sweet potato casserole

**This dish was one of the favorites this year at our Christmas dinner.  I added marshmallows.  Really, what is a sweet potato casserole without them?**

Ingredients

• 4 cups sweet potato, cubed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

(recipe from allrecipes.com)

makeover traditional lasagna

ingredients

• 1 pound extra-lean ground beef (95% lean)
• 1 package (14 ounces) breakfast turkey sausage links, casings removed and crumbled
• 3 cans (8 ounces each) no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 9 whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups (16 ounces) 2% cottage cheese
• 1 carton (15 ounces) reduced-fat ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 6 slices provolone cheese

directions

• In a large skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, sugar, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain.
• In a small bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan and parsley. Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with three noodles, half of the cheese mixture, 1-1/3 cups sauce and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and sauce.
• Cover and bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until bubbly. Top with provolone and remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Yield: 12 servings.

{tasteofhome.com/healthycooking}