Healthier Pizza Bread

At our house, we really like the crispy crunch of French bread-style pizza.  The only problem is the amount of bread and calories in the traditional kind.  We had recently discovered a healthy multi-grain bread in the Walmart bakery section, and it provided a healthier substitute for our love of pizza bread.  I just used a bread knife to cut each loaf into three sections lengthwise!  Spread with sauce, cheese and favorite toppings.  Bake on baking sheets in a preheated 400 degree oven!

Red Velvet Ho-Ho Cake

I love the bundt pan-type cakes for making  easy summer (or anytime!) desserts.  Here, I made a red velvet cake batter, baked in a bundt pan. (If you have limited time, just mix up a box of red velvet cake mix according to directions!). As the cake cooled, I mixed up the filling.  To serve it, just slice the cake and put a dollop of filling between the slices!  So easy!

~Red Velvet Cake~

1/2 C Crisco

1 1/2 C sugar

2 eggs

1 oz. red food coloring

1 tsp vanilla

2 TBSP cocoa

1 tsp salt

2 C flour

1 C buttermilk

1 tsp baking soda

1 TBSP vinegar

Directions:  Beat Crisco and sugar.  Add eggs, food coloring and vanilla and beat again.  Add cocoa, salt and flour, alternately with buttermilk to the sugar mixture.  Fold in soda that has been mixed with the vinegar.  Bake at 350 degrees until it tests done in the middle (30-45 min.).  Loosen cake edges and invert the cake onto a cake plate to cool.

~Filling~

1 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese

1 8 oz. tub of whipped topping

1/3 C confectioner's sugar

Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat until light and fluffy.  Chill.

YUM!!

Mom's Chicken and Swiss Casserole

This is a quick and delicious casserole that has Swiss cheese in the middle.  My mom made it and I asked for the recipe.  I've had it in my,"tried and true" file for years!

I halved this recipe for us, because with the amount of chicken in the original recipe, it's just too much for us.

(I also added a small can of drained mushroom slices to half of ours.)

That Swiss cheese adds just the right touch!

I put finely-diced celery on top of the side with mushrooms.

Mmmm....so good!