Berry Mini-Meat Loaves

Ingredients:
Meat Loaves:
1 lb 10% lean ground beef
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced onion
Pinch ground black pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup reduced-sodium fat-free beef broth
1.25 oz package gravy mix

Berry Sauce:
1 lb, 5 oz bag frozen berries
1/2 cup orange juice

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 8 cups of a muffin tin with cooking spray, then set aside. Combine meat-loaf ingredients, except gravy mix, in a large bowl. Scoop into muffin cups and bake 30 minutes.
2. While loaves bake, mix berries and juice in a saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Prepare gravy.
3. Offer 2 meat-loaf muffins with berry sauce on the side. Serve with mashed potatoes and drizzle gravy on top.

Per serving:
340 calories
10 g fat (4 g saturated)
822 mg sodium
31 mg cholesterol

Submitted by Kari Merks
Originally in Parenting magazine

Cheeseburger Stuffed Potatoes

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:
3 large russet potatoes, scrubbed
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 tbsp parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt, plus 1/4 tsp
pepper to taste
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp plain low-fat yogurt
6 slices American cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prick potatoes several times with a fork and place them directly on oven rack. Bake until tender, 50-60 minutes.
2. While potatoes are baking, heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cool until slightly translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the beef, stirring to break it up, and cook about 5 minutes, until browned.
3. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomtato paste, parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper to taste. Cook another 5 minutes.
4. Remove potatoes from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle. Cut them in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl, leaving some behind to keep the shells intact. Mash potatoes lightly with a fork, then mix in the butter, yogurt, and 1/4 tsp salt. set aside.
5. Fill each potato shell with about 2 tbsp of the cooked hamburger mixture, then top with about 3 tbsp of the potato mixture, mounding slightly. Top with a slice of American cheese and bake until melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Per Serving: 413 calories, 23 g fat (10 g saturated), 708 mg sodium, 57 mg cholesterol

submitted by Kari Merks, originially found in Parenting magazine

Lasagna (meat and meatless versions)

Veggies and meat versions
Ingredients:
two blocks of frozen spinach (do not use in meat version)
As many button mushrooms you want quartered
(for meat lovers use 6 links of Italian sausage for flavor or 1-1 1/2 pounds of the ground meat of your choice)
1 medium sweet onion, diced
minced garlic (or garlic powder)
Italian seasoning to taste
2 cans diced tomatoes undrained (you need the liquid)
9-12 lasagna noodles uncooked
1 - 15oz ricotta (confession I used fat free)
1 jar - 16 oz? - marinara sauce (you can use spaghetti sauce also)
at least 2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Saute onion add spinach and mushroom ( Meat version: Saute onion, remove and brown meat, drain then combine with onion)
Add garlic, Italian season, sauce and undrained diced tomatoes (should be a little runny)
In a 9 x 13 layer the following (I spray the pan lightly with an olive oil spray to avoid too much sticking) Lasagna noodles uncooked
Dollop ricotta on top of noodles
Sauce on top of ricotta okay to spread it around
Sprinkle Mozzarella (I do it heavily :-) )
Sprinkle Parmesan
repeat 2 more times to create 3 layers
Let sit refrigerated for at least 8 hours. ( I usually do this the night before, but have done it as much as 4 days in advance and it tastes just as good because the flavors combine so well!) put into a cold oven at 350 degrees uncovered for 45-50 minutes. I broil it at the end for a couple of minutes to give the cheese so crispiness.

submitted by LukyNLuv