Hearty Brunch Potatoes

7 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-2/-in. cubes.
1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped green pepper
1/2 cup (125 ml) sweet red pepper
1/2 cup (125 ml) fresh or frozen corn
1 small onion, chopped
1 or more garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lb (.2 kg). low-fat smoked turkey sausage links
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive or vegetable oil
1/4 tsp (1 ml). pepper
Instructions:Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat.
Cook, uncovered, just until tender, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, saute next 5 ingredients until tender.
Cut sausage into small chunks; add to vegetable mixture.
Cook, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes or until heated through.
Drain potatoes; add to vegetable mixture.
Add oil and pepper; mix well.
Transfer to an ungreased 13 inch x 9 inch x 2 inch baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees (175 C.) for 35 minutes or until heated through.

Comments:
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 141 calories, 178 mg sodium, 12 mg cholesterol, 22 gm carbohydrate, 5 gm protein, 4 gm fat. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 fat.

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Onion Quiche

3 cups (700 ml) thinly sliced yellow onions
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter or margarine
1 cup (225 ml) thinly sliced green onions
3 eggs
1 cup (225 ml) heavy cream
1/4 tsp (1 ml). hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup (125 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
1 package Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
1 9-inch deep dished pastry shell (baked and cooled)

Instructions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 C.).
In a medium skillet, saute yellow onions in butter, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
Add green onions and cook 5 minutes longer.
Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl, whip eggs until frothy.
Whisk in cream, Parmesan cheese, pepper sauce and salad dressing mix.
Stir in onion mixture.
Pour egg and onion mixture into baked and cooled pastry shell.
Bake until top is browned and knife inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

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Japanese Fried Rice

4 cups cooked converted or parboiled rice (1 cup uncooked)
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely grated carrot
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup diced onion (1/2 small onion)
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
salt

Instructions:1. Cook rice following instructions on package (Bring 2 cups water to a boil, add rice and a dash of salt, reduce heat and simmer in covered saucepan for 20 minutes). Pour rice into a large bowl to let it cool in the refrigerator.
2. Scramble the eggs in a small pan over medium heat. Separate the scrambled chunks of egg into small pea-size bits while cooking.
3. When rice has cooled to near room temperature, add peas, grated carrot, scrambled egg and diced onion to the bowl. Carefully toss all of the ingredients together.
4. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan over medium/high heat.
5. When butter has completely melted, dump the bowl of rice and other ingredients into the pan and add soy sauce plus a dash of salt and pepper. Cook rice for 6-8 minutes over heat, stirring often. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com)
Serves 4.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

4 large firm green tomatoes
2 cups flour
2 cups corn meal (preferably stone ground)
1 egg
2 cups milk
vegetable
Instructions:Heat 1 inch of oil in a frying pan to 350 f. Beat egg into milk. Slice
tomatoes 1/4 - 3/8 inch thick. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper, or
your favorite seasoning. Dredge tomatoes in flour,knock off excess then
dip into egg-milk, last into cornmeal. Fry untill edges begin to brown
slightly, turn over for 2 min., or untill golden -brown on both sides.
Great with buttermilk and cornbread.

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Baked Buttercup Squash

1 buttercup squash
1 Tbls. brown sugar
1 tsp. butter
salt
pepper

Instructions:Cut squash in half, remove seeds. Place in baking dish skin side up in about 1 inch of water. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 min. or until tender. Remove from oven and fill each cavity with brown sugar, butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue to bake for 10 min.

VARIATION: Bake as directed, fill each cavity with brown sugar and seasoned sausage. Return to oven, bake 20 min.

Preparation Time: 55 min. Serves: 2

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Almond Green Beans with Cheese Sauce

2-3 lbs. fresh or frozen cut green beans
1 4-6oz. pack of Sliced Smoked Almonds
6 slices of Bacon (Fried Crisp, drained, cooled, and crumbled)
2 pkgs. Kraft Cheese Powder, or 1 to 1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese Sauce
1/2 cup milk and 1/2 stick butter (if using Cheese Sauce)
1/4 cup milk for thinning

Instructions:Boil or steam the Green Beans until done-AL DANTE (still crisp). DRAIN in a colinder and let cool slightly (for handling purposes). In medium sauce pan, heat liquids and make powdered Cheese Sauce OR heat Cheese Sauce. ADD to Cheese Sauce the crumbled bacon. Add to the green beans the sliced almonds. Mix the sauce. Put the green beans and almonds in the serving bowl, pour the bacon-cheese sauce over the green beans, thinning with milk if needed before pouring. Mix well. Serve with your other favorite dishes!

Preparation Time: 20-25 min Serves: 4+

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Tennessee Cabbage

Serves/Makes:4-6 Servings

Ingredients
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter
5 cups (1175 ml) shredded cabbage
1/2 tsp (2 ml) pepper
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1/2 cup (125 ml) of cream OR evaporated milk

Preparation
Put the butter in a skillet and let it start to brown slightly.
Add the cabbage and stir well; cover the skillet and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the salt, pepper and cream (or evaporated milk).
Cover and simmer 4 more minutes.
It is very important not to overcook the cabbage.

Comments
Note: You can add a touch of nutmeg for a savoury flair. You can also use the salt and pepper to taste. Also, I have used very successfully the substitution of bacon fat for the butter. I have no idea if this really is indigenous to Tennessee or not, but the person who originally gave it to me is from the city of Pulaski, Tennessee.

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Cucumber Salad

Serves/Makes:4-6 Servings

Ingredients
2 cucumbers, sliced thin
1 large red onion, sliced thin rings
4 tbsp (60 ml) sour cream
1 tbsp (15 ml) vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) water
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
1/4 tsp (1 ml) pepper
1/8 tsp (1 ml) or less, just a pinch of powdered tarragon
Preparation
Peel cucumber if you like, but slice in thin slices.
Peel the onion and slice into very thin rings (or half rings if too big an onion).
Make a dressing be combining the sour cream, vinegar, water, salt, pepper, and tarragon.
Pour over cucumbers and onions.
Chill and serve.

Comments
Note: Some people like a bit of sugar added for a sweetened version, which is fine.. do it to taste, using a small amount at a time when you make the dressing.

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Zucchini Fritters

Serves/Makes:30 Fritters

Ingredients
2 cups (475 ml) zucchini, grated
1/4 cup (60 ml) onion, chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) cheese, grated
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp (2 ml). baking powder
1/3 cup (80 ml) flour (or more)
1/2 tsp (2 ml). salt
1/4 tsp (1 ml). pepper
shortening for frying

Preparation
Beat eggs.
Add zucchini, onion and cheese.
Mix well.
Add baking powder, flour, salt and pepper.
Mix and drop by large spoonfuls into hot skillet with shortening.
Brown on both sides.

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Scalloped Tomatoes

Serves/Makes:4

Ingredients
1/2 cup (125 ml) butter
1 cup (225 ml) chopped onion
4 cups (950 ml) fresh bread in bite size pieces
1 tsp (5 ml). salt
1 tsp (5 ml). basil
1/2 tsp (2 ml). pepper
2 14 oz (392 grm). cans diced or sliced tomatoes
4 tsp (20 ml). brown sugar

Instructions:Preheat oven to 375 degrees (200 C.).
In medium saucepan cook onion in butter till tender.
Stir in salt, basil, pepper and bread pieces.
Mix in tomatoes and sugar.
Mix well, and put in a lightly greased 1-1/2 quarts (1425 ml) casserole.
Bake 30 minutes or till hot and bubbly.

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