Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake

While we are on the topic of protein shakes, here is an idea that I came up with when I had some orange juice around. (I don't keep it on hand that often because of the calories) My daughter loves "shakes" so I can make this one and split it with her:

Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake
2 Servings/2 pts ea.

12 oz. orange juice
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use designer whey)
3/4C cup ice cubes
1-2 tablespoons sweetener (I use Splenda)

Blend well and split in half. Enjoy!

"Skinny" Monkey Bread

Here is a super yummy recipe for monkey bread that is low in points/calories. To make it a filling breakfast, I added some banana and eggs to make a great weekend breakfast. Great for Sunday brunch, or for a holiday breakfast.
6 Servings-3 Pts. ea. (about 130 calories)
8 Servings-2 Pts. ea. (about 100 calories)

1 Tube Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (Small Blue Can, comes in packages of 4)
1/4 C Splenda
1 t. Cinnamon
1/4 C Brown Sugar
2 T light butter
2 t. milk

Preheat oven to 400. Spray a pie pan with butter flavored non-stick spray. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. (I used a pizza cutter and it worked great) In a large zip lock bag, pour in the cinnamon and splenda. Put the biscuit pieces in the mixture and shake till coated. Place each piece into the pie pan. In a small saucepan, heat the brown sugar, butter and milk. Boil for 1 minute, and then pour over the biscuit pieces. Bake for about 8 minutes. Cut into 6-8 servings.

Chocolate Torte

OK. Let's be honest here. Once in a while we all need something sweet. And according to my Skinny Habit of the Week, it is important to not over-indulge.

My solution is simple. If you are a chocolate lover like me, and you make this dessert, it would be REALLY HARD to over-indulge. This dessert is so rich and satisfying that it kills all cravings. You really cannot eat two.

Craving Killer Chocolate Torte

4 Servings/4 pts ea.
(about 215 calories)

1/4 C fat free vanilla yogurt
1 t vanilla extract
4 lg. egg whites
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder (tastes better with a good brand)
2 T instant no-sugar added vanilla pudding
1 T whole wheat flour (can use white also)
1/2 t. salt
Four 3 1/2" diameter ramekins
Light Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray each ramekin with non-stick cooking spray. Place them in a baking dish filled halfway with water. In a medium mixing bowl, with a whisk, mix the yogurt, vanilla, egg whites and sugar. Once combined, add the cocoa powder, pudding, flour, and salt. Mix until just combined, and no lumps remain. Pour into the ramekins, equally.

Bake for 24 minutes, or until tops are shiny.

Take out of water bath and cool in ramekins for 7-10 minutes. Turn ramekins upside down on plates and tortes should come right out.

Cool for another five minutes and then top with your favorite low-fat or fat-free ice cream.

My favorite is Breyers Fat Free and it is awesome. You definitely cannot tell it is fat-free. Only one point per serving, also.

The Brownie Experiment

Yesterday I watched an awesome video on WWChic's blog about making black-bean brownies. I have heard about this recipe for some time, but never had the guts to actually try to make them. So the video motivated me. Today I bought a brownie mix, and made them. I wanted to see if they were better or worse than No-Pudge brownie mix. Here are my findings:

1. Both black bean and No-Pudge are 2 points per brownie.
2. No-Pudge brownies are bigger.
3. No-Pudge brownies and black bean brownies are both good; I would say they are pretty equal in a taste test.
4. Black bean brownies are a lot more work to make than No-Pudge. It took me forever to puree the beans, not to mention the cleanup.
5. Neither Black bean nor No-Pudge are as good as original brownies, but they will do the trick for a chocolate fix.

Summary: I think I will stick with No-Pudge brownies as they are easier to make, and you get more for your points.

Super Yummy Chocolate Cupcakes

Yesterday I decided to try out a new recipe from the Hungry Girl Cookbook. It's called Death by Chocolate Cupcakes. They turned out super yummy! Really moist and flavorful and only 2 Pts. each.

When they were done, my daughter (she's 2 1/2) scarfed one down. She loved it. (Because she, like me, is already a chocoholic) Then, after seeing me take a picture of one, she decided to go get her camera and play foodie photographer.

12 Servings/ 2 Pts. ea.

Ingredients:
2 cups moist-style chocolate cake mix (half of an 18.25-oz. box)
Two 25-calorie packets diet hot cocoa mix
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
2 tbsp. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 tsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:
Place chocolate chips and the contents of both packets of cocoa in a tall glass. Add 12 oz of boiling water. Stir until chips and cocoa mix have dissolved. Put glass in the freezer to chill for 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Once cocoa has chilled, stir it, and mix with all other ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whip batter with a whisk/fork for 2 minutes. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray, or line it with baking cups.
Evenly spoon batter (which will be thin, but your cupcakes will rise) into the pan. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cupcakes will look shiny when done.

1 cupcake
Calories: 108
Fat: 2.5g
Fiber: 1g

Mini Cinnamon Roll Puffs

I haven't made these in a while, but they really do the trick if you want a warm, gooey treat on a cold day. Actually they are good on hot days too...

1 Pt. ea.

1 Can Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (Come in a 4-pack, blue packaging)
40 Mini marshmallows
Spray butter
2 T Splenda
2 T Cinnamon

Mix Splenda and Cinnamon together on a plate. Place each biscuit on a flat surface. Roll into flat circle with rolling pin. Spray each side with a squirt of spray butter. Dip each side in the cinnamon mixture. Lay inside a muffin tin. Put 4 mini marshmallows in each one. Pinch closed. Bake as directed on the Pillsbury package.

No Bake Lemonade Cheesecake

Another husband favorite. We cannot tell that this is a lite treat. I was going to take a picture but when I got home last night he had taken a big sloppy slice out, and who wants to see a picture of that?

8 Servings/ 2 Pts ea.

8 oz. fat free cream cheese
1/4 C fat free milk
1 Crystal Light lemonade (I have used raspberry lemonade too) on-the-go packet or 1 t Crystal Light
1 tub fat free cool whip
1/2 C graham cracker crumbs

1. Spray pie plate with spray butter or butter flavored non-stick cooking spray. Dump the graham cracker crumbs in and spread them around.
2. Mix the cream cheese, and lemonade packet together. Add milk. Mix till smooth. Add cool whip. Mix till smooth. Pour into pie plate on top of crumbs. Chill overnight.

This treat still is soft, even after chilling overnight, but it is soo good.

Chex Mix Bars

I found a new snack/treat! I picked up some Chex Mix Bars (Turtle flavor) and tried one. It was really good. 130 calories and 4 g fiber!!! Only 2 points. It is very rich and really satisfies the sweet craving.