| Busy people tend to fix the same meals day after | | | | nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 cups boiling water, 1/4 |
| day. What's more, busy people may panic at the | | | | cup raisins, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons rum, or |
| thought of having guests for dinner. You may be one | | | | 1 teaspoon rum extractCombine sugar, Splenda, |
| of these people. Worry no more, because these | | | | cornstarch, nutmeg, and salt in saucepan. Using a |
| sweet and savory sauces turn basic food into | | | | whisk, gradually stir in boiling water. Add raisins, butter |
| restaurant fare. Better yet, you can make these | | | | and rum. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, |
| sauces in minutes.I made up the Warm | | | | until sauce boils and thickens. Serve over frozen |
| Apple-Cinnamon Sauce recipe when my grandkids | | | | vanilla yogurt, low-fat vanilla ice cream, plain cake, or |
| were coming for dinner. "This tastes like apple pie | | | | apple pie. Yield: 8 servings.PASTA ALFREDO WITH |
| without the crust!" my grandaughter exclaimed. My | | | | MUSHROOMS AND PEAS4 ounces fresh mushrooms |
| teenage grandkids liked the sauce so much they ate | | | | (half a box), 1/4 cup frozen petite peas, 1 cup skim |
| dessert twice. Instead of maple syrup, you could | | | | milk (warm), 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, 2 |
| serve this sauce with whole grain pancakes and | | | | tablespoons Wondra flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic |
| waffles.The Rum Sauce With Raisins is perfect for | | | | powder to taste, black pepper to taste, 1 1/2 |
| the holidays. Serve it over frozen vanilla yogurt, | | | | tablespoons low-fat cream cheese, prepared wheat |
| low-fat vanilla ice cream, or plain yellow cake made | | | | pasta (warm)Clean and slice mushrooms. Put in |
| from a mix. Buy a frozen pound cake if you don't | | | | microwave dish with frozen peas. Microwave on high |
| have time to make a box cake. You could also serve | | | | until vegetables are barely tender. Drain off any liquid |
| the sauce over dessert waffles and you'll find recipes | | | | that may have accumulated. Cover vegetables and |
| for them on the Internet.I love pasta of all kinds, | | | | set aside.Melt butter or margarine in small saucepan. |
| especially pasta with Alfredo sauce. But Alfredo | | | | Add Wondra flour and cook for a few seconds. Add |
| sauce is high in fat and calories, so I devised this | | | | seasonings. Using a whisk, gradually add the warm |
| low-fat recipe for Pasta Alfredo With Mushrooms and | | | | milk to flour mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring |
| Peas. It's a satisfying meal and a perfect meal for | | | | constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Add |
| vegetarians.Finally, I've included a Savory Curry Sauce | | | | vegetables and cook two minutes more to blend |
| recipe. Add sliced, cooked mushrooms to the sauce | | | | flavors. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve over |
| for extra flavor. I've made this sauce with | | | | warm pasta. Yield: 4 servings. Note: This recipe may |
| mushrooms and beef bouillon (instead of chicken) and | | | | also be garnished with cooked chicken, turkey, or |
| served it over hamburgers. Double the recipe, add | | | | shrimp.SAVORY CURRY SAUCE2 tablespoons butter |
| cooked chicken, shrimp or lamb, and you'll have | | | | or margarine, 2 tablespoons Wondra flour, 1/2 |
| enough for a family of four.WARM | | | | teaspoon curry powder, 1 cup water, 1 chicken |
| APPLE-CINNAMON SAUCE2 large Granny Smith | | | | bouillon cubeMelt butter or margarine in small |
| apples, 1 large can frozen apple juice concentrate | | | | saucepan. Add flour and curry powder and cook a |
| (defrosted), 3 tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon | | | | few seconds. Using a whisk, gradually add water to |
| cinnamon, 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon | | | | flour mixture. Add chicken bouillon. Cook over medium |
| waterPeel and core the aples. Cut apples into thin | | | | heat, stirring constantly, until mixtures boils and |
| slices and put them in a medium size saucepan. Pour | | | | thickens. Serve over baked fish, cooked shrimp, or |
| defrosted juice over apples. Add honey and | | | | chicken. Yield: 1 generous cup, or about 3 |
| cinnamon. Cook apple mixture over medium heat for | | | | servings.Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn |
| about three minutes, or until apples are barely tender. | | | | more about her work go to Hodgson has been a |
| Combine cornstaarch and water in a measuring cup, | | | | nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of |
| stirring until smooth. Add to apple mixture and cook | | | | the Association of Health Care Journalists. Before she |
| until thickened. Serve warm. Yield: 10 servings.RUM | | | | became a health writer she was a food writer for |
| SAUCE WITH RAISINS1/2 up granulated sugar, 1/2 | | | | the former "Rochester Magazine," in her hometown |
| cup Splenda, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon | | | | of Rochester, MN. |