English Muffin Pizza

Salmon Mini Strata $5.99

3 pieces of whole wheat bread
1 can salmon (14 ounces)$3.89
1 cup mozarella cheese $1.20
1 egg .15
4 egg whites .60
1 tablespoon dried onion .10
1 tsp garlic powder.05
black pepper to taste

spray muffin tin with cooking spray
cut each piece of bread in 4 squares and place a square each in the bottom of the muffin tin
combine egg, egg whites, onion, garlic powder, pepper and 1/2 cup cheese in bowl and mix together
devide other 1/2 cup cheese amond each piece of bread in the muffin tin
pour egg mixture evenly in muffin tin about 2/3 full each
bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes or until the egg strata are light brown in color and a toothpick or fork comes out clean.

Gnocchi

This idea came to me in the middle of the night. I was remembering how much I love gnocchi and how much I dont like to make them because potatoes are full of water and the dough can be so mushy at times. I never know how they will come out, ive had disasters occasionally when making gnocchi. So continuing in the theme of convenience store cooking, I researched some boxed potato recipes and I found a ton on the internet, and came up with recipe and they came out GREAT!! The best thing about this version, was the dough was so easy to work with. I literally mixed the dough and cut the gnocchi in less then 30 minutes. I did need to flour my hands a bunch of times and I think it was key to put the gnocchi in the freezer for an hour after making them.
2 cups tap water, real warm
2 cups instant potato bunds
3 cups flour
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt

in a medium bowl combine water and potato buds. Mash with fork until combined. Add eggs and flour and mix again until dough forms a ball. Transfer to a wooden board and continue to knead dough, if dough still sticky, add more flour, do this until dough is not sticky and able to slice into pieces approx 3/4 inch wide. Then with flour on your hands, roll slices into round, skinny tubes. Then with knife cut tubes into 1 inch chunks.
place pieces on cookie sheet so they arent touching eachother, and sprinkle with flour so they dont stick. Store in freezer.
to cook

Mandarin Orange and Grapefruit Granita $2.60

I took my niece to Walgreens and she picked out this combination for a granita, and I was impressed with her creativity. She actually made the granita with my son they had fun making it and eating it!!!

ingredients
2 cups grapfruit juice $1.10
1 cup mandarin oranges $1.20
1 tablespoon honey .30

heat grapefruit juice, mandarin orange and honey in a sauce pan and let come to a boil, stirring the whole time. Lower and simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into a freezer safe bowl and freeze for 2 to 3 hours. Serve when frozen.

Banana Oat Walnut Cupcakes $8.04

These cupcakes were gone almost before they were frosted. I think I gave he Cupcake Boss a run for his money. The cupcake was moist, rich, delicious and super healthy. If a cupcake can taste so good with oats in it, I will include oats everytime. Oats, are afterall my all around convenience store superfood.

1/2 cup butter softened .64

12 cupcakes

1/2 cup sugar .40
2 eggs .30
1 cup banana babyfood $1.20
3/4 cup honey $1.20
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour .36
1 cup oats .35
1/4 cup walnut pieces .60
1 tsp baking powder.05
1 teaspoon baking soda.05
$5.15
For Frosting
4 oz cream cheese softened .99
1/4 cup butter .64
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar .65
1/4 cup walnuts .61
in small bowl cream cream cheese and butter, when smooth, mix in sugar
mix well
$2.89


in mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, banana food and honey, mox well. Combine dry ingredients, stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fill paper lined muffin cups until 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until cupcakes test done. cool before frosting

frost cupcakes and add a few walnuts to the top

serve

Pasta with Peas and Tuna $4.98

Here is a quick meal that can be made with pasta or rice. Ive made this with olive oil and spices and I have made it in a tomato sauce, both delicious. It is quick, easy and healthy. I know I say that a lot, but the truth is, if one wants to eat healthy, one can. A can of tuna whether. it is on sale or not on sale, is very inexpensive. I purchased tuna this week with an instore coupon for .69 a can, and the pasta cost me about .80, and the peas $1.69, olive oil .40, garlic powder .20, and wha la for $3.78 I have a meal for 4 people, or two super hungry people.

Ingredients
12 ounces pasta .90
1 tablespoon olive oil .20
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
dash black pepper
1 can tunafish drained and rinsed 1.99
1 can green peas rinsed and drained 1.79

cook noodles according to instruction
heat large skillet with oil add garlic powder on medium for a few minutes
add tuna and toss for a few minutes
add peas
toss in cooked pasta and saute all together for a few minutes
add black pepper
serve

Sweet Potato Casarole $5.30

Sweet Potatoes are a nutrition superstar! With high amounts of potassium, fiber, vitamin and they may also might be natures unsurpassed supplier of Beta Carotene.

3 cups canned sweet potatoes $3.00
1/4 cup olive oil .25
1/4 cup brown sugar .20
1 tablespoon cinnamon ,10

for topping
1/4 cup flour .26
1/3 cup pecans or walnuts .75
1/4 cup brown sugar .20
2 tablespoon butter .54

rinse and drain sweet potatoes very thoroughly
mash in olive oil, brown sugar and cinnamon, mix until smooth
pour into baking dish and smooth down evenly

topping
melt butter and mix with flour, sugar and nuts
top evenly over the potatoes
bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown

Tuna, Green Beans, Tomato Salad $4.37

Ive made this salad hot and cold,and I like it both ways. With a hint of olive oil and a little pepper and garlic powder, this is a great tasting, healthy salad. The combination of protein, B1,B3,B6,omega 3's from the tuna, vitamin C,A, iron,potassium, calcium,and fiber from the beans, and then the super food- tomatoes(actually, super food- canned tomatoes) which is high in the antioxident- beta-carotene, vitamin E as well as the carotenoid lycopene. This means that tomatoes are hielpful in preventing heart disease and cancers. Tomaoes are also high in potassium but very low in sodium which means they help combat hight blood preassure and fluid retention. Unlike some other canned foods, canned tomatoes retain most of their nutrients. Infact, cooked or canned tomatoes cantain more lycopene than raw tomatoes. So, yes I know I include tomatoes in a ton of recipes, but they are just so good for our bodies, and think they are also so versitile in cooking and always lend depth, flavor and texture.
Heres recipe and can served as a meal or appetizer

1 cup green beans(drained and rinsed very thoroughly) 1.29
1 cup diced tomatoes .99
1 can 6 ounces tunafish(drained and rinsed)1.99
2 tablespoon olive oil .40
dash pepper .05
garlic powder optional .05
toss all ingredients together and serve cold

Spaghetti White Clam Sauce $3.83

I love this dish because it is fast, tasty, nutritious and super affordable. Canned clams have lots nutrients including protein, iron, and potassium. Pottasium is


1/2 lb pasta .99
reserve 1/4 cup pasta water
1 can 6 oz clams 1.99
1 tablespoon olive oil .40
1 tablespoon garlic powder .20
1 tablespoon dried parsley.20
red pepper optional.05

boil noodles according to instruction
heat oil on low and add garlc powder and parsley
rinse clams and add to oil in pan
drain noodles and pour remaining 1/4 cup water into sauce
add noodles in skillet and toss for a minute
serve

Popcorn Trailmix

Popcorn is fun and convenient whole grain snack. it is an excellent source of fiber. It also helps steady one's blood sugar levels. Aside from this, it can be incorporated as a low fat snack, having a lot of nutritional benefits. I like to create afterschool snacks the kids can enjoy, and yet get tons and tons of health benefits When they come home and smell the popcorn, they dive right in, and there is nutrients in every bite of this Popcorn "trailmix". This mixture contains cranberries, candied pecans and dark chocolate, and these are packed with nutrients. Vitamin C, E, B complex, riboflavin, fiber, and lots of antioxidents.
This serves 4

1 bag microwave popcorn
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup pecans
1 oz dark chocolate bar(cut into small pieces)

microwave popcorn and pour into bowl(make sure popcorn completely cooled before adding other ingredients)
add 3 other ingredients and mix well

Walnut Pecan Granola $5.40

Great antioxident, snack, breakfast and sweet enough to be a dessert!! Although Oats have made my top 10 convenience store super foods, they are also on tons and tons of others super 10 list. With fiber, protein, vitamin A, B6, zinc and did I mention FIBER. Oats are so great because just 1/2 cup a day will help to lower cholesterol and aid in cardio health, not to mention control blood sugar, which can keep diabetes at bay. Try to eat Oats everyday, and if oatmeal gets boring, find different ways to prepare the little beige gems.
6 cups oats 2.10
1/3 cup canola oil .50
3/4 cup honey 1.20
1/4 cup apple juice .20
1/4 cup pecans .60
1/4 cup walnuts .60
1/4 cup raisins .20

mix oil, honey, and apple juice in bowl
add oats to the liquid mixture
mix evenly, so the oats are completely covered in oil
pour into a large cake pan, and pat down so the oat mixture evenly lays in the pan
bake at 350 for 40 minutes
remove from oven and toss the oats and repat them down in the pan
bake another 20 minutes on 250
remove and pour into another pan
add raisins, walnuts and pecans

Oatmeal Banana Muffins $4.27

preheat oven at 350
1 cup flour .36
1 cup oats .35
1/2 cup sugar .40
1 tbsp honey .40
1/2 cup butter .64
1 cup banana baby food .80
2 egg.30
1 cup milk .20
1 tsp vanilla .15
1 tsp baking powder.05
1/2 tsp baking soda.02
1/4 cup walnuts .60

beat butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, banana baby food, and honey with a hand mixer or by hand
in seperate bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder
combine liquid ingredients with dry
add milk and mix all together
when it mixed well together add walnuts

in muffin pan place muffin cups
pour batter in muffin tin, filling each about 2/3
bake for 25-30 minutes

Mexican Mini Quiche $3.29

These little egg muffins make a great breakfast or appetizer, I have served them for both. Also, I was making them for an adult crowd, so I used Rotel because I wanted a little kick in them, but they could be made with so many different ingredients. My son is happiest when they are made wth bacon, but then again he is happy when anythng is made with bacon. Next time Michael. Prep time for these quiches was approx 10 minutes and bake time 15-20, so very easy for an elegant meal or appetizer.

makes 12 minis
6 slices of bread(cut two rounds out of each slice of bread for bottom of muffin tin) .60
4 eggs .60
1 cup milk .20
1 cup shredded cheddar 1.00
1 cup Rotel .89

place rounds in bottom of greased muffin tin
evenly sprinkle cheese on top of all 12 muffin rounds
in bowl combine egg and rote
mix well
pour evenly over bread and cheese combo
bake in preheated oven 15-20

Remove let stand for a minute
place toothpick in center, if toothpick comes out clean, quiche should slide right out of pan by lifting a side with a fork or knife

Coffee Smoothie .80

1 cup cold fresh brewed coffee .20
1 tsp sugar .20
2 ounces dark chocolate .30
1/2 cup cold milk .10
4 ice cubes

melt dark chocolate in microwave. make sure to only give it 30 seconds, if the chocolate isnt completely melted give it another 10 seconds
when melted pour chcolate in milk and stir until completely blended

pour chocolate milk, coffee, sugar and ice cubes in blender and mix until smooth

Cold Shrimp and Crab Pasta Salad $7.18

This dish made great use out of my left over shrimp and crabmeat from yesterdays soup. I must say, on top of being constntly surprised by myself and the ease of the contstant flow of cooking ideas from living in my own made up food dessert, I love that I never have any waste. I used to be one that would buy and use part of something to cook with, and refrigerate or store the remaining food ingredient and then many times forget about it. It would go bad, or get rancid, and eventually get tossed. Now, however, Im always looking ahead for other recipe ideas, and incorporating them into other meals. Its chanllenging, fun and frugal, and at times convenient. Instead of searching for something I dont have in the kitchen, I find what I have, and work with that.

4 ounces elbow pasta .49
2 ounces canned shrimp (rinsed)$3.50
3 ounces canned crabmeat(rinsed)$1.99
1/4 cup drained diced tomato .50
1/4 cup green or black olives .40
1/4 cup mayonaise .20
1 tablespoon white vinegar .10

boil noodles according to instruction, since and let cool
in bowl combine all ingredients including pasta, mix thoroughly
serve immediately at room temp, or refrigerate for an hour or longer and serve
either way, delicious

Shrimp and Crab Bisque $8.23

This soup has the right amount of cream, flavor, texture and spice. Again I use tomato as the base because I love getting lycophenes in my own and my families diet. Next I included milk for the calcium and protein, shrimp and crabmeat both conain vitamin A,E,C which all provide antioxidents. I think this soup would be great with a little white wine as well, not to mention clams. Next time...
serves 8
Ingredients:

1/4 cup flour .10
1/4 cup butter .35
1 cup milk .15
1 cup tomato sauce .99
1 cup chicken broth .99
1 can shrimp $3.50
1 can crabmeat $1.99
1 tablespoon dried onion .10
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 tsp black pepper.05
dash of tabasco

in soup pot melt butter on low, when melted add flour, stir vigorously
add onion and garlic powder, continue to stir for a minute
add all liquid-milk, tomato sauce, and chicken broth, stir well together and let simmer for 30 minutes
add shrimp and crab, do onto boil, keep to a simmer another 10 minutes or so
add black pepper and tabasco if desired

Tuna Tomato Wraps $4.97

While I was riding the exercise bike I found a website with tons and tons of recipes with cream cheese. They ALL looked and sounded amazing. They were creamy and sometimes the creamcheese was flavored with various herbs. Lots of recipes can be done from ingredients from my local convenience store. I had a tsste for tuna tonight, so I went with the cream cheese mixed with diced tomato, dried onion, black pepper. The flavor was great. The combination of tuna and tomato is always great because of the lcyopenes in the tomato and the omega 3's and protein in tunafish. I topped it off with cheddar cheese which provides calcium and more protein.

I loved this wrap.
for 2 hefty and nutritious wraps
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon cream cheese(room temperature0 1.99
1/4 cup diced tomato .49
1 tsp dried onion .10
1/4 tsp black pepper .05
1 cup tunafish 1.99
1 whole wheat wrap .15
1 slice (2 ounces) cheddar cheese .20

mix cream cheese, tomato and herbs until creamy and smooth
add tunafish
spread on half the wrap
break the cheese in strips and line cheese up ontop of tuna cream cheese mixture
roll wrap and bake at 350 for 20 minutes, until wrap begins to brown and cheese starts to melt

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe $1.35

This is a shake that Elvis would have approved of!! It was filling and more like a meal. It has lots of nutrients and good stuff for our bodies. Peanut Butter provides protein, fiber and an important nutrient called reservatrol which contains high amounts of antioxidents. Along with potassium from bananas and calcium and protein from milk, this beverage makea a great nutritious snack.
serves 1 person
ingredients:
1 tablespoon peanut butter .25
1 cup banana babyfood .80
1 cup cold milk .20
1 cup ice
1 tsp honey .10

combine all ingredients in blender, blend until smooth

This recipe serves 1, if you perfer a bit less fat, you can stretch recipe to serve two by adding another cup of cold milk and serving two

Monte Cristo Sandwich $3.34

this comes from my Rachael Ray cookbook. I love to take certain cook/chefs and tweak their recipes so I can put them in my blog. This recipe worked, not only are all the ingredients available at my local convenience store, the recipe was easy and I was able to cup some of the fat and calories, because this is a traditionally fattening sandwich.

spray a cookie sheet with non stick oil
crack eggs in bowl and whisk in water
dip one side of bread of all 8 slices in the egg batter
layer the sandwiches with meat and cheese and close sandwich with top peice of egg battered bread(making sure to keep the egg batter side for the the outside)
heat skillet on medium and place two sandwiches
cover with lid and cook on one side for approx 5 minutes, egg batter should start to form a crust, almost looking like frenchtoast
flip the sandwich on the otherside and cook another 5 minutes.
sandwich is ready when the bread is crusty and the egg is cooked and the cheese is melted.

make 4 sandwiches
8 slices wholewheat bread .80
4 slices swiss cheese .60
8 slices ham 1.60
2 eggs .30
1/4 cup milk .04

Italian Egg Sandwich $3.59

This egg sandwich brings back fond memories of Italy. We ate eggs a lot in Italy, at night though, not for breakfast. I can only think it is because the main meal in Italy is Pronzo, which is lunch. Lunch is the main meal of the day and the largest meal, which usually consisted of pasta and a side of meat and vegetables. Dinner is usually something lighter or smaller, and breakfast is practically non existent-cappuchino and roll. This may all be a bit different now, especially pasta in the middle of the work day, but 20 years ago, this is what I remember.
I always like eggs in Italy because they cook them with olive oil, not butter, which gives the eggs great flavor. This egg was so good, especially because I made the sauce spicy. This recipe made 4 tasty, healthy sandwiches
4 tsp olive oil .40
4 large eggs .60
4 slices whole wheat bread .10
pepper
1 cup marinara $2.49
$ 3.59

heat olive oil in skillet on medium flame
crack egg in oil and add pepper
cover with lid and cook til white of egg is firm and yellow of egg is almost set
mean while toast bread
remove egg and place on bread
top with sauce
serve immediately

Marinara sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil .20
1 can tomato sauce 10 ounces $1.99
I tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 tsp dried onion .05
1 tsp dried parsley .05
2.5 ounces babyfood .85
pepper to taste .05
1 tsp red pepper flakes .05
Total $2.49

heat oil, add dried onion, garlic powder, dried parsley and carrot baby food
saute for 5 minutes
add tomato sauce and simmer for 30 minutes

Spaghetti Agli Olio with Diced Tomato and Baby Shrimp Recipe $6.76

12 ounces spaghetti $ 1.29
1/4 cup olive oil .40
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 cup diced tomatoes .99
1/2 cup rinsed and drained baby shrimp $3.89
2 tsp dried parsley flakes .10
black pepper to taste

boil noodles reserving 2 tablespoons pasta water
heat olive oil on medium while pasta cooks
add garlic powder
heat for a few minutes
add tomatoes, saute for 5 minutes
add shrimp, saute a few minutes
drain pasta and add reserved pasta water to sauce
add parsley and black pepper, mix well
toss pasta in the skillet and mix all together
serve

Pinapple Upside Down Cake

Tuna Cassarole with Peas $6.35

I grew up eating tuna noodle casserole, and I dont have the fondest memories of it, so I wasnt going to put it on this blog. However, looking through some tuna recipes, I found there are many different versions of this dish. The version I am used to usually contained a cream of soup of some kind, and I think that is what turned me off. In this version I didnt include a soup and made it with a combo of butter and flour, which created a creamy consistency. Combining that with real cheddar cheese gave it a great creamy, cheesy consistency. This dish was a well balanced meal for all. It contained carbs, vegetables, protein and dairy, a win win for everyone.




8 ounces penne pasta .90
2 tbsp butter .32
2 tbsp flour .17
1 tsp black pepper .05
1 cup milk .12
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese $1.00
1 can 5 ounces tuna $1.99
1 can 15 ounces drained rinsed peas $1.79
$6.35
preheat oven to 350
heat butter on low, when melted add flour and milk stirring the whole time
when melted and smooth, add cheddar cheese and black pepper, stir until smooth and melted
in baking dish add noodles and sauce, toss well together
add tuna and peas, mix well together
bake for 30 minutes

Sweet Potato Tomato Soup $5.99

I do have to note this soup came out great and although I am not surprised, the recipe is pretty much all mine because most recipes I found called for so many "fresh" ingredients, I found myself getting so frustrated, I turned the computer off. I found 1 recipe that called for 9 "fresh" ingredients, one of them being super funky "freshly roasted and ground fennel seed", infact the only dried ingredient was "dried tarragon".(??) so if someone doesnt have dried tarragon and they go to the trouble and expense to purchase a jar, do they ever use up that jar?
Even before my blog, these little things in recipes bothered me. I think its ok to put the recipe out the way someone would make it, but I think it is important to give options. I love cooking and trying new thing, but I was the first to be turned off when the recipe either got to complicated, or the ingredients too expensive. So I can only imagine if I didnt have a lot of grocery store options(or none) never wanting to cook. This recipe came to me on a whim, I didnt know if it would be good because honestly, I love sweet potatos, but I never cooked with canned sweet potatos. I know Ive had them before because my ex motherinlaw makes the most amazing sweet potato casserole every Thanksgiving and uses canned sweet potaatos. I love that dish, and that reminds me, I need to finda a way to make that dish, but to "skinny" it up. It calls for way to much sugar and butter. Anyway, here is my vesion of Sweet Potato Tomato soup:
Ingredients:
1 can tomato sauce 10 ounces $1.79
2 Cans sweet Potatoes(rinsed and drained)14 ounces $3.00
2.5 ounce carrot baby food .85
2 tsp olive oil .20
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 tsp black pepper .05
$5.99

heat oil in a soup pot
add garlic salt for 1 minute
add carrot, sweet potato and tomato sauce
simmer for 40 minutes stirring occasionally
let coo, run through food processor
simmer 10 more minutes, add black pepper
serve

Salmon Salad Swiss Cheese Melt $4.15

22

What to do with canned salmon leftovers?? I love to make my skinny salmon swiss melt. I had about 1 cup of canned salmon leftover from when I made my salmon salad develed eggs the other day, so needed to us it up, because waste is no good in my house! I added less hen a 1/4 cup of green olives(chopped into really small pieces) 1/4 cup of diced tomato, tsp of olive oil, dash of pepper and mixed it all together. Topped it on some wholewheat bread, finished it all off with a slice of swiss, and broiled for two minutes open faced.
The result: an awesomem, filling and healthy sandwich. Lots of food groups were covered. Hint: include a glass of milk, the added nutrients will do your body even better.

recipe
1 cup canned salmon $1.40
1/4 cup green olives .50
1/4 cup diced tomato .25
1 tsp olive oil .10
4 pieces wholewheat bread .40
4 slices swiss cheese $2.00

Pumpkin carrot bread $4.56

1 1/4 cup flour .36
1 tsp baking soda .10
1 tsp cinnamon .10
1 cup apple sauce 1.28
1 cup carrot baby food .88
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin .44
1/2 cup sugar .40
1 large egg white .15
1 large egg .15
1 tsp vanilla extract .10
1/4 cup walnut .60

Fruit Tart $6.38

This came by somewhat of an accident. I was going to make a pizza crust and thought the Jiffy corn muffin mix would be a perfect crust until I realized it was sweet. Since I dont like to waste, I decided to go the sweet route and made a treat I love, Fruit Tarts. I usually buy the pastry shells already made, but this was going to be more like a cake. My frosting would be cream cheese, whipped and sweetend by a bit of sugar and ofcourse the fruit. My fruit of choice was mandarin oranges, peaches, fruit coctail and dried cranberries and apricots. Really, any fruit that is desireable will do. Pinapples and pears would work well, as would dried blueberries and cherries. This cake is loaded with Vitamin A,C,D, fiber and rich in antioxidents esp coming from the cranberries, which is many times thought of as a superfood, so we are going to go generous on the cranberries.
Ingredients:
Jiffy corn muffin mix $1.99
1/2 cup canned peaches .60
1/2 cup mandarin oranges .60
1/2 cup fruit coctail .60
1/4 cup dried cranberries .40
10 oz cream cheese $ 1.79
2 tsp granulated sugar .20
2 tablespoon strawberry jam .20

make jiffy mix according to instruction, bake in pie tin or 9x6 bake pan
let cool'
soften cream cheese and mix well with sugar until smooth and creamy
spread evenly on cake
decorate cake with fruit

Cream of Pea Soup $5.74

The winter is winding down in the Chicagoland and I suspect most people are as happy as me! I like the change of seasons kindof and I like the holidays, but January 1st hits and I am done with cold, windy, snowy, icy days, but unfortunatly they are never done with me until April(ish?) OK, so I thought it would be a good time to make another soup, since soup season is almost over, yea!! This time I went with one of my faves, cream of Pea, and boy was it mmm mmm good!! This recipe makes two large bowls or four cups of delicious soup.

Recipe
2 cans peas- drained and rinsed $3.60
1 cup milk .20
1 cup vegetable baby food or carrot baby food $1.69
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 tsp olive oil .10
pepper .05

heat soup pot with olive oil, add garlic powder
add baby food and peas, stir and simmer for 15 minutes
add milk and pepper and stir
remove from heat, let cool slightly
pour into blender or food processor
blend for 30 second
turn off blender and scrape sides
blend 20 more seconds
pour back into pot
simmer another 15 minutes
serve

Spaghetti Tomato Fritata $3.34

12 ounces spaghetti or linguine $1.20
1 cup rotel .99
1 tablespoons olive oil .30
5 eggs beaten .75
1/4 whole milk .10
1 cup shredded mozarella cheese


In bowl, combine cooked pasta, rotel, eggs, milk and pepper
heat olive oil in skillet, when sizzling add egg mixture
cook, lifting edges of frittata occasionally to let mixture flow underneath,until bottom is light brown and eggs are almost set, about 5-8 minutes.

sprinkle top with mozarella, lower heat and cover pan with lid until cheese melts completely
remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes and slice