Cinnamon-Spiced Sugar-Free Apple Wedges

This is another recipe from the newspaper archives. I have no idea which newspaper but I love cinnamon and apples so that makes it wonderful to me.

This is the original recipe. It says to serve this with pancakes. That’s fine. I prefer putting it over ice cream or even just eating the Cinnamon-Spiced Sugar-Free Apple Wedges as a dessert. Put it in individual glass dishes, maybe add a dollop of sugar-free whipped topping, and you’ve got a wonderfully elegant dessert that won’t pack on the calories.

Cinnamon-Spiced Sugar-Free Apple Wedges

1 can (6-oz.) frozen, unsweetened cider concentrate
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt (optional)
3 unpeeled McIntosh eating apples, cored and cut in thin wedges

Defrost, but do not dilute cider concentrate. Thoroughly mix all ingredients, except apples, in saucepan. Cook and stir over moderate heat until mixture simmers and thickens.

Stir in apple wedges and simmer just until tender and heated through but not soft and overcooked.

Serve hot over pancakes.

Makes enough to top 10 pancakes, adds 60 calories to each.

Diet-Delight Three-Cheese Rotelle

This recipe comes from the October 1990 issue of Redbook magazine. It’s for those of us who love pasta but really need to watch our weight.

Diet-Delight Three-Cheese Rotelle

8 oz. tricolor rotelle (corkscrew) pasta
¾ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
¼ cup skim milk
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped, about 1 cup
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 cup coarsely grated low-fat Swiss cheese, about 4 oz.
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves or 2 teaspoons dried basil
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Fresh basil springs, optional

Prepare rotelle according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, process ricotta and milk until smooth; set aside. In 1-quart nonstick saucepan over medium heat, heat oil; add onion and garlic. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Pour ricotta mixture into saucepan. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring until heated through.

Drain pasta and return to saucepan. Toss well with ricotta mixture, Swiss cheese, parsley, chopped basil, grated Parmesan, chives, orange peel and pepper.

Garnish with fresh basil springs to serve, if desired.

Makes 6 servings, at 273 calories per serving.

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Ring

This is another wonderful recipe from the folks over at Pillsbury. I love being on their e-mail list. They send out terrific recipes and coupons. They suggest changing up the cheeses (my favorite is Cheddar) to give the Breakfast Ring a different flavor. I'm thinking this would be a wonderful supper for a night real soon.

 

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Ring

1/2  lb bulk pork sausage

1/3  cup sliced green onions

1/3  cup chopped red bell pepper

5  eggs

1/4  teaspoon salt

1/8  teaspoon pepper

1  package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened

2  cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1/2  cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend (2 oz)

1  egg, beaten

1  teaspoon sesame seed

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage and onions over medium-high heat 5 to 8 minutes or until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in bell pepper; cook until tender. Remove from pan.

In small bowl, beat 5 eggs, salt and pepper. Add egg mixture to skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally from outside edge to center. Cook until eggs are set but still moist. Stir in sausage mixture and cream cheese.

Unroll both cans of dough. Place dough on cookie sheet, long sides overlapping, to form 14x13-inch rectangle; firmly press edges to seal. Spoon egg mixture down center to within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle with cheese. Starting at longest side, roll up; press edges to seal. Shape into a circle; pinch ends to seal. Cut six 2-inch slits around top of dough. Brush dough with egg; sprinkle with sesame seed.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Cherry Cheese Pie

Here’s another wonderful recipe from the folks over at Eagle Brand. This was doesn’t require baking and is super simply to make. Just allow time to thoroughly chill in the refrigerator.

Cherry Cheese Pie

1 (9-inch) graham cracker crumb crust or baked pastry shell
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1/3 cup ReaLemon Lemon Juice from Concentrate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling, chilled

In large mixer bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Pour into prepared crust.

Chill 3 hours or until set. Top with desired amount of pie filling before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

Do you keep Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk in your cabinet at all times? You should. There’s some absolutely wonderful desserts you can make that require it. Here’s one of them -- especially for all you who love cheesecake as much as I do.

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

½ cup margarine or butter, melted
1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup sugar
2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14-oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3 eggs
¼ cup ReaLemon Lemon Juice from Concentrate
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Combine margarine, crumbs and sugar; press firmly on bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. In large mixer bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs and lemon juice; mix well.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until set. Chill thoroughly. Spread sour cream on top. Garnish as desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

Maple-Nut-Pumpkin Candies

This recipe is in the October 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine. It looks wonderful. The pumpkin makes me think of fall, which is something I’m longing for right now. We’ve still got some pretty hot temperatures here in the Deep South.

That said, I do plan to use pecans rather than walnuts. I like the taste of pecans better than walnuts and pecans are sure plentiful around here. Of course, I’ll have to get a few out of the freezer right now but later in the fall I’ll be able to get them out of the small orchard on my parents’ property.

I also don’t bother with parchment paper. I was taught early to use wax paper for such times as this. It works great and I’ve always got it handy.

I hope you enjoy the recipe. And don’t forget to pick up this issue of Family Circle. It’s got a wonderful section on breast cancer and some other wonderful looking recipes as well.

Maple-Nut-Pumpkin Candies

1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup solid-pack pumpkin
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Line an 8x8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper. Spray paper with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium pot, combine sugars, maple syrup, butter, pumpkin, cream, pumpkin pie spice and salt over medium heat. Stir until butter is melted and all ingredients are combined. Bring to a simmer and cook 10 to 12 minutes or until temperature reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer. Stir in walnuts.

Pour mixture into lined baking pan. Cool 1 hour on the counter, then refrigerate an additional 1 hour.

Slice into 36 squares.

92 calories per piece

Crispy Zucchini Fries

Last night I went to a wonderfully, fun Pampered Chef party at a friend’s house. We ate good food, learned a few tips for food preparation and just enjoyed each other’s company.

My name came out of the bowl for one of the drawings and I chose -- surprise! -- a small cookbook. This is one of the recipes. I love Zucchini Fries so I can’t wait to try it.

Now remember that the point of these wonderful recipes is to sell Pampered Chef products. I included all that stuff in the recipe because, well, it is their recipe and because they do have wonderful products.

The cook’s tip for this recipe suggests using croutons that are ¾ x ¾ inch in size. Everything else seems fairly simple. And don’t worry. You shouldn’t have any problems substituting items if you don’t own all of their products. Or you could always host a gathering. They would love that!

Crispy Zucchini Fries

1 medium zucchini
1 ½ cups large fat-free seasoned restaurant-style croutons
1 oz. Parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg white
½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 garlic cloves, peeled
½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Line Cookie Sheet with Parchment Paper. Trim and discard ends of zucchini; cut in half crosswise using Chef’s Knife. Cut each zucchini half using French Fry Cutter (discard any thinner pieces). Place croutons in Manuel Food Processor; cover and pump handle until finely chopped. Grate Parmesan cheese with Microplane Adjustable Fine Grater. Place chopped croutons and half of the Parmesan cheese in Coating Tray; mix well.

Whisk egg white in Classic Batter Bowl until frothy. Add zucchini; mix gently until well coated. Dredge zucchini in crouton mixture, pressing firmly to coat. Arrange zucchini in a single layer on Cookie Sheet. Bake 14-16 minutes or until crisp.

Meanwhile, for dip, combine remaining Parmesan cheese, yogurt, basil, mayonnaise, garlic and black pepper in clean processor bowl; cover and pump handle until well blended, scraping down sides as necessary. Remove Cookie Sheet from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack. Serve zucchini fries with dip.

Yield 10 servings.