Firecracker Casserole

2 pounds ground beef 
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and  drained
1-2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 can mushroom soup
1 can Ro-Tel, undrained
1 cup Cheddar cheese,  shredded
 
In a skillet, cook the hamburger  meat and onion, drain. Add beans, chili powder and salt. Transfer to a greased  baking dish. Arrange the tortillas on top.
 
Combine the soup and Ro-Tel and  pour on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 350  degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes.   Enjoy.

Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies

1/2 cup margarine 
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup water
1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the egg and water. Beat in cake mix until well blended, then stir in the oats and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Raspberry Sticky Rolls

Topping:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
juice from can of raspberries

In a small saucepan mix together sugar and cornstarch. Gradually add reserved raspberry juice. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Set aside to cool and pour into greased 10 x 15 inch pan.

Rolls:
1 16 ounce loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 16.5 ounce can raspberries, drained

Preheat oven to 375F.

On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 15 x 9 inch rectangle. Spread butter or margarine over entire surface and sprinkle with brown sugar and raspberries. Beginning on 15 inch side, roll up tightly, jelly roll style. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. Stretch roll to make even. Cut into 15, equal sized pieces. Place 3 across and 5 down over raspberry topping, keeping rolls slightly apart. Let rise until double, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately invert pan on heatproof serving platter. Let pan remain a minute or two so raspberry topping can drizzle over rolls. Makes 15 servings.

Light Strawberry Pie

8 Servings

1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple
1 package (.8 ounce) sugar-free cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
1 package (.3 ounce) sugar-free strawberry gelatin
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (8 inches)
1/2 cup reduced-fat whipped topping

Drain pineapple, reserving juice in a 2-cup measuring cup. Set pineapple aside. Add enough water to juice to measure 1-1/2 cups; transfer to a saucepan. Whisk in the pudding mix and gelatin until combined. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in pineapple. Remove from the heat; cool for 10 minutes.
Add the strawberries; toss gently to coat. Pour into crust. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours. Garnish each piece with 1 tablespoon whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutritional Facts 1 piece equals 159 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 172 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1/2 fat.

Originally published as Light Strawberry Pie in Simple & Delicious July/August 2006, p54

Bean Casserole for 4th of July

1/2 pound  bacon, diced
1/2 pound  ground beef
1 cup  chopped onion
1 (28  ounce) can pork and beans
1 (17  ounce) can lima beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16  ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup  barbecue sauce
1/2 cup  ketchup
1/2 cup  granulated sugar
1/2 cup  firmly packed brown sugar
2  tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon  salt
1/2  teaspoon chili powder
 
Heat oven  to 350 degrees F.
 
In a  skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon, beef and onion until meat is brown  and onion is tender. Remove from heat and drain. Place in greased  casserole
dish. Add  beans and mix well.
 
In a  separate bowl, combine barbecue sauce, ketchup, sugars, mustard, molasses, salt,  and chili powder and stir into beef mixture. Cover and bake for  45
minutes.  Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until browned and  bubbly.
 
Serves 12  as a side dish.
 
If serving  this savory baked dish as a main course, offer hot corn bread and a green salad  to make a full meal.   Enjoy.

Cherry Cola Salad

Serves: 4 
Preparation Time: 2 hr 
Ingredients 


   • 40 ounces can dark pitted cherries
   • 3 ounces package cherry gelatin 
   • 20 ounces crushed pineapple 
   • 1 cup cola 
   • 1 / 2 cup pecans, chopped 


Instructions 
   1.  Heat cherries and their juiceto boiling. 
  
   2.  Remove from heat and add gelatin. Stir. 
  
   3.  Add pineapple, juice and all.  Pour in coke and nuts.  Pour into an oiled 6-cup mold. 
  
   4.  Let cool, then refrigerate at least 2 hours or until set.  Serve cold.