Guilt Free Dessert

As I mentioned in my Poppyseed Chicken recipe, I have just found out that my cholesterol is sky high. At 32 years young, I am now reading labels like crazy. I found a brownie mix that is no fat, no cholesterol (I know, sounds real yummy...you feeling the sarcasm?) Anyway, you use fat free vanilla yogurt to make the batter. I made a pan of them and served the brownies still warm, topped with fat free, cholesterol free frozen yogurt. It was actually very tasty AND the girls liked it too. My husband has yet to try them. I'd definitely make them again. Just thought I'd share.

Sunrise Smoothies (and accidently, mini smoothie pops)

LOVE these...

1 c pineapple juice (or orange pineapple)
1 c vanilla yogurt (or frozen yogurt)
1 c strawberries
2 medium bananas

Combine all ingredients in blender, smoothie maker, or Magic Bullet

(The girls think it is really fun if I add some tropical umbrellas!)

PS-I doubled it and it made a little too much for a three year old and me, so I took the leftover and poured it into an ice cube tray, froze partially, added toothpick, and froze the rest of the way. Ta-da, little smoothie pops

Poppy Seed Chicken

My friend Emily gave me this recipe. Someone brought it to her after one of her children was born. I thought it sounded odd, but I LOVE it. I just found out that my cholesterol is sky high (stupid genetics!) So tonight, I'm trying a low cholesterol version of it, although you wouldn't have to.

2 lbs chicken breasts cooked & cubed
1 can cream of chicken soup (today, I am using Campbell's Healthy Request)
8 oz sour cream (today, I am using fat free)
1 roll crushed Ritz crackers (today, I'm using whole wheat)
1/2 c butter or margarine melted (I'm using margarine)
1 T poppy seeds

Mix all ingredients together EXCEPT for the crackers and butter
put chicken mixture in 9 X 13 pan, sprayed with cooking spray
combine the butter with the crushed crackers & cover the casserole with cracker/butter mixture

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min in a 9 X 13 pan

Serve over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes (we serve over noodles, today "No Yolk" cholesterol free egg noodles)

(*NOTE: The Low Cholesterol version that I tried tonight was still good, but butter was much better and low fat sour cream may be a little better than fat free sour cream.)

Super Simple Sloppy Joes

I'm not a huge fan of Sloppy Joes, but I do make them every now and again. I've made these a few times when we've had a lot of company (easy, cheap to make in bulk, can do the day before and just stick in crockpot day of...). As simple as they are, people always have seconds. I actually get hungry for these every now and then.

2 lbs ground beef (or ground round or ground sirloin)
small green pepper
small onion
chili powder
salt & pepper
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of celery soup
American Cheese (optional)
buns
yellow mustard (optional)

dice onion & pepper small and brown along with the beef then sprinkle with salt & pepper; drain (*note: be sure your onion & pepper is tender. Because I do mine the day ahead, the time it spends in the crockpot the following day cooks up the onion & pepper nicely)

add the canned soups and combine. If you want your Sloppy Joes to have "a little kick" add a little chili powder

serve on buns (I like a slice of cheese on mine. My dad eats yellow mustard on his. I've seen a lot of people eat these open face with a fork too)

(I'll try to remember to post a picture tonight)

Banana Cake with Banana Frosting

LOVE this as an alternative to traditional cakes. This is what I made for mine and Ellie's birthdays this year and everyone liked it. Today, I made it into cupcakes, so that is what the picture will be of, but normally, it is baked in a 9 X 13.

2 1/2 c flour
1 1/3 c sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c shortening
2 eggs (if you want to go eggless, substitute one extra banana per egg)
1/2 c buttermilk OR Sour Milk (1/2 T lemon juice + 1/2 c milk)
2 ripe bananas

Combine and pour into 9 X 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Let cool and frost with this INCREDIBLE frosting:

1/4 c butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/3 c mashed banana
1/2 tsp salt
3 c powdered sugar
yellow food coloring

cream butter & vanilla, add rest

This cake should be refrigerated.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

One of my favs...I know there are a lot of different ways people put this together. Here is what I put on mine.

Baby Spinach
Sliced Strawberries
Mandarin Oranges
Chicken Breast (IF I want it to act as an entree, otherwise, I skip it if it is served as a side dish)
Feta Cheese (I sometimes leave this out too)
Almonds (or pecans or walnuts)
Poppyseed dressing (Kraft, Newman's or Brianna's)

Strawberry Pretzel Torte

I love this dessert in the summer because there is no baking involved. AND is great b/c one of my favorite things about summer is fresh strawberries. So yummy, not too much work, and no heating up the house by turning on the oven. EVERY time I've made this, I've had to give out the recipe.

(Made in a 9 X 13 pan)

Crust: 1 1/2 c crushed pretzels (I put mine in my mini food processor)
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c + 2 tbls melted butter

*combine and press into pan

Layer 1: Sliced Strawberries

*cover crust with sliced strawberries

Layer 2: large instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
1 c cool whip
2 tsp almond extract

*combine and spread over strawberries
*put in refrigerator and let pudding set

Layer 3: top with additional cool whip