5th Friday of Lent

I just finished making a meatless dinner for DH - he will reheat it tonight while I am at work. This works well for him since this is one of those dishes that tastes better as leftovers.

Leanna's Tuna Casserole is a twist on the traditional Tuna Casserole. I don't like mushrooms or peas so I substitute chopped red bell peppers, onions and celery which retain some of their crunchiness. Yum!

Leanna's Tuna Casserole

Leanna's Tuna Casserole

My mushroom and pea free, lower in fat tuna casserole. Enjoy. :-)

1-12oz bag whole wheat no yolk egg noodles, cooked al dente
2 cans tuna
1 can fat free evaporated milk
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced celery
salt and pepper to taste
2 1/2 cups grated low fat cheddar cheese, divided

Topping-

2 cups crushed potato chips, french fried onions, panko or bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 2 qt casserole dish.

Cook egg noodles until al dente and set aside in the same pot they were boiled in.

In a med bowl - mix evap milk, spices, parsley and worcestershire sauce. Pour over noodles in the pot. Add diced onion, celery and red bell pepper and 2 cups of the grated cheese.

Stir and pour mixture into greased casserole dish.

Top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and sprinkle with topping.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Let it set for 5 minutes before serving.

Easy Caramel Tarte Tatin

Easy Caramel Tarte Tatin

Caramel-
2 tbsp butter
2 cups sugar

Filling-
12 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and halved with center seeds removed

Crust-
1 sheet puff pasty dough
2 tbsp sugar


Put puff pastry on the counter to thaw.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet and add sugar - let carmelize on med low - stirring occasionally. When carmelized, turn heat to low and add apples - standing them on ends or laying down flat - your choice. The object is to get as many apples in the pan as possible. Cook the apples as they are - do not stir - for 25 minutes.

Unwrap puff pastry and press seams together with your fingers. Sprinkle with sugar and roll out until it is larger than your pan.

Place puff pastry over the top of the pan and carefull tuck the excess pastry down into the hot pan. Do not worry about neatness.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cook for 10 minutes then carefully invert pan onto serving plate.

What's For Dinner?

Sweet and Sour Meat Balls

Sweet and Sour Meat Balls

Note - Do not be alarmed by the pungent odor while these meatball are cooking. It’s the cider vinegar. This recipe can be doubled.

Sauce:

1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
3 tsp Dijon mustard


Meat Balls, combine in a large bowl:

1 ½ lbs ground beef
½ lb ground pork (I use bulk breakfast sausage)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cracker crumbs (I use Ritz)
½ cup or ketchup or BBQ Sauce
¼ cup milk
½ small onion, coarsely grated
½ tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1 ½ tsp salt

Roll meat mixture into inch or inch and a half meatballs. Place on a jellyroll pan.

With a basting brush, dab sauce on each meatball and pour the remaining sauce into the jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Plaza Hotel NYC

The legendary Plaza Hotel in New York City reopened today after a 3 year $400 millon dollar renovation and restoration.

DH and I were in New York city in February of 2005 and were lucky enough to have lunch and tea in the Palm Court dining room. This photo of us (with my Mom) was taken just a few weeks prior to the hotel's closing. I can't wait to get back and see the changes.