Fantastic Frittata

Fantastic Frittata

A very easy recipe for brunch, breakfast, or just because. I adapted a recipe I found in a magazine with what I had on hand in the house. There are ways to make this recipe lower in fat calories with substitutions for some of the ingredients. I've noted them below. However, I did not make this recipe with the lower in fat alternatives - and it was, as the title suggests - fantastic AND fantastically easy.

• 8 oz. box cream cheese - softened - OR - you could use low-fat or non-fat cream cheese - but I am betting that the recipe would not be as flavorful
• 6 eggs - Yes, 6 - OR - you could use a egg substitute equivalent to 6 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 2 tbsp. butter - OR - you could use margarine or low-fat margarine
• 3 small cans mushroom stems and pieces - drained - OR - you could use a package of fresh mushrooms if you prefer
• 1/2 cup green pepper - chopped
• 6 slices crumbled bacon - cooked - OR - you could use sausage or pepperoni - chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat the cream cheese, eggs, garlic salt and other spices in a bowl until well-blended. I used my mixer as it takes a long time to mix by hand. Melt the butter in a large skillet or oven-proof skillet on medium heat. Add the mushrooms and green pepper and cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until crisp and tender. Stir in the bacon and/or sausage or pepperoni. Stir in cream cheese mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until the center is almost set.

Transfer mixture to a round baking stone (I used my PC round baking stone) - or baking dish - Or - put your ovenproof skillet in the oven. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown and firm - but not overcooked. Cut with a pizza cutter and serve warm.

Do you know of any other "Fritta" recipes????? Please send them so I can try it!

Does anyone ever read these?

Easy Lamb Chops

Easy Lamb Chops and Potatoes
I've always wanted to try to make lamb chops, but the price of lamb made me pause......BUT, fortunately, our local SAM's Club had a great deal on some beautiful lamb chops, so I took the plunge.

I know there are many people who have a problem with the idea of eating lamb, but I blocked that out and proceeded to find an easy recipe for preparing lamb chops. My husband loves them, so I knew at least HE would appreciate them! I found a few recipes, and took the best of the three and made the chops according to the following recipe.

NOTE: I use Olive Oil PAM cooking spray to cut calories, rather than butter, margarine, or cooking oil. I am hopeful my arteries will thank me one day...!)

• 6 - 8 small- to medium-sized lamb chops
• 2 tbsp. Extra-Light Virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 tsp. minced onion flakes
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• 6 - 8 medium-sized golden potatoes - skins off and sliced thin
• 1 package fresh mushrooms - rinsed and sliced
• Olive Oil PAM cooking spray

Parboil the golden potatoes in a medium saucepan for 5 minutes or until some of the starch covers the surface of the water in the pan. This will make them less starchy, more tender, and will cook more quickly when you bake them with the lamb chops.

Mix the garlic salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Lightly coat the lamb chops in the mixture. In a large skillet or WOK, brown the seasoned chops in the olive oil. Brown on both sides. Add the water, lemon juice, dried parsley, oregano, onion flakes, remaining garlic salt and pepper mixture, and fresh sliced mushrooms. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to ensure the lamb chops are coated on both sides. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spread potatoes into a rectangular baking dish sprayed with Olive Oil PAM. I sprinkled a little more garlic salt and pepper on them, as well as a few drops here and there with Extra-Light Virgin olive oil. Add the chops and the rest of the ingredients on top of the potatoes evenly into the baking dish. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and/or until the chops are cooked through. Play around with the time they are baking until they appear to be at the consistency and/or doneness you prefer. (Now THAT sounds professional...!!)

ENJOY!!!