion and garlic. Cook 8-10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. Add spaghetti sauce, broth, and water; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and zucchini. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, 7-10 minutes or until noodles are done. Can be served with Parmesan cheese sprinkled over top. (Add one point if serving with the cheese.)

Makes 10 servings
Serving size = 1 cup
Each Serving = 3 points (if you have 2 servings it is 7 points)

*Spaghetti sauces with cheese or meat will make this recipe more points.

Parmesan, Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

This recipe is so fast and easy! Very healthy- low in fat, and high in dietary fiber which is great for you! My hubby loved it and told me I could make it 3-4 times a month and he wouldn't get tired of it! How's THAT for a yummy healthy meal!!! PLUS it's quick!

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked whole wheat spaghetti noodles
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
6oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
4 tsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
Heat dressing and garlic in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and broccoli; cook and stir 5 to 7 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in tomatoes and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese; cook 1 to 2 min or until heated through, stirring on occasion. Serve over 1 cup cooked noodles, with remaining mozzerellavand parmesan cheeses.

Serves 2. (Fills me right up!)
480 calories
11g fat
10g fiber
(10 points if your counting!)

To add some extra ZING, you can add some lemon pepper seasoning to the chicken as it cooks.

Since we are going out of town tomorrow I don't have fresh tomato or broccoli on hand. So tonight I used 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes and 2 cups frozen broccoli. It made the recipe a little too runny so I added 1 tablespoon of water mixed with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch. It turned out perfect!