Here's one...the leaner the ground beef the fewer calories..but I guess that's obvious. Cabbage Rolls from Sara Rosen Separate cabbage leaves by putting head of cabbage in a large pot of boining water and lettint ti sit for 20 minutes or so. Separate out individual leaves and fill with the following: Mix together.... 2 pounds lean ground beef 1 egg 1/2 cup beef broth....or water 1/4 cup uncooked long grain rice. 2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed Pepper to taste Mix together and place about 1 1/2 Tablespoons full in each cabbage leaf, roll up and fasten with a tooth pick. Meanwhile....shred the rest of the cabbage, an onion, a couple stalke of celery finly sliced and a carrot chopped fine, and a 1 pound 12 0oz can of whole tomatoes. Place cabbage rolls in a Dutch oven alternatly with a mixture of the veggies in layers. Add water to almost cover the cabbage rolls and between 1/2 and 3/4 cups brown sugar, juice of a lemon and a crushed clove of garlic. Cover the rolls and sauce with a couple of whole cabbage leaves and top with a drizzle of catsup over all. And bake in a 250 degree oven for 4 hours......check often to see that it doesn't cook dry. Here's another....make this with turkey for less fat...good on a bun or with cooked brown rice. Danne's BBQ'd pork ( works well with turkey too) One Large onion,. chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped green pepper, chopped 1 1/2 cups broth 2 cloves garlic, mashed ( I like more) 1 T salt ( or to taste) 1 small bottle catsup ( or a bottle chili sauce) 2 T brown sugar 2 T vinegar 1 tsp allspice 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp tobasco 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp paprika. Cook about a 5 pound pork roast, covered with some water until very tender. Cool and cut up, Simmer for about 3 hours with the sauce ingredients. Serve on a bun. This is from Sharon CB..and can be cooked frozen and reheated in the micro. Fresh Salmon Cakes 2 cloves garlic; minced 2 tablespoons minced onion 2 dashes Tabasco (or 1 teaspoon Old Bay) 1 egg yolk (or egg white) 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 2 tablespoons real mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (less if table salt) fresh ground pepper to taste 2/3 cup coarse white bread crumbs 1 pound fresh salmon 1/2 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs) 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil In a small bowl, combine garlic, onion, Tabasco, egg, parsley, mayonnaise, salt and pepper; set aside. Remove skin and bones from salmon and cut into small cubes (about 1/2-inch); place in a medium bowl and gently stir in bread crumbs. Gently fold egg mixture into salmon and bread and refrigerate at least 2 hours before shaping into 4 patties. Carefully coat the outside of each patty with Panko crumbs. Heat oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot and add salmon cakes. Fry the cakes until brown, about 4 minutes on each side turning only once. Serve with lemon wedges or your favorite tarter sauce. *May substitute cracker crumbs or bread crumbs for the Panko. And this, chill and remove fat before freezing. Gypsy Stew..Pink Adobe, Santa Fe 1 large frying chicken cut into pieces 3 yellow onions peeled and quartered 8 cloves garlic, peeled and halved ( I chop!) 2 cups dry sherry 1 cup chicken stock 12 medium hot chilis like poblano, roasted, peeled and seeded (or use canned) 6 large ripe tomatoesÂAgain I use whole canned plum tomatoesÂ.cut in 4thsÂpull apart using 2 forks) Salt to taste and ½ pound grated jack cheese Put chicken, onions, garlic 1 cup of sherry and the broth in a large heave kettle ( add more broth to cover if neededÂ..simmer one hourÂ.cool somewhat and remove skin and bonesÂ.I also cool the pan juices somewhat and skim the fat.. Put chicken tomatoes, chilis and rest of the sherry back in the pot and simmer about 45 minutes. To serveÂplace cheese cubes in the bottom of bowl and ladle hot soup over the top. Good made ahead and reheated. Linda C

Two more for your perusal: GREEK PASTA SALAD 1 lb. medium-size shell or other short pasta (4 cups) Salt 2/3 cup olive oil 2 Tblsp. fresh lemon juice (1 lemon) 2 small cloves garlic, crushed in a garlic press 1 tsp. dried oregano Freshly ground black pepper 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half 1-1/2 cups chopped cucumber (2 medium-size or 1 large cucumber) 1 cup chopped red onion (1 medium-size onion) 1 cup (4 oz.) crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint or parsley Pickled banana or cherry peppers or steamed shrimp (optional), for garnish Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the pasta and 1 tsp. of salt, reduce the heat to medium-high, and cook the pasta, uncovered, according to the package directions until just done, 8 to 9 minutes. Meanwhile, place the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Set the salad dressing aside. Drain the pasta well in a colander, shaking it to remove the excess water. Transfer the pasta to the large mixing bowl with the dressing. Stir to coat and let the pasta come to room temperature, about 20 minutes. When the pasta is cool, fold in the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, feta cheese, olives, and mint or parsley. Stir to combine well. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and/or black pepper if needed. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and serve at once garnished with the banana peppers or shrimp, if desired, or cover and refrigerate the salad until serving time. Serves 8. Big Batch: This salad is easy to double or triple, but cook the pasta a pound at a time, and mix the salad one batch at a time. Tote Notes: Tote this salad right in its serving bowl and bring the optional garnish of peppers or shrimp in a separate container, if you like. Cover the serving bowl with plastic wrap that sticks securely to the rim of the bowl to make traveling less messy. If possible, let the salad come to room temperature before serving. Then stir the salad again and top it with the garnish, if using. From What Can I Bring by Anne Byrn. SANTA FE PASTA SALAD This salad is simply fabulous! The flavor blend is right on. Add some diced, cooked chicken to make a delicious meal-in-one salad, or serve as is on the side. 1 pkg. (16 oz.) rotini pasta 1-1/4 cups tomato juice 1-1/2 Tblsp. olive oil 1 Tblsp. red wine vinegar 1 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup cooked corn kernels 1/4 cup chopped scallions 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 2 Tblsp. diced green bell pepper 2 Tblsp. diced Roma tomato Boil pasta according to pkg. directions. Rinse under cold water and drain well. Stir together tomato juice, olive oil, vinegar, chili powder, paprika, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Toss with pasta in a large bowl. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Combine Parmesan cheese, corn, scallions, cilantro, green pepper and tomato. Combine with chilled pasta; cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Season with cracked black pepper before serving if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

These are three of my all time favourite pasta dishes. The Penne is served at our favourite Italian restaurant and is remarkably good for being so simple. Gina's Lemon Scampi is often on our menu. So easy and fast but oh so good! The Puttanesca is for nights I'm feeling naughty. I usually serve it with chicken or veal Parmesan. Penne Calabrese 2 pound Italian sausage -- Sliced In 1/4 Inch PiECES 4 cups plum tomatoes -- Peeled And crushed 1 sweet red pepper -- sliced 1 sweet yellow pepper -- sliced 1 jalapeno -- sliced thinly 1 1/2 pound penne olive oil Grated Parmesan Combine all ingredients except olive oil and penne. Cook over low heat for 2 - 3 hours. Cook the penne and drain, toss with the olive oil. Toss penne with the sauce and serve with gated Parmesan. Lemon Linguine With Scampi (Gina) Vegetable oil 1 TBSP kosher salt plus 1/2 teaspoons 3/4 lb linguine 3 TBSP unsalted butter 2 1/2 TBSP good olive oil 1 1/2 TBSP minced garlic (4 cloves) 1 lb large shrimp (about 16 shrimp) -- peeled 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 1/2 lemon -- zest grated 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons) 1/4 lemon -- thinly sliced in half-rounds 1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine. When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve. Pasta Puttanesca 1 pound spaghetti or linguine 2 Cans best grade Italian plum tomatoes 1/4 cup best quality olive oil 1 teaspoon oregano 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste) 1/2 cup black olives, Sliced 1/4 cup capers, drained 4 garlic cloves, minced 8 anchovy fillets , chopped coarsely (or less) 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped Drain the tomatoes and cut in half. Combine the tomatoes and olive oil in a skillet and bring to a boil. Keep the sauce at a boil and add all remaining ingredients except pasta, stirring as you add. Reduce heat and simmer until the sauce has reached a consistency you like. Meanwhile bring 4 quarts salted water to the boil. Cook pasta until tender but still firm. Drain and toss with sauce. Serve immediately with fresh grated parmesan.

I'm going to have to try this, I love anything with peppers in it!! I think I'll add another pasta/veggies/certainly-not-vegan recipe here, too... I posted this on the "cooking" forum: Here is one for Pasta Primavera: Diced mushrooms diced garlic dash olive oil 1/4 cup diced onion chopped basil to taste put in pan, heat with salt and pepper until onions are translucent add these to the pan: 1 or 1/2 carrot, sliced on the bias one head of broccoli, separated into florets half yellow squash, chopped fairly large handful of green beans, chopped a bit larger than 1" 1/4 to 1/2 bell pepper, any colour, julienned 1/2 cup onion, chopped basil, chopped heat until carrots and broccoli stems are tender enough to your liking all the while, cook pasta. I used gamelli. Drain in a colander, place lid on top of colander/pasta to keep warm. In the pot you cooked the pasta, place the cooked veggies, scraping out all of them but leaving a little bit of mushroom stuck to pan. place on heat, add Almost a pint of half and half in (for you Canadians, that would be table cream) add 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese add 1/4 to 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese, broken or sliced let medium heat warm it up, raise heat if needed add nutmeg, about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon add pasta, stir/fold until sauce covers it add veggies, do same serve, top with more chopped, fresh basil Eat!! When re-heating the next day, use the last bit of half and half, a tablespoon of parmesan cheese, a little more gorgonzola and a teaspoon of olive oil, warm that first, then add the leftovers