The Super Bowl weekend has come and gone. As we all know, many people gather for these special times. We had a small gathering at our home, but just the same, it is always fun to have someone over to share a meal and cheer together.

My husband requested a crockpot full of chili for the game. So we had that along with some chips, salsa, and munchies, such as the Caramel Crispix I prepared. This is a light, sweet treat which mixes up pretty quickly. Here is a tip: Be sure to have the mixture cook until it really gets bubbly-boiling and then start your time for 1 1/2 minutes.

Caramel Crispix

Ingredients

2 sticks butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup white syrup

1 large box Crispix cereal

(I used the 18-ounce size.)

Instructions

Melt the butter, brown sugar, and white syrup together. Bring it to a rolling boil for 1 1/2 minutes. Pour the Crispix into a heavy grocery sack. Pour the caramel mixture over the cereal in the bag. Fold the bag down and shake. Microwave one minute on each side in the microwave, shaking after each minute. *Pour onto a cookie sheet, cool, and enjoy.

*I like to stir it with a fork so that the cereal does not stick together after it is on the cookie sheet and cooling, so that it doesn’t stick to the cookie sheet.

Hamburger Casserole

Having unexpected guests for supper? This recipe might be one to consider.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped onion (I use 1/2 cup.)

2 pounds hamburger

2 tablespoons oil

2 (4-ounce cans) tomato sauce

2 small cans mushroom pieces

1 (12-ounce) can whole kernel corn

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 cup shredded cheese

1 (8-ounce) package noodles, cooked

Instructions

Brown onion and beat in oil until meat is crumbly. Add remaining ingredients, except noodles. Mix well and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cooked noodles and put mixture in a large baking dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serves 10-12.

Orange Sherbet Salad

Here is a recipe that my mom made many years ago and we all liked it. A friend who also writes a cooking column in another area in Iowa published it. I will have to make this sometime. It brings back good memories.

Ingredients

2 (3-ounce) packages light sugar-free orange gelatin

1 cup boiling water

1 pint orange sherbet

1 cup whipped topping or light Cool Whip

Instructions

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in the sherbet. When thickened, add a little whipped topping and place in a mold or in a glass bowl. Using the light whipped topping and light orange jello saves a few calories.

Recipe option: Add one small can of mandarin oranges, which has been drained. Mix them into the salad. A thin layer of whipped topping can be added to the top of the salad to dress it up a little.

Taco Pie

Sometimes we get hungry for tacos. This recipe is a quick, easy meal that is very filling. It is nice to also have the topping for the taco dish, such as lettuce, tomatoes and black olives. A person can change their recipe up to include other ingredients that they like, such as bell peppers and use other types of cheese such as provolone.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1/3 cup chopped olives

1 package taco seasoning

1 package refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 package tortilla chips

1 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Brown ground beef, drain it, and add 1/2 cup water and chopped olives. Stir in taco seasoning. Let stand while you prepare the crust.

Crust

Line a 9-inch pie pan with crescent rolls. Spread 1 cup crushed tortilla chips on top of rolls. Add ground beef mixture. Spread sour cream on top of the meat. Then sprinkle shredded cheese on top and 1 cup of crushed tortilla chips. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with chopped tomatoes, lettuce and salsa.

Variations: Add a layer of refried beans after the ground beef layer. Olives are optional.

Loretta’s Healthy Cooking Tips

Favorite recipes can be modified so that they have a lower fat content. Choose to steam, bake, grill, boil or microwave your foods, rather than deep fry them. Another tip is to microwave or steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to retain the nutrients.

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 35 years of newspaper experience. Have any favorite light or regular recipes you would like to share? Email them to me at krahling93@gmail.com.