Cabbage Rolls

1 1/4 lean ground beef
1/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 c. cooked rice
1 onion, chopped
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce (no salt tomato sauce for heart healthy)
12 cabbage leaves
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. vinegar
Combine meat, pepper, rice, 1 can tomato sauce. Mix until blended. Cover cabbage leaves with boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain well. Place a portion of meat mixture in center of each leaf. Roll up, folding end in. Place seam down in large kettle.
Combine remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour over rolls. Cover and simmer, basting often for 1 1/2 hours or until done. If I have a large head of cabbage, use all of larger leaves and double the brown sugar, vinegar and tomato sauce.

Quickie Lasagna ( but still a healthier way)

1 pkg. lasagne noodles
Non fat ricotta cheese
1 jar Healthy Choice Spaghetti Sauce
Ground turkey
1 onion,
dicedMushrooms,
sliced1 clove garlic, minced
Grated Parmesan cheese
Brown and crumble ground turkey with onion and garlic. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Coat bottom of dish with spaghetti sauce and top with uncooked noodles. Top noodles with spaghetti sauce, meat mixture, sliced mushrooms. Dot with ricotta cheese. Begin sequence again with noodles and continue layering until pan is full. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees, covered, then remove cover, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake an additional 10 minutes. Allow to stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

LOW CALORIE HEART HEALTHY ITALIAN -STYLE NIBBLE MIX

1/4 c. unpopped popcorn
2 c. toasted oat cereal
2 c. bite-size shredded wheat cereal
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. dry Italian salad dressing mix
Popcorn in heavy skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat using little or no oil. Cover skillet and shake pan constantly until all corn is popped.
In a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan, combine popcorn, oat cereal and wheat squares. Bake at 300 degrees for about 5 minutes. Remove. Drizzle with butter. Combine cheese and salad dressing mix, sprinkle over snack mix and stir. Serve warm. Makes 9 cups. Serving size 1/2 cup - 60 calories per serving.

Biscuits... the hearthier way!

2 c. flour, all white OR 1/3 whole wheat & 2/3 white
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt, optional
1/4 c. safflower oil
2/3 c. skim milk
Sift dry ingredients in bowl. Pour oil and milk into cup but don't stir. Add to dry ingredients. Quickly stir with fork until just slings together. Knead about 10 times. Place on wax paper. Pat out to 1/2 inch thick. Cut. Bake at 475 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Watch carefully - they burn easily. Serves 6 or so.
This is a health conscious recipe.