Monkey Bread

4 tubes biscuit dough, cut in fourths

1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
(may need more)

Grease a bundt or angelfood cake pan, then place pieces in pan.

1 stick butter, melted
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. brown sugar

Boil on medium for 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn. Pour over biscuits. Bake on 350* for 25 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in pan, then turn out.

Glaze:
1/3 c. butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2-4 T. hot water

Melt butter in saucepan, blend in sugar and vanilla, stir in water 1 T. at a time until right consistency.

Beefy Italian Pizza Sandwiches

3/4 lb. 93% lean ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 c. tomato-basil pasta sauce
1 16 oz. loaf italian bread
1 1/2 c. shredded reduced fat Italian cheese blend

Preheat broiler. Brown beef and onion, add sauce. Cook 1 minute or until heated through. Cut bread loaf in half, horizontally; hollow out center of each half, leaving 1-inch thick shell. Place bread halves on baking sheet; broil 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Spoon meat mixture into bread halves; top with cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Cut each half into 4 pieces.

Serving size: 1 open-faced sandwich, 6 points each.

No Pudge Brownies

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
2 egg whites (this is for cake like brownies and is optional)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt (a 6 oz. container, Dannon works best)
nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all dry ingredients. Add yogurt and mix well. Batter will be very thick. Spray an 8x8 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool. Dip a knife in warm water and cut into 16 squares. 2 pts. each.

Rice Pilaf

2 cups jasmine rice
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 1/2 c. chicken broth

Seasonings (to taste)
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
cayenne pepper
celery salt

Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium high heat. Add rice and cook a few minutes until slightly browned. Add celery and onion and cook a few minutes until celery/onion are soft. Add chicken broth and seasonings. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cover. Let cook for 18-20 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Do not remove cover at all during cooking. Fluff with fork and let stand an additional 5 minutes.

Makes approx. 8 1-cup servings - 4 pts. each.

Italian Turkey Burgers

5 points per burger

* 1 spray cooking spray
* 1 pound lean ground turkey
* 1/3 cup onions, chopped
* 2 tsp. minced garlic
* 2 tsp. fennel seed
* 1/2 tsp. table salt
* 1/4 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
* 4 sprays olive oil cooking spray
* 2 small tomatoes, ripe, yellow and/or red, thinly sliced
* 1 cup basil, fresh, leaves, torn or thinly shredded
* 4 reduced-calorie hamburger rolls

Coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray; preheat to medium-high.

In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, onion, garlic, fennel seed, salt and pepper; form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties. Coat burgers and inside of rolls with cooking spray.

Grill burgers for 5 minutes; flip burgers and add rolls to grill. Grill open-face rolls until lightly charred, about 1 to 2 minutes; remove to serving plates. Grill burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes more.

To serve, top grilled rolls with tomato slices and burgers; garnish with basil.

Crash Hot Potatoes

Red Potatoes
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Herb of choice

Begin by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil.

Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make, and cook them until they’re fork-tender

Next, generously drizzle olive oil on a sheet pan.

This will mean the difference between the potatoes sticking and not sticking, so don’t be shy here.

When the potatoes are tender, place them on the cookie sheet…

…Giving them plenty of room to spread out.

Next, grab your potato masher and gently press down on the potato until it slightly mashes…

Then rotate the masher 90 degrees and finish flattening it. Of course, you don’t want to absolutely smash it into the pan-you want it almost to resemble a cookie.

Repeat until all are flattened. And really, I don’t know why you couldn’t use the bottom of a glass for this step if you don’t have a potato masher. The surface might not be as textured and interesting, but I think it still might work.

Next, brush the tops rather generously with olive oil.

Next, grab some Kosher salt. You can use regular salt, but I’d really recommend using kosher. It adheres to the potatoes more easily and really flavors them nicely without getting too salty.

Remember: potatoes need salt. Don’t skimp!

Be ye ever as generous with fresh ground black pepper.

Now, you can grab some chives…or thyme…or whatever herbs you have available.

Whatever herb you use, just chop it pretty finely and sprinkle over the top.

Now throw them onto the top rack of a very hot (450-degree) oven, and cook them for 20-25 minutes…

…Or until they’re golden and crispy and sizzling.

--From The Pioneer Woman

Caramel Cookies

POINTS® Value: 1
Servings: 60
Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

1/2 cup(s) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup(s) packed brown sugar, dark
1 large egg(s)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup(s) whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

* Preheat oven to 400°F.

* In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Add remaining ingredients and beat thoroughly.

* Scrape dough out of bowl and onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a log, about 2 1/2-inches wide; completely wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.

* Cut dough into 1/8-inch-thick slices and arrange on several large ungreased cookies sheets about 1- to 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake until lightly browned around edges, about 8 to 10 minutes.

* Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.