Family dinners
test new recipes

Barbara
NMicCreadie

PRONE Se
BUDGET

HOW STRAIGHT is
Highway 94 between

. Billings, Montana, and the
North Dakota-Minnesota
border? ,

So straight that I can sit in the
back of the camper and type this
column. We're driving through
what the Americans describe as the
“Heartland of America” — hun-

oS dreds of miles in all directions of

rolling grasslands, prosperous
farms and ranches.

You know you're truly in cattle
country when the first tune you
hear on the radio in the morning is,
Prop Me Up Beside the Juke Box
When I’m Dead, followed by a
commercial for seed grain, guaran-
teed to be free of root rot. The
announcer, without a pause, report-
ed a loose steer “But they roped the
bugger.” How's that for real cow-
boy radio?

Just before we left home, I had
the whole family over for dinner.
Rick and Janine got back from
their honeymoon that afternoon so
the timing was right. We had a few
days when everyone was home in
North Van before we took off East,
Dan went fishing and Lori and
Jerry left for Homby. It’s not easy
getting the group together any-
more.

Family dinners are a great
opportunity to try new recipes. I
think you'll like the Eggplant
Parmesan — we did. This recipe is
pared down so anyone on a
restricted diet can enjoy it-——-low .
fat and sugar-free. Eat lots of that
and skip the ribs! They were pro-
nounced delicious but not for
dieters.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

_ If you're watching fat intake,
fry the battered slices of eggplant
in a non-stick pan — give ita
spray of Pam at the start and it
won’t need another. Otherwise, fry
the slices in oil.

For the white sauce, if you're
watching your diet, follow the
‘recipe given. Otherwise, use whole
milk, regular margarine. You can
also use regular milk (or even cof-
fee cream) if you want to make the
batter richer. It’s not necessary.
though, This is one recipe that's
delicious pared-down.
2 medium eggplant (approxi-
mately 6x 4” )

wy Batter:

1 egg
1c. skim milk

Ac. flour

White sauce:

3 Tbsp. Becel Jight margarine
2 Thsp. Nour

1c. skim miik

salt and pepper

1 14 oz. tin tomato sauce

4c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
freshly cracked pepper
seasoned salt ;

Cut the eggplants in 4" slices.
Beat ingredients for batter together
(wire whisk works well) and dip
slices.

Fry in a medium-hot skillet
until brown on both sides, Layer
half in a sprayed flat casserole dish
-— a lasagna pan is excellent.

For white sauce, melt mar-
garine, stir in flour and whisk in
milk. Cook over medium heat,
whisking until thick. Season.

Top the first layer of egeplant
with alternating spoonfuls of white
sauce and tomato sauce. Sprinkle
with half the cheese and half the
seasonings. Repeat. Bake at 350°,
40 minutes.

If making ahead, (refrigerated)
bake 20 minutes covered with foil
and then 40 minutes or so, uncov-
ered or until bubbly and browned.

. OVEN BARBECUED RIBS

These are the classic “sticky
tibs.” There isn't much sauce left
at the bottom of the pan for spoon-
ing over rice so you may want to
serve a seasoned rice dish rather
than regular. Since we were having
the Eggplant Parmesan, J made
plain Parsley Rice — the eggplant
is quite saucy.

Sauce:

lc. brown sugar

4c. bottled chili sauce

%e. ketchup

% c. rum (or whatever you’ve got
—~ IT used rye and Grand
Marnier mixed — draining bot-
tles from the back of the cun-
board)

% ¢. Soy sauce

1 Tbsp. grated lemon zesi (yellow
peel only)

1 tsp. dry mustard

4 Jarge cloves garlic, crushed

Ribs:

6 lb. regular ribs, cut up (this is
enough for 8)

granulated garlic

cracked pepper

weter

You can do all or part of this
tecipe the day before. Place ribs in
large roasting pan with lid,
Sprink'e with seasonings and add
enough water so you can see it
through the ribs. Cover and bake at
325° for 1% hours. Drain well.
Whisk sauce ingredients together
and pour over drained ribs. Bake
uncovered, 1% hours at 350°, bast-
ing often.

Towards the end, basting gets
difficult — use two big forks and
just toss the ribs around. Serve
with plenty of napkins.

T served a big Greek Salad. gar-
lic braad and Lari made apple pic.
A memorable meal.

Here's a great small family
casserole —- it serves 4 or 5,
depending on appetites.

TAMALE PIE

Since this includes both vegeta-
bles and a bread topping. it’s a
great one-dish dinner. Try baking
an old-fashioned apple crisp along-
side for dessert.

Filling:

Lib. ground beef — lean or
extra-lean — don't use regular
hamburger

1 large onion, chopped

See Cuisine page 45

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PETZ AL TCE