FRIENDSHIP FOODS December 21, 2005 Susan Noble Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent

Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate. That's what we do this time of year. This article is about celebrations - though perhaps of the untraditional sort.

First, I'm celebrating friendships. When I visited my friend Elizabeth Ann over the Thanksgiving holidays, she was very careful about what she served me to eat.

Knowing that I had recently been diagnosed with prediabetes, she had gone online and found suitable recipes she thought would appeal to me. She totally succeeded. Both of the recipes in today's column come from that weekend.

Second, I'm celebrating great food that's quick and easy to make. Many folks are too busy celebrating to spend time in the kitchen on everyday meals. These recipes will let you put good food on the table fast, so you can head to the mall to finish your Christmas shopping.

And when you're tired of celebrating with Mr. Turkey as the star of the meal, turn him into these great enchiladas. The recipe calls for cooked chicken. Elizabeth Ann cooked chicken thighs when she prepared the enchiladas for me. I have made them since using a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. But turkey leftovers should work just fine.

Now for your cooking lesson. The Spaghetti Pie calls for turkey Italian sausage. Some people think that a traditional beef/pork product, such as sausage or wieners, magically loses its calories when made from turkey. This is probably because nutrition experts have promoted poultry over red meat. However, if the skin of the turkey is ground into the product, the calorie and fat content are not decreased as much as we like to think.

If you're trying to lose weight, compare the calories in the turkey product to the calories in the traditional version. If heart disease or high cholesterol is your problem, then compare the amount of fat, especially saturated fat. Go with the product that has the least of whatever evil you are trying to avoid.

Also, notice that the top of the Spaghetti Pie is sprayed with cooking spray before baking to help it brown. Many recipes use butter to promote top browning. Remember the spray trick and try it with other dishes.

Now cook up these recipes to celebrate with your loved ones and have a merry holiday season.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12- x 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine sour cream, yogurt, soup, and chilies; mix well. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of this mixture down center of each tortilla (do NOT use all of this mixture). Reserve 1/4 cup cheese. Sprinkle each tortilla with remaining cheese, chicken, and onions. Roll tortillas and place seamside down in prepared baking dish. Spoon remaining sour cream mixture over tortillas. Cover with foil and bake 35-40 minutes, or till hot and bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle reserved cheese over tops of tortillas. Return to oven and bake, uncovered, for 5 more minutes or till cheese is melted.

Yields 6 enchiladas.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a large ovenproof*, nonstick skillet with cooking spray. In skillet over medium heat, cook sausage for several minutes, stirring to crumble, till sausage is no longer pink. Add mushrooms, spinach, and garlic. Cover and cook a few minutes more till vegetables are tender. Drain off any excess liquid.

Place sausage and vegetables in large bowl and toss in spaghetti. Add the mozzarella and egg substitute to the sausage mixture and stir to combine. Respray the skillet with cooking spray and spread the spaghetti mixture evenly in the skillet. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top and spray the top lightly with cooking spray. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes or till the center of the pie is set but still moist. Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.

Yields 6 servings.

Recipe adapted from diabeticgourmet.com.

*If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, bake the pie in a pie pan or quiche dish.

The use of brand names in this column does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of the products or services named or criticism of similar ones not mentioned.

E-mail address: Susan_Noble@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 12/16/05