Recently, my husband and I were talking about healthy foods to have on hand. Snacking is so easy to do and can be unhealthy. Some say we eat out of boredom, when actually, we may be dehydrated. I’m sure my husband and I do not drink the recommended seven to 10 glasses of water a day that we are supposed to drink. As we age, it makes sense to eat healthier foods. Watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, grapes, rice cakes, light popcorn and lightly salted nuts are starting to appear more often on the shelves in our home. I still maintain that three good meals a day (with smaller portions) are a necessity to help keep our energy levels up so that we can stay active and are able to consume our vitamins and medications.

Best Ever Glazed Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a favorite for many, and if there are any leftovers, it can make a great sandwich the next day. This dish is also very budget-friendly compared to other cuts of meat. Usually, I think of a meatloaf being placed in a loaf pan rather than in a cake pan as called for in this recipe.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup onion, diced

1/2 cup green pepper, diced

1 egg, lightly beaten

8-ounce can diced or crushed tomatoes with juice

1/2 cup cooking oats

Instructions

Brown ground beef and drain. Add salt and pepper, diced onion and green pepper and mix well. Beat one egg in a bowl. Add diced or crushed tomatoes with juice, then add cooking oats. Mix well. Add to the ground beef mixture and place in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Proceed with the topping, at right.

Topping Ingredients

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Instructions

Mix together and spread over the meat mixture. Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 degrees for one hour. Once it is taken out of the oven, wait 10 minutes before cutting and serving to let the juices settle.

Tin Roof Sundae Bars

This Tin Roof Sundae Bars recipe is different from other sundae bar recipes because there is no ice cream involved. This makes it a perfect recipe to prepare for a neighborhood picnic.

Base Ingredients

1 package double chocolate brownie bars mix

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

*1 packet chocolate-flavored syrup

Topping Ingredients

1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme

1 cup peanuts

4 (1.85 ounce) milk chocolate candy bars, broken into sections

Base Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of an 8-by-8-inch or 9-by-9-inch pan. In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, *packet of chocolate-flavored syrup, water, oil and egg. Beat 50 strokes with a spoon. Spread into a greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 42 minutes for an 8-by-8-inch pan and 33 to 36 minutes for a 9-by-9-inch pan. Remove from the oven.

Topping Instructions

Immediately spread the marshmallow creme over the baked base. Sprinkle evenly with peanuts. Top with candy bar sections. Return to the oven for three minutes or until the chocolate is melted. Cool. Cut into bars. Makes 16 bars.

*Chocolate syrup packets are sold near flavorings for coffee, but if you are using chocolate syrup from a bottle, use an amount equal to the amount used to make 1 glass of flavored milk.

Fresh Garden Marinade Salad

Have you been trying to get more vegetables in your diet? This recipe includes broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onion and tomatoes. Broccoli is the powerhouse for nutrition. It provides vitamin K for bone and heart health. Cauliflower contains vitamin B6 and potassium. Mushrooms are known for their supply of vitamin B. Tomatoes provide vitamins C and K, and potassium, and also support heart health. What more can you ask for from a healthy and delicious salad?

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, broken into small florets

1 head broccoli, broken into small pieces

1 batch fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 red onion, sliced into rings

2 cups small whole cherry tomatoes

1 can ripe olives, sliced

1 can water chestnuts, sliced

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Add 1 bottle of Italian dressing. Marinate overnight or make it early in the morning to be served for an evening meal.

Swiss Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon sugar

1 medium onion, diced

1 cup sour cream

6 cups fresh cooked or canned green beans, drained

1/2 pound grated Swiss cheese

Instructions

Melt butter and flour in saucepan. Remove from heat. Add sugar, onion and sour cream and stir together. Add green beans and cheese. Mix. Pour all into sprayed 2-quart casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes; the last 10 minutes, sprinkle the topping over the casserole.

Topping Ingredients

1 cup crushed cornflakes

2 tablespoons melted butter

Topping Instructions

Mix these two ingredients together and place over casserole the last 10 minutes of baking time.

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 39 years of newspaper experience. If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share or have any questions, email them to Loretta at krahling93@gmail.com.