This sauce serves double duty as a dip and as a spread for the pizzas. You can also purée it if the kids prefer a smooth texture.
This no-added-fat quick version of baked beans uses only a bit of molasses and the natural sweetness of apples, so the recipe scores only about half the fat and calories of traditional baked beans.
Toss this crunchy salad together to take along a ready-made dish. For a heartier salad, add 2 cans (each 6-1/2 oz/184 g) drained chunk tuna.
Fresh homemade cannelloni are a cinch to make—all you need to do is cut, fill and roll! Piping the filling onto the pasta makes for a mess- and fuss-free assembly, but feel free to spoon on the filling if you don't have a piping bag on hand. Serve with a mixed green salad.
I like to prepare dishes for guests that allow me to enjoy their company. In order to do this, I select dishes that can be prepared before the guests arrive and are already cooking while we are enjoying their company. My "Sure to Please" Chicken Cacciatore is a prime example of this. Over time I have made several adjustments to enhance the flavour while at the same time using healthy alternatives (eg. skinless chicken thighs and breasts; I saute ingredients in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter). Because this dish has an Italian flare, so do all the other dishes that I serve before, during and after this meal. I serve an antipasta tray as an appetizer, and toasted garlic bread, a tossed green salad with an oil and vinaigrette dressing, whole wheat spaghetti, and the same wine that is in the cacciatore. For dessert I serve Tiramisu (also made ahead). As a result, most of my work is complete before company arrives. I have shared this recipe with women who say they do not cook and I have received rave reviews from all of them - their guests loved it so much that one man ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I like to make this dish in the summer, when I can use fresh produce from my vegetable garden or from the local farmer's market. My inspiration for this recipe is that I love to cook and entertain. This recipe is full of flavour, easy to prepare and tastes like you were in the kitchen all day (what a bonus!).
