Yummy Italian Casserole

This is almost three ingredients, if you don't count the topping. I used to have a three ingredient cookbook and most the dishes were meat, noodle, and some sort of cream of whatever soup. I can guarantee you this is MUCH healthier and better tasting.

1/2 pound of lean hamburger or ground turkey browned
1/2 cup of chopped onion browned with the meat
1 can of diced Italian tomatoes, drained
2 cups of cauliflower florets
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Place the browned meat/onion mixture in the bottom of an 8x8 casserole. Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cook on high for 3 minutes. When it is done, dice it small and mix into the meat. Top it all with the tomatoes and mix up a bit in the dish.  Top all of this with the cheese and bake at 350 for 25 minutes until the cheese is browned.

My ten year old said "It tastes like spaghetti". That's a pretty good compliment when you take into consideration her love affair with spaghetti :)

Joni's Sugar Free Crowd Pleasin' Baked Beans

If you're taking this to a large gathering, double or even triple it! No one will know (or care) that these are sugar free because they are so good! (I didn't get to take a picture of the beans, so I used this stock photo - IGNORE THE BIG PEICE OF TOAST!!:) )

2 cans pinto beans rinsed and drained (or use a variety of beans including great northern)
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 T cooked chopped bacon (You can use the Oscar Mayer or Hormel brands)
1/4 t smoked paprika (just omit if you don't have this)
1/2 cup sugar free pancake syrup
1 T yellow mustard
3 T tomato paste
1/4 cup beer (any kind)
1 T Splenda granular (or two packets)

Combine all ingredients and cook in a slow cooker on low 3-4 hours. Remove lid during the last hour to thicken. You can also bake at 350 for 2 hours and remove lid the last 1/2 hour.

Kids in the Kitchen!

One of my 10 year old daughter's favorite dinners is a big salad bar. Tonight I gave her my cute little divided server and told her to fill each area with something for our salad. She did a great job - tomatoes, mushrooms, ham, cheese, cucumbers and our own homemade salad topping in the middle. We also had some hard boiled eggs. Everything went on top of some crisp romaine lettuce. You couldn't ask for an easier or more delicious dinner. We love the Cape Cod fat free balsamic dressing and find it at WalMart. She was so proud of her creation.

Here is the how we made the salad toppings in the middle -

2 T each of soy nuts, sunflower seeds, fresh grated Parmasean cheese, bacon peices and seasoning salt. This is great and much more economical than the store bought kind. Store leftovers in an airtight containter in the refrigerator.