Dinner tonight at my house will be patty melt sandwiches, beer-battered onion rings & Babe Ruth Bars.

Patty Melt Sandwiches
Yield: 4 servings

2 tsp butter or margarine, divided
cooking spray
2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 pound ground beef (ground round)
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese (can use reduced fat cheese)
8 slices sourdough bread (can also use white or wheat bread)

Melt 1 tsp of the butter or margarine in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 4 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Reduce heat; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Preheat broiler.

Combine beef, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Divide the beef mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into patties. Place the patties on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil 4 minutes on each side until done.

Place 1 cheese slice over each of 4 bread slices; top each slice with 1 patty and 3 tablespoons onion mixture. Cover with the remaining bread slices.

Melt 1/2 tsp of the butter in pan coated with cooking spray over medium heat; add 2 sandwiches to pan. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until browned and cheese melts. Repeat the procedure with the remaining 1/2 tsp butter and the remaining sandwiches.

Beer Battered Onion Rings
Makes: 4 servings of 4 rings per serving

2 large onions, peeled (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut crosswise into 3/4-inch thick slices
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/3 cup flat beer*
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
cooking spray
1/4 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Separate onion slices into rings and select 16 of the largest rings. Reserve remaining onion for another use (I keep using the rings until the batter is gone).

Combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika in medium bowl. Stir in beer and egg white (batter will be thick).

Heat 1 1/2 tsp oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.

Dip onion rings in batter, letting excess drip off. Add onion rings to pan; cook for 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Place the onion rings on a jelly roll pan. Coat the onion rings with cooking spray.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until crisp. Serve with ketchup.

*To make beer flat: measure 1/2 cup beer into a small bowl and stir it with a fork. You are left with about 1/3 cup flat beer.

Babe Ruth Bars
Makes 18 bars

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
6 cups corn flakes cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup peanuts

Heat peanut butter with syrup and sugars in a heavy pan until smooth.

Mix corn flakes, chocolate chips and peanuts in buttered 9x13-inch pan.

Pour peanut butter mixture over all and mix. Press gently into pan. Allow to cool. Cut into bars.