Patty Melt

This is perfect for lunch or anytime.

I used swiss cheese but you can use what cheese you like.

1 lb. lean ground beef

8 slices each: bread

4 slices each: swiss cheese

1/8 - 1/4 c. butter

Non stick cooking spray

1 onion sliced

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

1 T. oil

Remove meat from refrigerator and shape meat into patties. 

Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of hamburger, set aside for a few minutes.

Remove stick of butter from refrigerator and let it set out for a few minutes to soften.

Remove cheese from refrigerator.

Peel, rinse, slice onions, set aside on a plate.

Preheat grill pan to medium to high heat.

Lower heat to medium and spray pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Add hamburger patties and cook on 1 side for 5 - 8 min.

Turn hamburger over and cook on other side for 5 - 8 min. more.

Remove patties from pan, lower heat and add oil. 

Add onions, grill onions for a few minutes.

While hamburgers, onions are cooking, toast bread slices. 

Remove bread from toasters and butter both sides of bread, set aside.

Place the buttered side up of 4 slices of bread on a clean work area or cutting board.

When onions are done, remove onions.

Place bread slices in pan, top bread with burgers.

Layer cheese, onions on the burger and grill on 1 side for a few minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top burgers with with remaining bread slices.

 Flip over and cook on other side for 3 - 5 min more or until brown. 

Makes 4 servings.

6 Ingredient Naan

This is perfect for lunch or anytime.

1 1/4 c. flour

1 c. plain lowfat yogurt

1 tsp. baking powder

pinch each: salt, pepper

1 - 2 T. oil 

Combine 1 c. of the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, yogurt together in a medium bowl and mix.

Knead dough and divide into 6 balls. 

Sprinkle some flour onto your workspace and rolling pin.

Roll out 1 dough ball, and brush both sides of rolled out dough with oil.

 Repeat process with remaining dough balls.

Preheat skillet to medium high heat, reduce heat to medium low.

 Add oil sparingly to coat bottom of pan. 

Place flatbread in skillet and fry on 1 side for 1 - 3 minutes. 

Flip bread on other side and cook for 1 - 3 min more.

Makes 6 flatbreads.

 

Shrimp Stir Fry

Happy Lunar New Year!

This is perfect for the New Year or anytime.

I've used pre-cooked shrimp.

You can also use fresh shrimp, make sure they are peeled, deveined, rinsed.

1 - 1  1/2 lb thawed shrimp

Pinch red pepper flakes

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

1/8 tsp. sliced fresh ginger 

3 T. olive oil

1 T. low sodium soy sauce

1 each chopped: bell pepper, onion 

1/8 c. sliced green onions

3/4 c. each: snow peas, water chestnuts, sliced carrots, sliced mushrooms

1/4 - 1/3 c. cold water

1 tsp. corn starch

1 clove garlic, peeled, crushed, chopped

2 T. sake, divided

Slice fresh ginger.

Peel, rinse, crush and chop garlic.

Peel, devein, rinse shrimp if needed.

If you're using pre-cooked cooked, omit step.

In a bowl combine shrimp, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, soy sauce, 1 T. sake, 1 T. oil., ginger.

Toss mixture to coat shrimp 

Cover shrimp, place in refrigerator to marinate for a few hrs.

Peel, rinse, chop onion.

Rinse, seed, chop pepper.

Rinse, cut ends off, chop carrots and green onions.

Rinse, snip ends off snow peas and cut in half.

Rinse, slice mushrooms.

Open can of water chestnuts, drain cut water chestnuts in half.

Place vegetables in a clean bowl.

Preheat skillet to medium high heat.

Lower heat to medium, add oil.

Add vegetables and cook for 6 - 10 min. 

Add shimp into skillet and cook for a few of minutes more.

In a cup combine water, cornstarch, rest of sake. 

Stir with a fork to mix.

Push vegetables and meat to the side of pan, pour water mixture in center of skillet. 

Stir to coat and let cook for a few minutes.

Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle green onions over shrimp before serving.

Serves 4 - 6.

Hoagie Pizzas

Football fans are you ready for Sunday's big game this is perfect for watching a game, company or anytime.

4 hoagie rolls

1/2 - 3/4 c. each: pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, chopped bell pepper, chopped onion, sliced halved pepperoni, chopped mushrooms, chopped tomatoes
1/8 - 1/4 c each: chopped olives, chopped anchovies, chopped ham, olive oil
Non stick cooking spray
1 - 2 cloves crushed, chopped garlic
1/4 tsp. each: basil, parsley, oregano
1/8 tsp each: salt, pepper, lemon juice
pinch red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Rinse, peel, seed, chop vegetables and garlic.

Slice pepperoni. 

Chop ham, anchovies and olives. 

Spray cooking spray on 2 baking sheets.

Split hoagie rolls in 1/2, place open side up on baking sheet.

In a measuring cup, mix together oil, juice, salt, pepper, herbs with a clean fork. 

With a pastry brush, spread oil mixture on top of the pizza.

Place open side of hoagie rolls down on baking sheet and broil for 2 - 5 minutes. 

Remove pan from oven and turn rolls over.

With a clean spoon, spread tomato sauce over rolls.

Put whatever toppings you want on your pizza. 

When finished, place pizzas in oven to cook for 10 - 15 min. or until done. 

Keep an eye on them so that they don't burn. 

Serves 8.

Cauliflower Soup

This is perfect for winter or anytime.

1 bunch cleaned, finely chopped cauliflower 

1/4 tsp. dried or fresh parsley
1/8 - 1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper
6 c. low sodium chicken broth
4 T. flour
1/2 stick unsalted butter 
1 onion chopped
1/3 c. reduced fat sour cream

Rinse, cut ends and break apart cauliflower florets. 

Peel, rinse, chop onions.

Bring a pan to boil, add cauliflower .

Boil cauliflower in water approx. 2- 5 min., remove pan from heat. 

Drain water from cauliflower, set aside.

Make a roux by melting butter over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion in the melted butter.

Add flour, stir until thickened. 

Add chicken broth 1/2 c. at a time, stirring constantly.  

Finely chop and add cauliflower. 

Add the salt, pepper and parsley, stir.

Cook over medium heat until soup is heated through on medium about 20 - 30 min.

Add sour cream and cook for 5  - 7 min. more or until done.

Makes 4  - 6 servings.

Cafe Cortado

A cortado is equal parts milk to coffee.

This is great for winter mornings or anytime.

2 - 3 c. espresso or strong coffee

1/8 - 1 tsp. sugar (optional)
1/2 - 1 1/2 c. milk

Brew coffee to desired strength according to coffee makers instructions.

Sweeten brewed coffee to taste, if desired. 

In a microwave safe measuring cup, pour milk.

Microwave on high for  30 - 45 seconds.

Make sure the milk doesn't boil over in the microwave. 

Remove milk from microwave and pour over coffee.

Serves 4.

Hot Toddy

Happy National Hot Toddy Day!

This is perfect for winter or anytime.

I've used decaffeinated tea, but you can use regular tea instead.

2  - 3 c. cold water
1 large tea bag
1 - 1 1/2 oz. whiskey

1 tsp. honey

Turn on the kitchen faucet to cold and let run for 30 seconds - 1 minute.

Fill kettle with cold water, place tea kettle and place on stove.

Turn stove burner on to high, bring water to a boil.

When water begins to boil turn off stove, place tea bag in kettle.

Steep tea for a few minutes to desired strength.

In the bottom of a clean coffee mug pour whiskey. Top off whiskey with tea and sweeten with honey to taste, stir with a clean spoon.

Serves 1.