Louise's Seafood Newburg

1/2 C butter or margarine
1/2 C flour
1 T paprika
1 t salt
1/4 t nutmeg
2 C milk
1 pound imitation crabmeat cut into chunks
1 pound of any seafood (fish, shrimp, scallops) cooked (fish should be cooked and flaked into bite-sized chunks).

1. Melt butter and mix in spices & flour with a wire whisk to make a roux.  
2. Stir and cook roux for about 10 minutes over medium heat.
3. Gradually add milk to roux stirring constantly.
4. Continue to stir until mixture thickens to a creamy orange-pink sauce.
5. Fold in cooked seafood.
6. Taste and season with salt & pepper if needed.
7. Serve over buttered rice.
8. Should make 2 large or 4 small portions.

Danica's Favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

My grandaughter, Danica, loves to bake in Memere's kitchen.  The following recipe is one of her very favorites so we whipped up a batch today to enjoy while we watched the snow storm outside.
Ingredients:

1+1/2 C Sugar
3/4 C Coconut oil, melted
2 T water
2 large eggs
2 t vanilla extract
1+1/3 C flour
3/4 C baking cocoa (unsweetened)
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 C chopped nuts (any kind)
1/2 C peanut butter chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 13" X 9" baking pan.
3. Combine sugar, oil, and water in a large mixing bowl.
4. Stir in eggs & vanilla
5. Combine dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture.
6. Stir in nuts & chips.
7. Spread batter into prepared baking dish.
8. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out of the center slightly sticky.
9. Cool and cut 4X6 for 24 servings.

Louise's Healthy Power Bars

Instead of spending $$$ on expensive granola and/or power bars in the questionable section of your local supermarket . . . Try making these yourself.  Change up ingredients (like different kinds of fruit, nuts, flavored whey powders, add coconut, etc.).  The following is my favorite recipe:

Ingredients:

1/3 C unsweetened applesauce
1/4 C almond butter
2 T peanut oil
10 packets of splenda (or 3 T sugar or other sweetener)
1/4 C agave nectar
3 large eggs
1/2 t vanilla
3/4 C whole wheat flour (feel free to experiment with some of the newer flours on the market, like almond, coconut, or soy)
1/2 t baking soda
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ginger
1/2 C vanilla whey powder
2 C oats
1 C dried apricots (snipped into quarters with kitchen shears)
1/2 C sliced almonds (or similar nuts)
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat together first seven ingredients.
3. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Fold in dry fruit and nuts.
5. Thoroughly spray a 9 X 13 glass baking dish with nonstick spray.
6. Spread batter evenly in sprayed pan.
7. Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cut into 24 bars.
9. Store in a covered container or glass cookie jar. 

Note: each cookie contains approximately 128 calories and packs a powerful protein punch!

Louise's Stuffed Shrooms

2 Lg portabella mushrooms
4 oz. low fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 C Shredded Mozzerella

Directions:

1. Cut stems out of washed mushrooms.
2. Mix softened cream cheese with parmesan cheese and garlic salt.
3. Fill mushroom caps with mixture.  Top with Mozzerella Cheese.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender.

SO yummy and good for you too!

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Ingredients:

1 (approx 2 lb) head of green cabbage, cut into 1" thick slices
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 3 large garlic cloves, smashed
Louise's Rub
spray olive oil OR non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Pull outer leaf off cabbage, cut cabbage from top to bottom (bottom being root) into 1" thick slices.
2. Rub both sides of cabbage with smashed garlic.
3. Use a pastry brush to evenly spread the olive oil over both sides of the cabbage slices.
4. Finally, sprinkle each side with a bit of of my special rub or use sea salt and cracked black pepper.
5. Roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes. Carefully flip the cabbage steaks and roast for an additional 30 minutes until edges are brown and crispy.
Serve hot and Enjoy!