5 pounds of potatoes
1 block (8 oz) of low-fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup low fat sour cream
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk (or more if desired)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes. Throw the potatoes in a large pot filled with cold water. Cook for 25 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and put them back into the hot pot. Add cream cheese, butter, milk, and salt. Mash with a potato masher or use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes. Spoon mixture into a freezer-safe container and label.

Thanksgiving Day: Put potatoes in the fridge 1-2 days before to allow them to completely thaw. Spray slow cooker with cooking spray and put potatoes in the slow cooker. Brush the top of the potatoes with a tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with paprika. Cook on low for two to four hours.

If you would rather bake these, bake the potatoes at 350 degrees for thirty to forty minutes or until completely hot.

This is great for your pizzas, for making bagel & English muffin pizzas for the kids, or as a dipping sauce. Visit this entry for more details on streamlining that homemade pizza routine.

Easy Pizza Sauce

Place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker (This is ideal when making large batches). Cook on low for six to eight hours.

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles

1 1/2       cups   all-purpose flour
3     teaspoons baking powder
1/2     teaspoon baking soda
1     teaspoon cinnamon
1     teaspoon nutmeg
1     teaspoon ground ginger
1     pinch salt
2     eggs
1/4     cup firmly packed brown sugar
1     cup canned pumpkin puree
1 2/3     cups milk
4     tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1. Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in large bowl.
2. In a second bowl, add eggs, sugar, pumpkin, milk, and butter; beat well.
3. Gently fold in the flour mixture.
4. Cook according to your waffle iron directions.

Cinnamon Muffins

1 1/2       cups   flour
1/2     cup sugar
2     teaspoons baking powder
1/2     teaspoon salt
1/2     teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2     teaspoon ground allspice
1     egg, beaten
1/2     cup milk
1/3     cup butter, melted
TOPPING
2     tablespoons sugar
1/2     teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4     cup butter, melted

1. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and allspice.
2. Add egg, milk and butter.
3. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened.
4. Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.
6. For topping combine sugar and cinnamon.
7. Brush top of warm muffin in butter and dip top of muffin into sugar/cinnamon mixture.

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream (regular, low-fat, or nonfat)
2/3 cup milk (whole, low-fat, or nonfat)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. To prepare the muffin tins, spray the indentations and the rims around them with nonstick spray, or line the indentations with paper muffin cups. If using silicon muffin tins,, spray as directed, then place the tins on a baking sheet. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until uniform. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sour cream until smooth then whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Stir int he flour mixture with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Fill the prepared tins three-quarters full. Bake for 18 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned but smooth. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool for ten minutes. Release muffins from the tin. If storing or freezing them, cool them completely before sealing in an airtight container or in freezer-safe plastic bags. The muffins will stay fresh for up to 24 hours at room temperature or up to one month in the freezer.

Variations:

Banana Walnut Sour Cream Muffins- add 1/2 cup chopped dried banana & 1/2 cup chopped walnuts with the flour.
Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup dried blueberries with flour.
Cherry Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup dried cherries with the flour.
Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips with the flour.
Cranberry Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup dried cranberries with the flour.
Raisin Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup raisins with the flour.
Coconut Sour Cream Muffins- Add 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut with the flour.

Mix all ingredients together until there are no lumps. Pour batter into well-greased waffle iron and allow each waffle to cook four minutes. Serve immediately.

Note: If you make the batter ahead of time, be sure to add milk to thin it out. My batter became too thick to even put in my waffle iron so add some water until you reach the desired consistency.

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons & 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 cup cooked ham, diced
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 (9”) unbaked pie crusts

In a medium bowl, toss the flour with the grated cheese. Sprinkle mixture into the two unbaked pie crusts. On top of the cheese, sprinkle ham over each of the pies. In a medium bowl, combine eggs and milk. Add salt & pepper then beat until smooth. Pour the mixture over each of the quiches. Bake one of the quiches at 400 degrees for forty minutes or until filling is set & the crust is golden brown.

Freeze the other quiche before baking. Put plastic wrap large enough to overlap sides over the top of the quiche, then a piece of foil, and seal well around the edges (the plastic will keep the foil from sticking to the food). Place prepared quiche in the freezer.
Each quiche serves eight.

Serve the quiche with a tossed garden salad & orange juice.

Amy’s Tips:

This quiche is the perfect new mommy meal, for potlucks, or to welcome a new neighbor. Keep one of these on hand for any last minute guests and it will always go over well.

Don’t feel limited by my list of ingredients, you can fill your quiche with any variety of your favorite ingredients- mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers….whatever suits your fancy! These are a great way to use up those little baggies of extra ingredients you might have on hand. You can also chop up extra pizza toppings (if you make pizza one week) and have them ready to go to prepare the quiche for the next day.
If you have leftover quiche and don’t think it will get eaten, wrap it in individual slices for your hubby to take to work in the morning or for a quick breakfast before taking the kiddos to school. Just lay the piece of quiche in the refrigerator, the night before, to unthaw and zap it in the microwave for a yummy breakfast.

Penne with Rosemary Chicken

1 pound diced cooked chicken
1 pound penne pasta (can sub with any short pasta, should penne not be available)
1 cup low-fat shredded cheese blend
1 tbsp dried rosemary
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups nonfat milk
1 1/2, 15 ounce cans of cream of mushroom soup

Preheat ovent o 350. Place everything into a baking dish and cover with the foil. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Or, place in a slow cooker set on low heat for five to six hours.