Meatball Marinara Bake

1 bag frozen meatballs
1/2  lb. cooked whole-grain pasta, such as penne
3 cups low sodium pasta sauce
2 cups low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese


1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
2.  Layer the meatballs, pasta, and sauce with half of the cheese.
3.  Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes, until meatballs are heated through.
4.  Uncover, top with remaining cheese, and bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

6 servings

Skillet Lasagna

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tsp. dried basil
2 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1 cup water
1 cup whole-grain pasta, such as penne
1 (28-ounce) jar low-sodium pasta sauce
1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese


1.  Heat a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the ground beef and seasonings.  Cook until beef is no longer pink.

2.  Add the water and pasta.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes, until pasta is tender.

3.  Add the sauce, stir in cheeses, and heat through.  Serve.

Serves 6

Grandma Vicki's Homemade Tomato Sauce

1/2 cup onion sliced or minced onions
1 lb. ground beef (add half/half ground sausage)
2 cloves minced garlic
2  1lb. can crushed tomatoes
2  8oz. can tomato sauce
1 sm. can mushroom (optional)
1/4 cup parsley
1 1/2 tsp. oregano or sage
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
1 cup water

Cook the onions in a little oil until tender. Add the ground beef and garlic until browned.  Add the other ingredients.  Simmer for 2 hours. Stirring often.  Use with and Italian dish.

Apple Pie

One unbaked 9" pie crust (coat pan with flour)
7 cups sliced baking apples (5-6 large apples) (honeycrisp apples)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Pour over apples.  Coating apples well. Spoon into crust. Pour 2 Tbsp. lemon juice on top of apples.

Topping for 9" pie
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cold butter (1 stick)

Cut with a pastry blender or two forks until mixture is crumbly.

Pat the topping gently over the pie.  Put the pie on a cookie sheet.  Bake it at 400 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes.

*recipe from Randy's client

Strawberry jello pretzel salad

2 1/2 cup pretzels (crushed fine)
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 pkg (6oz – this is the larger one) instant strawberry jello
1 16 oz container fresh strawberries, sliced
1  8 oz pkg cream cheese
1  cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cool whip (8 oz container)
*please note: for best results you must chill between steps. Allow 6-8 hours to complete the entire recipe.
First step, crushed pretzels! You can use any kind of pretzels, but make sure they have some salt on them. Begin by preheating your oven to 350. Then crush your pretzels. I used a ziploc bag  and rolling pin.

Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Once it is slightly cool I throw my crust in the refrigerator to allow it to get really cold. (anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour)

In the meantime, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Use a hand mixer for this. you don’t want lumps of cream cheese.  Blend in cool whip with a spatula.  Spread over cooled crust.  Make sure you spread this layer completely to the edges. You want to create a seal so your jello doesn’t leak through. Once this is done, put your pan back in the fridge to chill.

 Next, make your jello according to the package directions minus 1 cup of water.

Once your jello chilled to about the constancy of of jam or pudding (about an hour or two in the fridge) you’re ready!  Spoon your jello over cream cheese layer.  It's done.

Candied Yams (Sweet potato casserole)

6 large sweet potatoes

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ bag of mini marshmallows

Peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes. Boil your sweet potatoes until they are soft. Add the butter, cinnamon and brown sugar to the yams, and mash them until smooth. Put the mashed mixture into a casserole dish. Cover the sweet potatoes with the mini marshmallows and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until the marshmallows are browned.

Best Brownies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

Frosting:
3 Tbsp. butter, softened
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 8-inch square pan.  In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter.  Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder.  Spread batter into prepared pan.  Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.  Top with sifted confectioners sugar or frosting.

To make frosting:  Combine 3 Tbsp. softened butter, 3 Tbsp. cocoa, honey, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup confectioners sugar.  Stir until smooth.  Frost brownies while they are still warm.

*  I prefer without frosting because I don't like them too sweet.