Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. white sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2-1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1-3 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
2 c. chocolate chips

• Cream together butter and sugars.
• Add vanilla and eggs
• Mix in baking soda, flour, and pudding.
• Add chocolate chips.
• Drop by tablespoon-full on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes or until slightly browned (when it comes to cooking time with these cookies, less is more! Do not over-brown!)
• Remove from cookie sheet and cool on paper towels.

Sausage Balls

Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 1/2 cups Bisquick
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 lbs Jimmy Dean sausage

• Mix all ingredients together.
• Form into 1 inch balls.
• Bake at 375 degree for 15 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. May also be baked individually in a mini-muffin pan.

These may be frozen for later use. Freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then place in freezer bags. They may be put into the oven frozen, but the cooking time will be longer.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Brownie Batter:

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Cheesecake Batter:

6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each ground ginger and ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x8" square metal baking pan.

For the Brownies:

Beat together melted butter, sugar, and vanilla, then beat in eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients and then gradually stir into butter mixture by hand.

For the Cheesecake:

In a separate bowl, beat together all ingredients.

To assemble:

Spread about 2/3 of chocolate batter into prepared pan. Spread the pumpkin batter over it, distributing evenly. Drop the remaining brownie batter over cheesecake batter. To make the swirls, run a butter knife back and forth through the pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until center is set. Cool completely and chill before cutting and serving.

Pumpkin-Craisin Muffins

1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour (you could probably use all white-whole wheat flour, but I wasn't feeling adventerous)
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/4 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (or vegetable oil, if you're not calorie counting)1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup Craisins (could also use raisins)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, optional

• Preheat oven to 400 and grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Sift together flours, baking powder and soda, salt and spices.
• In a seprarate bowl, beat egg with brown sugar until well combined.
• Stir in vanilla, buttermilk, applesauce and pumpkin puree.
• Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and stir until just combined.
• Fold in nuts (if using) and Craisins.
• Pour mixture into muffin cups and bake approximately 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Black Bean Croquettes

2-15 oz. cans black beans, rinsed
1 t. cumin
1 c. frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/4 plus 1/3 c. breadcrumbs (panko or Italian)
2 c. finely chopped tomatoes*
2 scallions, sliced*
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro*
1 t. chili powder, divided
1/4 t. salt
1 T. olive oil

• Preheat oven to 425. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Mash black beans and cumin with a fork in a large bowl until no whole beans remain. Stir in corn and 1/4 c. breadcrumbs. Combine tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, 1/2 t. chili powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir 1 c. of the tomato mixture into the black bean mixture.
• Mix the remaining 1/3 c. breadcrumbs, oil, and remaining 1/2 t. chili powder in a small bowl until the breadcrumbs are coated with oil. Divide the bean mixture into 8 scant 1/2 c. balls. Lightly press each bean ball into the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the croquettes until heated through and the breadcrumbs are goldren brown, about 20 minutes.

Makes 4 servings, 2 croquettes each

405 calories/serving, 12 g fat (2 g sat)

16 g protein, 16 g fiber, 61 g carbs

*You may also use about 1 c. bottled salsa, plus more for serving.

Beef and Black Bean Burritos

8 oz. lean ground beef
1 C. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 t. ground cumin
1 t. chili powder
1/2 t. ground coriander
Salt and pepper to taste
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
6-8 inch flour tortillas
1 to 1-1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa

• In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, along with the onion, and garlic.
• Stir in cumin, chili powder, and coriander. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the black beans, salt and pepper.
• Cook for about 5 minutes. Spoon the beef mixture down the center of a tortilla and top with the cheese and and other of your favorite taco toppings.

optional additional toppings: shredded lettuce, taco sauce, sour cream, and any other of your favorite taco toppings

Pork Chops in Garlicky Sauce

Serves 4

4 thick bone-in pork chops (about 2 lbs). I used boneless chops
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 T. olive oil
1 C. chopped onion
1 C. chopped bell pepper
1.5 lbs baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces. I didn't peel them
1 C. peeled, seeded, and chopped tomato. I skipped this
1/2 t. pimenton, bittersweet if available. I left this out because I don't know what it is!
Pinch of ground cloves
Freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of dried thyme
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1/3 C. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• Sprinkle the chops with salt and pepper and let them stand for 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat and fry the chops, turning to brown both sides, for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove them from the skillet.
• Add the onion, green pepper, and potatoes and saute for 5 minutes. Add the tomato and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 C. water, 1/2 t. salt, the pimenton, cloves, nutmeg, and thyme. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, 30 minutes.
• Return the pork chops and and juices to the pan and reheat gently until the chops are cooked through, 5-10 minutes.
• Puree the garlic and parsley in a blender with 1/3 C. water. Stir into the skillet and combine with the pan juices. Cook for 5 minutes.

From Cooking From the Heart of Spain by Janet Mendel