My Mac-n-Cheese (low fat version)

3 Tbs Butter
3 Tbs Flour
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups reduced fat Cheddar cheese ( you can use full fat cheddar cheese also)
1 lb cooked whole grain pasta ( I like to use medium shells) * you could use regular pasta if you like*

Melt butter, stir in flour and seasoning. Add milk and cook on medium heat stirring constantly until thick & smooth. Add Cheddar & stir until melted. Once melted pour over hot drained pasta & enjoy.

*Yes it's that easy & so good. My kids love "Moms Mac-n-Cheese". You can also just make the cheese sauce & pour over veggies or potatoes*

Chicken Penne in Almond cream sauce!

Ingredients
1 pound penne pasta
2 cups (9 ounces) blanched, slivered almonds
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 store-bought, rotisserie chicken breasts, skinned, boned and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
1 cup frozen petite peas
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 large lemon, zested
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups grated Parmesan
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

In a blender, combine the almonds, chicken stock, olive oil, and garlic. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture into a large skillet and turn the heat on to medium. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken, peas, cream and lemon zest. Cook, stirring frequently until the chicken is heated through, about 4 minutes (mixture will be thick). Season with salt and pepper, to taste

Put the cooked pasta into a serving bowl and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Toss together until the pasta is coated. Add the chicken mixture, the remaining cheese and the basil. Toss the ingredients together, adding the reserved pasta water, as needed, to loosen the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve

Shrimp & Scallop Lasagna!

Ingredients
12 lasagna noodles
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup grated Romano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 pound sea scallops, cut in half or quartered if very large
3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 10-inch aluminum foil pan with vegetable oil cooking spray.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles until they are just done, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet and cook the onion over low heat until very soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute more. Over medium-low heat, stir in the flour with a whisk, then gradually add the half-and-half, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly before adding more. When the sauce has thickened to about the consistency of whipping cream, add the cheese and stir well. Add the salt and pepper and stir again. Add the scallops and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or just until the shrimp turn pink. Turn off the heat.

Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the sauce from the skillet into the prepared pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with 4 noodles, placing them side by side. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce over the noodles, distributing half of the seafood evenly. Layer 4 more noodles, 1/3 of the sauce, and remaining seafood. Cover with the last 4 noodles and the remaining sauce. (For the top layer, do not spoon any seafood on top of the noodles; just use the sauce.) Tuck in any edges of the noodles so they're all coated with sauce. Top with the Parmesan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, uncovered, until bubbly. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

# 29 Baked Ravioli !

14 large cheese filled Ravioli (frozen)
1 lb Ground meat
half a small onion
2 cloves garlic

28 oz jar spaghetti sauce of your choice ( or your own homemade)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

14 oz Fresh Mozzarella (sliced into thin slices)

1 tsp dry basil

1 tsp dry oregano



Preheat oven to 350*F

Spray Pam on a 13x9 baking dish

Cook ground meat, Onion & Garlic till no longer pink

drain off any grease, add sauce

Put some of the sauce mixture in the baking dish just to coat it

take your frozen Ravioli & Layer 7 on the bottom of dish Followed by sauce and then half of your fresh mozzarella & sprinkle of parm cheese. add another layer of ravioli followed by the rest of the meat sauce mix and the rest of your cheese. Then sprinkle basil and oregano on top. Cover with foil & bake for 50 minutes then take foil off & bake for additional 10 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes before serving.



*This is one of my new original recipes that my family & I loved! It taste better then what you would get in a restaurant the fresh mozzarella I think is key. But you could use the already shredded if you wanted.*

# 21 Chicken Lo Mein!

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves -
cut into thin strips
5 teaspoons white sugar, divided
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar ( I used apple cider vinegar)
1/2 cup soy sauce, divided
2 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 (12 ounce) package uncooked linguine
pasta ( I used thin spegehtti)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 bags frozen oriental vegetable mix
1 can sliced water chestnuts

Directions:
1. In a medium, non-reactive bowl, combine the chicken with 2 1/2 teaspoons of white sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Mix this together and coat the chicken well. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

2. In another medium bowl, combine the chicken broth, sesame oil and ground black pepper with the remaining sugar, vinegar and soy sauce. In a separate small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch with some of this mixture and slowly add to the bulk of the mixture, stirring well. Set aside.

3. Cook the linguine according to package directions, drain and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a wok or large saucepan over high heat until it starts to smoke. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned. Transfer this and all juices to a warm plate.

4. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the wok or pan over high heat. Add the ginger, garlic, frozen vegis, and stir-fry until vegetables are cooked. Add the reserved sauce mixture and then the chicken. Simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved noodles and toss gently, coating everything well with the sauce

#13 Artichoke and Spinach Lasagna!

Ingredients:
cooking spray
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 (14 ounce) can marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped
spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
1 (28 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 (4 ounce) package herb and garlic feta,
crumbled

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium-high. Saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes, or until onion is tender-crisp. Stir in broth and rosemary; bring to a boil. Stir in artichoke hearts and spinach; reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in pasta sauce.
4. Spread 1/4 of the artichoke mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish; top with 3 cooked noodles. Sprinkle 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese over noodles. Repeat layers 2 more times, ending with artichoke mixture and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle crumbled feta on top.
5. Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover, and bake 15 minutes more, or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2009 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 12/4/2009

*this was good, not sure if I would crave it but it was something different for a change. & I used the no boil lasagna noodles.)