Swirl Cake (Breakfast Pie Bars)

You can bake these and then freeze the whole batch.  Then for breakfast you just pull out the pan, reheat them in the oven or microwave and serve.  We made these ones with apple pie filling.  They were oh, so yummy!

1 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs (one at a time)
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 cups flour
1 large can of pie filling (any flavor)

Mix above ingredients.  Spread 2/3s of the batter on a greased and floured cookie sheet.  Spread with pie filling and dot with remaining batter.  Bake at 350 degrees, for 45 minutes.  (If you want, you can drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze; however, they are definitely sweet enough without; especially for breakfast.)

Almond Cranberry Granola Bars

These are a seriously delicious breakfast on the go.  I keep them wrapped in saran in the freezer and pull one out in the morning to warm up a little before eating.  Mmmm.

3 cups oats
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed Milk
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup cranberries, dried
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Grease 13x9 inch pan.  Mix together oats, milk, butter, almonds, cranberries, coconut, and chocolate chips.  Mix with your hands until well blended.  Press into pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned around edges.  Let cool 5 minutes, cut into squares, and then let cool completely.

Overnight Lasagna

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 can (12 oz) tomato paste
3 cups water
2 pkgs (1 1/2 oz each) spaghetti sauce mix
1 can diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp sugar
4 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 carton (16 oz) dry cottage cheese
2 cups (8oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 pkg (16 oz) lasagna noodles, uncooked

In a large saucepan, brown ground beef; drain.  Add tomato paste, water, spaghetti sauce mix, tomatoes, sugar, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.  Simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  In a bowl, combine eggs with cottage cheese, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the mozzarella.  Set aside. 

Spoon one-fourth of the meat sauce into a 9x13 baking pan.  Place a layer of uncooked noodles over sauce.  Top with one-fourth of meat sauce and press down.  Spoon half of the cottage cheese mixture over all.  Repeat layers with noodles, meat mix, and cheese mix.  Finish with a last layer of noodles and remaining meat sauce.  (Don't worry if there are leftover noodles; don't try to force them in.)  Cover and refrigerate overnight (or freeze at this point for an easy freezer meal.)

Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour (1 1/2 hours if frozen).  Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.  Bake and additional 15 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Pilmeni (Russian Tortellini)

Dough:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
Flour

Filling:
1/2 lb each of the following ground meats: pork, beef, turkey, chicken, lamb (whatever you prefer)
Onion
Garlic
Salt & pepper
Dash of soy sauce
Little water or milk

Prepare the dough by mixing the liquids and eggs and then adding flour until it makes a soft dough.

Mix together meat and seasonings in medium bowl.

Roll out dough to 1/4" thick and cut out circles about the size of a milk lid.  Place a small amount of meat in the center of each circle.  Fold in half and pinch edges to seal (wet sealing edge with a little milk).  Then bend the two corners together to form a tortellini shape.  At this point they may be frozen for future use or boiled until floating and dough looks transparent and wrinkly (like old person's skin, is how my Russian friend described it.)

Serve with a little vinegar, pepper, and not so sour cream (half sour cream, half whipped cream).