Sweet Potato and Avocado Panini with Honey Mustard Spread

This sandwich's secret ingredient is sweet potato, and the result is delicious. The recipe is super easy.

Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients:
1 sweet potato cut into 1-inch-thick slices on a bias
1 tbsp plus 2 tsp honey mustard
1 tbsp light mayonnaise
4 slices whole wheat bread or challah
1 T butter or margarine (I use Smart Balance)
4 red onion slices, cut 1/8-inch thick
1/2 small avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
4 tomato slices, cut 1/4-inch thick
sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Drizzle sweet potato slices with olive oil and roast in 450 oven until tender and slightly brown. Whisk together honey mustard and mayonnaise in a small bowl.

Llightly butter one side of 2 pieces of bread and place on grill pan (or regular frying pan if you don't have one). Spread the other side with half the mustard mixture, then place half of the onion, avocado, and tomato slices on top of each slice; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Add a layer of sweet potato slices, cheese and basil. Top with remaining bread and butter the outer side. Turn burner on to medium heat and grill until nice and brown. Turn over and grill on other side until cheese is melted.

Slice each sandwich in half, securing each half with a toothpick. Serve with sliced dill pickles and a handful of baked chips.

Rosemary Balsamic Lamb Chops with Homemade Mashed Potatoes

If you want to really impress someone or make your husband really happy he married you, make this amazing meal! It only takes about a half an hour to make and it looks beautiful and tastes amazing!

Ingredients:
olive oil
fresh rosemary
garlic, chopped
salt
pepper
1½ tsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped shallots
1 tsp garlic
1 C balsamic vinegar
fresh rosemary chopped
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp butter (smart balance)
3 lbs potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/4- 1/2 cup soy milk
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste

Combine olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. Marinate in 1½ tsp of the mixture for each chop. While marinating, start boiling the potatoes. Sear lamb chops on very hot pan for 3 minutes on one side, 2 minutes on the other.

In another pan over medium heat, heat 1½ tsp olive oil until hot. Add shallots and cook 1 minute. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil. Add rosemary and reduce the mixture to ¼ cup. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and add 2 Tbsp butter. Stir till melted.

When potatoes are fork tender, drain and mash with a fork. Add butter and enough soy milk to make creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, take a 1/4 measuring cup and scoop mashed potatoes inside. Press gently with a fork and then shake out in the middle of the plate so it forms a nice circle. Prop 2 lamb chops over potatoes and pour balsamic sauce over chops and drizzle around the plate.

*I also garnish the side of the plate with some roasted sweet potato and zucchini rounds for extra color. Just slice up the vegetables and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in 400 degree oven till cooked and slightly brown.

White Chocolate Biscotti

This is a great cookie to make if you don't want to use butter or margarine. I substitute half apple sauce for half of the oil to make it even more low fat. These are great half dipped in melted chocolate.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
¾ cup oil
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups + 1 Tbsp flour
½ cup white chocolate chips
cinnamon and sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs, oil and sugar. Add baking powder, vanilla, flour and chips. Form 2 loaves. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cut up into 1 inch slices and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake another 5 minutes on each side to brown.

Eggplant with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:
2 eggplants
2-3 eggs for dipping
flour
2 cans of tomato sauce (Hunts)
1 can tomato paste
1 can water
3-4 garlic cloves
3 Tbsp sugar
black pepper

Peel eggplant and cut into thin rounds. Dip in egg and flour and brown till slightly crispy in olive oil. Peel garlic and cut into rounds. Add tomato sauce, paste and water. Shake in pepper and add sugar. Let sauce boil then add eggplant. Cook for 15 minutes.

Linguine with Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2½ cups sliced mushrooms
½ cup sliced onions
3 Tbsp margarine
½ cup white wine
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
⅓ cup whipped cream
8 oz linguine

Saute mushrooms and onions in margarine until tender. Stir in wine, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and keep uncovered for 20-30 minutes until all liquid evaporates. Stir in cream and heat till it becomes slightly thickened. Cook linguine in salted water till al dente. Drain immediately. Add to mushroom sauce.

Lacquered Salmon

Ingredients:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 tsp Jack Daniels or other whiskey
olive oil
6 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
fine sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the soy sauce and sugar into a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Add the ginger, garlic, and whiskey. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove half the sauce to a container or drizzle over the fish after it is cooked. Set aside. The sauce can be made in advance and rewarmed to make it pourable.

Brush a broiling pan with olive oil. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Place them on the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of crushed pineapple over each fillet. Drizzle 1 tbsp of the soy sauce over the top of each fillet. Bake, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes, until the salmon is pink and slightly firm to the touch. Drizzle with the reserved sauce before serving.

Quick Meatballs and Spaghetti

I just made this one up for supper tonight. Its similar to my hamburger recipe. It's a quick, throw-together meatballs and spaghetti recipe that doesn't take too long to make but tastes really good!

Ingredients:
About 1 lb ( a little more) ground beef
About 1 lb ( a little more) ground turkey
your favorite teriyaki bbq sauce
onion powder
garlic powder
1 egg
Jason's seasoned breadcrumbs
olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
about 1/4 of the empty can filled with water
jar of your favorite marinara sauce
salt and pepper to taste
Angle hair pasta or spaghetti ( I use Barilla Plus whole wheat pasta)

Put the ground beef and turkey in a medium size mixing bowl. Add the teriyaki bbq sauce (about 1/3 cup), egg, breadcrumbs, onion powder and garlic powder (you have to eye ball it, no exact measurements, just sprinkle over meat generously). Form medium size balls.

Coat a large pot with olive oil. Add onions and garlic and saute till soft but not brown. Pour in crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce and enough water to thin out the sauce a little. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and add meatballs. Cover and simmer until meatballs are cooked, about 30 minutes. Serve over angel hair pasta or spaghetti.