Fresh Tomato Spaghetti Sauce

My roommate has never been a fan of fresh tomato sauce. Apparently it has no flavor, and tastes too tomatoey. This amazingly passed her test. If you want intense flavor on your boring pasta, this is perfect. It seriously tastes exactly like Ragu's Sundried Tomato and Basil, minus the preservatives!

4 fresh tomatoes, diced
1 tsp onion salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh basil (2 tsp dried)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 TBSP sugar
2 tsp oregano
Dash pepper
Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in a skillet and saute garlic, onion, and salt for 1 minute. Add tomato, parsley, sugar, pepper and oregano. Heat to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how thick you like it. Serve hot over pasta and top with Parmesan cheese.

Second-Day Cake (Peanut Butter Crunch Cake)

This cake seriously is better the second day. I don't know how it works. Maybe the flavors meld outrageously overnight. But every time I make this and eat it warm, I'm disappointed. And then the next day I eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. :)

1 pkg yellow cake mix (18 oz)
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water
3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2-3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (divided)
1/2-3/4 cup peanut butter chips (divided) -Don't buy the cheapy brand. Trust me.
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)- I don't usually put these in, just because too many people are nut-picky. No pun intended.

In a mixing bowl, beat cake mix, peanut butter and brown sugar on low speed until crumbly. Set aside 1/2 cup. Add water, eggs, and oil to remaining crumb mixture; blend on low until moistened. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup each chocolate and peanut butter chips. pour into a greased 13x9" pan. Combine peanuts, reserved crumb mixture, and remaining chips. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350' for 40-45 minutes. Cool completely.

Italian Veggie Pizza

This is an Italian quicky. Thin crunchy crust melded perfectly with the moist soft veggies. The flavor of the Ranch didn't overpower the veggies like I thought it might. My absolute favorite was the freshly-dried basil sprinkled on top. It tasted SO fresh, Italian, and professional!

1 pizza crust (Soft Pizza Dough)
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP Ranch dressing
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 tsp dried basil
2 medium tomatoes, diced or thinly sliced
3 green onions, minced
1 cup frozen broccoli pieces
1 small can sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Combine Ranch and garlic to make the sauce, and spread evenly over uncooked pizza crust. Sprinkle the rest of the stuff on the sauce in order. Cook 10 minutes @ 500'!

Orange Julius

For some reason this reminds me of a Jamba Juice concoction. It's not a smoothie per-se, but a icy drink with intense orange/milky flavor! To borrow a line from one of my favorite songs, "throw it all in a blender, watch it spin around in a beautiful oblivian!"1 6oz can of frozen concentrated OJ
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
12 ice cubes

Combine everything in a blender and blend until smooth!

Apple Crisp

Variation with 1/4 cup almond pieces

I woke up late today, and good ole' Mother Nature decided it was time for a little rain. After a bit of grumbling, eye-rubbing, and shuffling of slippers, I decided to forgo my usual Quaker breakfast bowl and introduce my plastic mixing bowl to the morning. When it's overcast, I need something warm and flavorful to fill the dreary pit in my stomach. Mom's Apple Crisp came straight to mind. This was a regular made just for the kids in the dark and dreary hours before school. And boy did it give us the sugar-rush needed to run full-speed to the bus stop.

FYI: Now, you might not think this is a breakfast food. But just think of groups on the food pyramid you can cross off! Fruit, bread, and sugar. That's half the pyramid right there! (...all part of a complete breakfast folks...)

4 cups sliced tart apples (about 4 medium)

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup margarine/butter, softened

Heat oven to 375'. Arrange apples in greased casserole dish. Mix the remaining ingredients together very well, making sure flour is entirely mixed in, eventually making oat clumps. Sprinkle mix over apples. Bake until topping is golden brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve warm with whipped or ice cream!

YIELD: About 6 servings