Mushroom Smothered Salisbury Steak

Made this one tonight and it was totally DELISH, and very easy. The picante sauce gives it a nice tanginess, and the mushroom gravy is really nice with it.

• 14 oz can low sodium beef broth
• 3 TB flour
• 3/8 tsp salt, divided
• 12 oz ground sirloin
• 3 TB Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg white
• Cooking spray
• 8 oz package sliced mushrooms

Combine beef, breadcrumbs, egg white, 1/4c picante sauce, and 1/4 tsp salt in a big bowl. Mix until blended, then split into 4 patties. Coat a large saute pan with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat. Put patties in and heat for 5 min per side.

Meanwhile, combine beef broth, flour and 1/8 tsp salt. Blend with a whisk. Add 1/4c picante sauce. Stir well.

Once patties are browned on both sides, remove from pan and set aside. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook until browned. Then, add broth mixture and cook until thickened. Add patties back into pan and cook until patties are cooked all the way through, about 5-10 min.

Yield: 4 servings, 5 points each

Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

My son LOVED this recipe when I made it for Thanksgiving. He ate about 8 of these. I had a couple myself as well. Note that this recipe only makes 10 cookies - keeps you out of trouble!

• 2 TB butter, melted
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/4 c unsweetened cocoa
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 c uncooked regular oats
• 2 TB all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• Dash of salt
• 1 oz white chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl and beat until smooth.

Combine oats flour, baking powder, salt. Add to butter mixture, stirring until blended. Stir in chocolate. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 350 for 9-15 min, or until cookie centers are almost done. Cool on pan, then move to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 10 cookies, 2 points each

Pumpkin Bread

Tried this new one for Thanksgiving, and it was a big hit, and very simple. I didn't tell anyone it was a "diet" recipe and no one noticed.

• 15 oz can pure pumpkin
• 1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
• 1/4c all purpose flour
• 1/2c Egg Beaters
• 1/2c Splenda
• 1/4c brown sugar
• 1/4c dried cranberries (Craisins, etc.), chopped
• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and spices (flour, Splenda, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and pumpkin pie spice). Make a well with the dry ingredients.

Add the pumpkin, egg beaters, and vanilla. Mix until blended. Sprinkle chopped Craisins into the batter and stir.

Spoon batter into a large loaf pan, sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 50 min, or until the loaf is firm to the touch.

Yield: 8 servings, 2 points each (143 cal, .5 g fat, 4.5g fiber)

Mini-Meatloaves

This is a great meatloaf recipe I've recently discovered - it not only enforces great portion control, but it tastes much better than most other meatloaf recipes I've made.

• 1.5 lbs ground lean beef
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 small green pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup + 6 TB ketchup
• 1 TB yellow mustard
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 TB cornmeal
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a medium baking sheet with nonstick spray.

Combine the beef, onion, bell pepper, 1/4 c of the ketchup, the mustard, egg, cornmeal, garlic, oregano, salt and ground pepper, mixing until blended.

Form into 6 oval loaves on the baking sheet. Spread one TB of ketchup on each loaf. Bake until a thermometer inserted into the center of each loaf reads 160 degrees, about 40-45 min. Let stand 5 min before serving.

Yield: 6 servings, 4 points each (214 cal, 7g fat, 2g fiber)