Swiss Mac & Cheese

You and your family will not believe how tasty this dish is! And what is even harder to believe if how low the calories are! This is a great way to get your cheese fix while not putting on extra pounds! It's a great side dish for the holidays, and it's also great by itself for a quick and easy dinner!

Ingredients:
Shell pasta
Laughing cow swiss cheese
Butter substitute or magarine
Spinach
Dried Italian herbs (any that you have on hand will work, nothing fancy!)
Parmisean cheese

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain. Turn the stove temperature to low. Add spinach and stir until wilted. Unwrap a few cheese triangles and stir in with the pasta. Also, add the butter substitute or margarine. Add the herbs and parmisean cheese last. Serve, and enjoy!



French Onion Soup

Unfortunately, a lot of restaraunts make this soup with beef stock, so I don't get to enjoy french onion very often. This is my vegetarian version that is guaranteed to taste just as good as the restaraunt version, if not BETTER! It's super tasty, easy, and cheap to make!

Ingredients:
Yellow onion (sliced)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Vegetable stock
Soy sauce
Garlic croutons
Mild white cheese (I used Meunster, but Swiss and Provalone are good choices too!)

Slice the onions and cook over medium heat in olive oil for about 3-4 minutes. Add desired amount of salt and pepepr and continue to sautee for another minute. Add the veggie stock and turn the tempurature to high. Bring to a boil. Add a couple tablespoons of soy sauce. It adds a lot of flavor to the soup! Continue to boil until the stock has reduced by a third. Turn your oven on broil and let it get nice and hot while you're waiting for the soup to reduce. Ladel soup into a ceramic bowl or cup. Top with desired amount of croutons. Then top the croutons with a slice of cheese. I like to tuck the conrners of the cheese in so the edges don't burn. Put the soup in the oven and watch closely. It usually takes only about 1 1/2 - 3 minutes before the cheese is nice and melted and slighly crispy. Remove VERY cafefully, it will be EXTREMELY hot!!! Let cool for about 5 minutes, then enjoy!!!