Family Foodies

“Mom, can you make me a TCT? You do it so much better than me?” is something I hear a lot from my teen daughter. It’s her favorite snack. Since I’m glad she still wants to spend time with me, I jump at the chance to visit with her as our collaborated efforts whip up this nutritious treat.

Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may have heard them called TCTs, short for Toasted Cheese Tortillas, or Quesadillas, or as my friend calls them, Mexican Grilled Cheese Sandwiches – she’s from Mexico and gets a kick out of calling them that.

This afternoon as I was waiting for my daughter’s prescriptions to be ready, at the Walmart we frequent, I found myself in the freezer section of the food area.

I was surprised to see just how many different frozen foods brands were available now! Where have I been? In a time capsule? I wasn’t aware the frozen food business had boomed.

There was the red box of Stouffers that has been around for a long time, the Healthy Choice meals, but then I seen the Marie Callender foods. LOTS of different types of them! Not just the pot pies, but full on MEALS!

As hectic as our lives get some times, I think I’m going to invite Marie to dinner every once in a while.

Have any of you made any of her meals from the freezer section? What do you think of her cooking?

Sometimes it’s just fun to treat the little ones with surprises at the table.

My sons’ favorite surprise was so simple. I would cook hamburger patties and put ‘faces’ on them with cheese, olives and tomato.

Hamburger Surprises

• Ground Beef
• Shredded Mozzarella
• Shredded Cheddar
• Black olives, slicked
• 1 slice of tomato cut cross wise

Make hamburger patties, cook till done. Lower heat and keep in pan. Make ‘faces’ on patties by sprinkling half the pattie with cheddar (hair) and half the patty with mozzarella (face). Place olives for eyes. For mouths, take edge of tomato slice, with no seeds, and cut a small piece for the smiling mouth. Put lid on pan to keep heat in. Let it stand covered for two minutes and then check to see if cheese has melted. Once it’s all melted, it’s time to serve.

Serve with their favorite condiment and see happy faces all around the table!

My mom made this chocolate cake for us all the time when my brother and I were growing up. The neat thing about this cake is that it has NO eggs, yet uses vinegar.

It doesn’t need to be iced, because it’s so good. We just sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

Makes 12 servings

Cake
2 egg whites
? cup sugar
½ cup apple sauce (in jar)
? cup raisins
1 cup carrot grated
¼ cup walnuts chopped
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons orange rind grated
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ cup warm water
1½ cups self-rising flour
cooking spray

Frosting
¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon light margarine (Promise®)
1-2 teaspoons fresh orange juice

Makes 4 servings

Dressing
1 egg
½ cup 80% less fat mayonnaise (Best Foods®)
4 anchovy fillets
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
2 tablespoons water

Croutons
3 slices whole wheat bread
cooking spray

Salad
¾ cup Canadian style bacon 95% fat free
1 large green leaf lettuce
1 x 8oz punnet cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese