FRU-GAL'S LASAGNA TWIST

Here is a great way to enjoy lasagna using portion control.  I love these lasagna roll-ups because they help you stay on track and stick to portion control.  One of these rolls is enough...if you are really hungry, maybe two.  What I do is have one roll up, one piece of  fru-gal's garlic bread (read on below), and a generous portion of your favorite mixed salad, and of course, one small glass of wine....I mean what's Italian food without red wine to go with it!  Try my recipes tonight:

One of my favorite wineries.....great red wines....located in El Dorado County

LASAGNA ROLLS

This is a different twist to traditional lasagna

½ package lasagna sheets (cooked)

1 small tub of fat free ricotta cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp favorite herb (I love rosmary or basil, or use ½ tsp each)

½ tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Any type of meat or veggie you like

½  jar of favorite marinara sauce

½ cup of lowfat alfredo sauce

1/3 cup of mozzarella cheese (or your favorite lowfat shredded cheese)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Mix ricotta cheese with herbs and spices, and any type of cooked meat or veggie you like( I like to mix in prosciutto and spinach,set aside

Spread alfredo sauce on bottom of baking dish

Take one lasagna noodle and layer about ¼ cup of ricotta cheese mixture , roll up and place in dish…repeat until all noodles are used up

Pour marinara sauce over noodles and sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over

Spray a piece of foil with cooking spray and place over dish so cheese doesn’t stick to foil

Bake for 20 minutes, take foil off and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly

Serve with lowfat garlic bread….recipe follows

LOWFAT GARLIC BREAD

1 loaf of French bread

2 tbsp lowfat butter or margarine

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp favorite herbs (again, I like rosemary or basil)

Olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 400

Slice loaf in half

LIGHTER PIZZA RECIPES INCLUDING "FRU-GAL" RECIPE

One of my favorite "guilty pleasures" is PIZZA!  But, you know what, with my new recipes, they don't have to be!  These pizzas are delicious and affordable, and the best part is:  they are individual portions, you can eat the whole thing and not feel guilty!

SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO PIZZA

1 small pizza round (around 150 calories) or flatbread

2 tbsp sundried tomato pesto, storebought or you can make your own much healthier version…(look to my previous post for recipe)

1 oz lowfat shredded cheese (your favorite flavor)

Fresh basil leaves

Tomato slices

Pine nuts (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil spray

DIRECTIONS:

-Spread pesto onto pizza round

Add cheese, a few tomato slices (4 or 5), as much basil as you wish, sprinkle with salt and pepper and a few pine nuts if desired

Spray a few sprays of olive oil from a spray bottle

Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes

BISCUIT PIZZA MINIS

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

-1 tube large refrigerated biscuits….on sale for 1.00 at grocery stores

-1 jar favorite pasta sauce….most brands go on sale for 1.00 at grocery stores

-1 bag (8oz) low fat shredded cheese….on sale for 2.00 at grocery stores

-1 can (about 14 oz) of black olives, sliced…1.00 at grocery stores*

-1 small can (about 6 oz) of sliced mushrooms….on sale for 1.00 at grocery stores

RECIPE DIRECTIONS:

-Preheat oven to 425 degrees

-open up can of biscuits and divide into 8 pieces

-roll out dough to form mini pizza crust

-top each pizza crust with sauce, cheese, mushrooms, and olives (as much as you like)

-bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown

*can use any toppings you like but may change the price of the meal

SERVE WITH A TOSSED GREEN SALAD OR PASTA SALAD (CAN GET A BOX OF PASTA SALAD MIX AT DOLLAR TREE FOR 1.00)

SERVES 4 (EACH PERSON HAVING 2 PIZZAS) INCLUDING SALAD FOR 7.00…. ….1.75 PER SERVING

Experiment and try with different, affordable toppings and come up with your own creations....kids really love that, and they are more likely to eat it if they created it.....This could be what's for dinner tonight!

FIGURE FRIENDLY PESTO RECIPE

My favorite type of pasta sauce is Pesto sauce, I just love it's nutty, creamy flavor.  What I don't like is all the fat and calories that come along with it! 
So....I decided to come up with a lighter recipe that I don't feel guilty about using but still tastes good.  This is what I came up with:

SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO RECIPE:

1 package (around 8 oz) of sundried tomatoes

1 bunch of basil leaves

¼ cup of crushed croutons

¼ cup of broth

¼ cup of nonfat ricotta cheese

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth

You can add more broth or sour cream to either make thinner or thicker

TOSS WITH COOKED PASTA......USE AS A SPREAD FOR GARLIC BREAD.....OR MY FAVORITE: AS A SAUCE FOR YOUR PIZZA....

Try it, you'll love it!

DEAL OF THE DAY

Here is my latest Deal of the Day:

I spent a total of 3.50 for what you see here! 

The little boxes of milk are vanilla flavored.....a more expensive flavor that my kids LOVE which only cost me .80 for all 3

There is no need to buy ANYTHING full price when you can get deals like this!

IT'S NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY!

HERE IS ANOTHER OF MY "FRU-GAL" RECIPES THAT I JUST LOVE AND IN HONOR OF NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY.....CHECK IT OUT:

PB AND B BREAKFAST POCKETS:

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

-sandwich maker or waffle maker

-1 loaf of white or wheat bread…on sale for 1.00 at grocery stores

-6 tbsp peanut butter…on sale for 1.50 per jar at grocery stores

-2 bananas….on sale for less than 50 cents per pound at grocery stores

-sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired

RECIPE DIRECTIONS:

-spray sandwich or waffle maker with butter spray and preheat

-take 2 slices of bread, on 1 slice, spread 1tbsp peanut butter, top with 1/3 of banana, sliced, sprinkle with cinnamon (if desired), and place other slice of bread on top, repeat with 5 more sandwiches

-place 2 to 4 sandwiches in sandwich/waffle maker, depending on how many can fit and cook for 3-5 minutes until inside melted and bread a light golden brown…enjoy your yummy, warm breakfast treat….be careful….filling may be a little hot

MAKES 6 BREAKFAST POCKETS FOR LESS THAN 2.00….THAT’S ONLY ABOUT 33CENTS EACH!

You may be thinking ”I never see these “sale prices” that you are talking about in my local grocery store”.  The truth is, all grocery and even drug stores rotate their products for sales continuously.  Look through their ads weekly, note the sales in particular of products you use frequently, stock up while they’re on sale (pair with a coupon if you have one for even more savings)  and make recipes according to what you have on hand.  I don’t believe in paying full price for ANYTHING EVER…it is unnecessary!  All you need is a little patience and time and, I promise you, you will see the rewards and savings you are getting!

You can even try this for lunch today!

DEAL OF THE DAY

Here is the Deal of the Day:6 pack raspberry flavored water for 1.00 a pack....this is the time to stock up!

You can SAVE BIG and be a shopper like me....it's easy and fun!

FRU-GAL DINNER

Here is another "fru-gal" dinner of mine that's so easy and so yummy and very affordable....just follow my directions:

CHINESE FIVE SPICE DRUMSTICKS

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

-1 package of 6 chicken drumsticks…..on sale or managers special for 3.00….sometimes less at grocery stores

-1/2 cup lite soy sauce…on sale for 1.99 at grocery stores

-2 garlic cloves, minced

-1 tsp chinese five spice powder….on sale for 5.00 at grocery stores….you only need a little bit but once you use it, you will start using it in everything!....If you don’t have, you can substitute with ½ tsp each: ginger, pepper, cinnamon, and anise or anise extract or cloves (or can use ¼ tsp of anise and ¼ tsp of cloves)

-salt and pepper to taste

RECIPE DIRECTIONS:

-Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper (to make it leaner, I always remove skin before adding salt and pepper…you won’t even notice the difference)

-mix soy sauce, garlic, and Chinese five spice powder together and place in large storage baggie, add chicken to baggie, seal, and mix all together…refrigerate for a couple of hours if possible

-preheat oven to 400 and place drumsticks in baking dish and pour marinade over chicken

-bake for 45 minutes

SERVE WITH STEAMED WHITE OR BROWN RICE AND FRESH OR FROZEN VEGGIES SUCH AS ASPARAGUS OR BROCCOLI…WHATEVER IS ON SALE THAT WEEK

SERVES 6 FOR 6.00…..1.00 PER PERSON….INCLUDING THE RICE AND VEGGIES!

This SHOULD BE what's for dinner tonight!