Patti's Tuscan Lite Italian Sausage Lettuce Wraps

1 lb hot Italian sausage removed from casing
1 lb hot Italian turkey sausage removed from casing

Brown sausages together in pan with non-stick spray. Drain, cool, and process in
food processor, leave a little chunky.

2 jars marinara of your choice (24 oz) I use Healthy style marinara
1- 14oz can drained diced Italian style tomates
fresh basil large handful chopped
1 lg tomato paste
2 large diced red/green sweet peppers
small pkg fresh sliced mushrooms
2 teas capers (optional) I don't use them
2 small cans drained sliced black olives
fresh shaved parmesan cheese
1 head romaine lettuce leaves pulled apart and washed


In a dutch oven combine 2 jars of marinara sauce, 1 can drained 14 oz Italian style diced tomatoes, large handful of fresh chopped fresh basil. Simmer 1/2 hr and add 1 large tomato paste. Simmer to thicken.

Add small pkg sliced fresh mushrooms, 2 chopped sweet red/green peppers. Simmer
to soften. Add two teaspoons of capers if desired (I don't like them, and don't
add them).

On a long dish, lay a slice of cleaned romaine lettuce leaf. Fill with meat
filling. Top with sliced black olives, sprinkle with fresh shaved parmesan
cheese and serve.

My Deviled Eggs

1 dozen eggs boiled and cooled, shelled, halved (set whites on serving platter), yolk removed and placed in med. sized bowl and add:

lite mayo approx 1 cup
honey mustard about 4 Tab
few shakes or Lea & Perrin's worchestershire sauce
1/4 cup minced fresh/frozen dill (I buy fresh dill chop and freeze)

With electric mixer combine and whip mayo, egg yolds, honey mustard, worchestershire
sauce, and dill. Add more mayo till thick consistency but not too heavy to use in
a piping gun.

Place whites on platter and using piping gun, pipe filling. Sprinkle with paprika
litely. Chill and serve.

Apricot Meringue Bars

3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs separated
Solo apricot filling
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 teas. vanilla

Combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, butter, eggs yolks and vanilla with electric mixer.
Press onto 15 x 10 pan. Bake 350 12-15 min till barely brown on edges. Take out
oven and spread two cans of apricot filling onto crust.

In chilled bowl with egg whites in it, whip whites till soft peaks, add other 1/2 cup sugar little at a time till glossy and peaks form almost stiff. Spread over
filling. Sprinkle 1/2 cup or more of sliced almonds over meringue. Bake 350, 25-30
min. till litely brown, watch closely. Cool and cut in squares. Refrigerate
till serving.

Peapod Salad

3 small pkgs snow pea pods
4 carrots sliced thin
2 sweet red/yellow peppers thinly sliced
3 stalks celery sliced thinly
1 sm pkg fresh mushrooms thinly sliced
1 can sliced waterchestnuts crained
handful of sesame seeds
toasted almonds to large handful

Rinse snow peas and pull out strings if needed and place in large bowl.
Use food processor and slice carrots, peppers, celery, and mushrooms.
Combine in large bowl.

In a separate bowl combine:

2/3 cup peanut oil
4 Tab. lemon juice
2 Tab lite soy sauce
2 teas. brown sugar
Combine and pour over salad....Add handful of sesame seeds. Mix litely.
Chill few hours....At serving sprinkle toasted almonds and litely stir them in.

MY HEALTHY TURKEY TACO SALAD


ONE LARGE HEAD LETTUCE CHOPPED
1 LB GR. LEAN TURKEY COOKED AND CRUMBLED OR GR. SIRLOIN COOKED, CRUMBLED
1 PKG TACO SEASONING MIX
1 PKG OF SHREDDED LOW FAT SHARP CHEDDAR OR MONTERREY JACK CHEESE
2 CHOPPED FRESH TOMATOES
1 CAN PINTO BEANS DRAINED
1 CAN KERNEL CORN DRAINED
1 SMALL CAN SLICES DRAINED BLACK OLIVES
1 MED SIZED BAG OF BAKED DORITOS NACHO CHIPS


MIX TACO SEASONING MIX WITH COOKED GROUND TURKEY OR GR. SIRLOIN ADDING 1/2 CUP WATER SIMMER 10 MINUTES AND COOL.


IN GLASS BOWL LAYER THE FOLLOWING:

ONE LG CHOPPED HEAD LETTUCE
LAYER OF CORN
LAYER OF PINTO BEANS
LAYER OF COOLED GR. TURKEY/SIRLOIN W/TACO MIX COOLED
LAYER OF CHEESE
LAYER OF TOMATOES
LAYER OF OLIVES IN CENTER

POUR CUP OF LITE WESTERN DRESSING OR CATALINA DRESSING OVER SALAD AND MIX. SERVE ON PLATES OR IN BOWLS ADDING
CRUSHED BACKED DORITOS NACHO CHIPS. CAN ADD CRUSHED CHIPS TO SALAD AFTER MIXING AND SLIGHTLY MIX AGAIN OR
SPRINKLE HANDFUL OF CHIPS OVER SERVING BOWL/PLATES AND LET GUESTS MIX INTO SALAD. SERVE EXTRA DRESSING ON
THE SIDE IF NEEDED.

THIS ALSO TASTES GREAT USING SLICED CHICKEN BREAST PIECES GRILLED OR COOKED/SLICED CHUNKS AND LIGHTHOUSE BRAND
SOUTHWEST DRESSING. BE IMAGINATIVE AND SUBSTITUTE OR ADD AVACADO, GREEN CHILIS, BLACK BEANS

Broccoli Spinach Casserole

1 lg. 16 oz. broccoli frozen chopped
8 oz spinach frozen chopped
2 cans cream chicken or mushroom soup (healthy option)
1 sm. onion chopped saute in 1 Tab. lite butter
1 cup cooked brown rice
16 oz light cheeze whiz type cheese or 16 oz. light cheddar cheese
1 large package of sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
sprinkle of crushed red pepper
grated fresh nutmeg to taste

Thaw broccoli and spinach, drain well and squeeze dry spinach. In lg. bowel mix together
spinach, broccoli, soups, onion, brown rice. Add cheese.
Pour in large crock pot.
Add a very light dash of cayenne red pepper (very hot, careful)
sprinkle fresh grated nutmeg. Stir in these seasonings. Heat on high
in crock for 2 hours, check frequently, stir slightly, till heated thru and cheese
is melted.

My sister-in-law Deb created this recipe one day--had run out of broccoli and added the
spinach to substitute when to our surprise it was so delicious and unique. I've added the
spices. This dish is great to bring as a side dish to a party---I am always asked to bring it...
best of all kids love it and adults can't seem to get enough....also freezes well.

7 Layer Salad

In crystal bowl add:

3/4 of head of chopped iceberg lettuce
2 stalks sliced celery
8 thin carrots sliced very thinly (I use processor)
1 can drained sliced water chestnuts (line bowl for appearance along sides)
can add another layer of veggies or hard-boiled sliced eggs, chopped cooked chicken, etc..
1 layer of 16 oz bag thawed frozen peas
2 cups low fat mayo mixed with lite 1 cup light sour cream or fat free greek yogurt
sprinkle with couple of Tablespoons of sugar or sugar sub like Nevelle
1 16 oz pkg of fat free shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb lower salt bacon cooked and crumbled

Cover and chill till serving.