Healthy Start

This is my favorite way to start my day. Throw everything in the blender and in a matter of seconds I have a healthy and yummy breakfast. Lean protein from milk and yogurt gives energy; soluble fiber from oats and banana boosts heart health. Enjoy!

Banana Oat Smoothie

In a blender, combine 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt, 1 banana cut into thirds, 1/2 cup low fat milk, 2 teaspoons honey, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; puree until smooth. Serve immediately.

Simply Italian

Face it, most of us love italian food, but who has the time to slave over a hot stove all day making fresh pasta and homemade sauce..not me, and I am sure if I tried chances are it wouldn't turn out. These recipes are easy easy easy and equally delicious. Enjoy!

Easy Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 1 box oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 1 large jar store bought tomato sauce
• 250g cottage cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella

DIRECTIONS

1. Brown meat with onions; drain off fat
2. Using a 2x13 inch baking dish, spoon small amount of tomato sauce and spread over bottom of dish
3. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top of sauce and top with beef and onion mixture
4. Cover beef and onion mixture with another layer of noodles and top with a layer of cottage cheese
5. Add a final layer of noodles then pour remaining sauce on top
6. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until noodles are cooked
7. Remove from oven, uncover and top with mozzarella, bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes
8. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving

Gordon Ramsay's Easy Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup light cream
• 4 tablespoons icing sugar
• 1 cup mascarpone
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablesppons Marsala (or rum or brandy)
• 1/3 cup strong coffee or espresso cooled to room temperature
• 8 lady fingers
• Shaved dark chocolate for dusting

DIRECTIONS

1. Whip the cream with 3 tablespoons of icing sugar until evenly blended, then beat in the mascarpone, vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of Marsala
2. Sweeten the coffee with remaining tablespoon of icing sugar; stir to dissolve then add the rest of marsala
3. Break in half and dip lady fingers in the coffee mixture; use to line the base of 4 serving glasses
4. Spoon mascarpone over lady fingers and top with shaved dark chocolate
5. Chill for 20 minutes before serving
   

Easy Banana Bread with Sour Cream

Had some brown bananas and sour cream I needed to use up and after a quick search found this recipe on grubgirl.com, I added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to please my husband's sweet tooth. The sour cream makes for a perfectly moist bread. Enjoy!

Cathy's Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

•1 cup mashed bananas/3 bananas
•1 cup sour cream
•1/4 cup margarine
•1 1/3 cups white sugar
•2 eggs
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9×13 inch pan, or two 7×3 inch loaf pans.
2. Combine banana and sour cream. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and banana mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; stir into the banana mixture. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan or pans.
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.