Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

I HAVE NO PICTURE!!

But, I promised to post these tonight, so I am putting the recipe up anyway. My friend Cheri made these for me and all the life group girls (from our church) and wrapped them up all cute and included the recipe. I typically don't DO low fat desserts. No thank you. I would rather skip a treat or eat one with all the fat and calories so I can enjoy it. However, this one does not disappoint in taste, texture or the fact that they are only 2 weight watcher points for me each! Woo! Hoo!

The reason I have no picture for you is because when I made mine today, they turned out super flat and all melded into one another-ish. That's not what Cheri's looked like. The flavor was still exactly the same as hers, so I can only imagine I needed more baking soda or something? I don't know. I know I added it in according to the recipe, but I am going to try it again and cross my fingers.

They are not cakey or weird like a lot of the low-cal stuff you can eat. These taste like a true treat and I will make them again. When I do - I promise to post a good picture with this recipe.

But - here it is. Go make it and tell me how yours turned out! I'm excited to hear!

Skinny Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 C granulated Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 egg white
2 Tbsp applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (for local gals - I just went to Mama Jean's and bought a little bit for the recipe from the bulk section. Perfect!)
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 C mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350, Line (2 cookie sheets) with parchment paper

In Large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; sitr to blend. In another bowl, whisk the sugars, butter, egg white, applesauce and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions until batter is well blended. If batter looks crumbly, not smooth, add a drop of water (I didn't have to do this)

Fold in chocolate chips

Drop by level spoonfuls 1 inch apart

Bake 8-10 minutes.

Transfer to wire rack after cooling on sheet for 5 minutes.

Parents Review: Yummo!
Kids Review: It's chocolate! The loved it!

Chocolate Granola Bars

I love making stuff for my kids that taste really yummy and are at least "healthy-ish" and so much better for you than the preservative filled items at the grocery store. I want them to feel like I give them treats and that it's something I made for them with my own two hands. I found this recipe over at a blog called Marathon Mom.

These taste similar to a no-bake cookie and have a similar texture. BONUS!!!!!


They were so easy and there was no oven involved. I liked that you put them in the fridge to set up and then sliced them into bars. The recipe didn't say if you were to leave them in the fridge after they've set up, but I like them that way.


Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Granola Bars

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (our favorite is Maranatha's creamy with sea salt)

1/3 cup local honey

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 cup oats (not quick oats)

2 tablespoons wheat germ

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup chocolate chips (Mini work best, but it doesn’t really matter.)

What to do:

1. Melt the butter, peanut butter and honey in a pot over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. Turn off the burner when melted.

2. Pour in the cup of oats and the wheat germ. Stir til combined.

3. Wait til it cools and stir in the coconut and chocolate chips. Or, if you’re impatient with things like this, like I am, go ahead and dump it all right in. The result will be a more uniform chocolate taste.

4. Pour into foil-lined 8 X 8 pan and stick in the fridge.

5. Once cooled, flip out (the bars….not you) onto cutting board and cut to the size you like.

They’re now ready to eat.

Parents Review: We loved these and enjoyed them as a snack with our coffee.

Kids Review: I packed them in their lunches today and they gobbled them up!

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

My computer has a new hard-drive and I am inspired by the New Year. I plan to be back on here and blogging fun recipes and sharing the food that we eat here around our home. I hope you will keep reading and comment along the way. Thanks for letting me share my life with you on my two blogs - here and over at Me-Moddy.

On to the food.

Most of you have heard of the lovely Pinterest site. Well, I had seen these little guys floating around on there and then my BFF Julie sent me over the recipe and raving reviews that "I must try them!".

Mini Corn Dog Muffins



The recipe calls for a box of Jiffy mix, but her and I both happened to have some Trader Joe's Cornbread mix on hand and used that instead. They looked so fun and cute. I couldn't wait to try them.



Well, here's the verdict.

Parents Review: We loved them and dipped them in mustard just like we would a corn dog and they tasted EXACTLY like a Fair corn dog. Sweet and yummy and poppable right into your little mouth. Super great.

Kids Review: Little Girl (who doesn't like her food co-mingling) ate a couple but shredded the muffin off the hot dog and ate it in a huge mess. Bummer. Baby Boy on the other hand - ate 5. Huge hit!!

Enjoy!

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes

You're gonna love these if you like Pumpkin. I have had a slow warming up to all things pumpkin over the past few years, and while I don't enjoy everything with this fall flavor, there's more I like than not.

These are amazing! Super moist. Super pumpkin-y. Super sweet with the crunchy cinnamon-sugar goodness on top.

We made these for our Saturday morning Big Breakfast and they were a hit.

Kid plates:



Mommy's plate:


And ONE that I had to pop in my mouth and take a big bite of while we were serving up the meal.


I found this recipe at Two Peas and their pod blog. Check out the recipe and bake them now! You won't be sorry.

Parents Review: Will be making again.
Kids Review: Would like me to make them again. :-)

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Oh.

My.

Word.

I have posted recipes for baked oatmeal before, but this one, hands down, takes the cake!

Especially with the fact that it is turning fall outside and the weather is chilly, and I start thinking of things I can enjoy with the almighty can of pumpkin!

This simple recipe is sure to be a hit and will hit every comfort spot you have on a cold morning. I made mine the night before and threw it in the fridge so that I could just wake up and pop it in the oven.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

3 cups quick cooking oats
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ cup canned pumpkin
¼ cup brown sugar (for the top)
In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top.

Spread into a greased 9×13 pan.

Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with milk and enjoy!

Seriously. You have to make this!


Parents Review: Perfection.
Kids Review: Agreed.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

I made this cinnamon bread for Big Breakfast a few months back. I had found it on a blog somewhere (can't remember where) and thought it sounded just wonderful. I did some searching and found a recipe that was just like the one I made.

Here it is.

Ingredients:
1 unsliced round loaf sourdough bread
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make Vanilla Honey Butter: Whip butter and 1/4 cup powdered sugar together until smooth; stir in honey and vanilla. Set aside.

Cut the bread lengthwise into 1/2" slices, without cutting through the bottom crust. Spread vanilla honey butter in between slices. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and slice the bread again into 1/2" pieces, without cutting through the bottom crust. Spread more vanilla honey butter in between new cuts. This doesn't need to be perfect - just make sure there is lots of butter in between all the cuts. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Generously sprinkle in between all cuts. (You may have extra butter and cinnamon sugar. It will just depend on how large your bread loaf is.)

Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until bread is warm. Unwrap cinnamon bread and place on serving platter. Combine powdered sugar and milk - adding milk until you get the consistency desired. Drizzle icing over bread and serve immediately. Enjoy!




Parents Review: Wow. It was really rich. Almost too rich. It was good, but I think it made my teeth hurt with all the sugar.
Kids Reivew: They loved all the sugar that was involved. :-)

Erin's Baked Oatmeal

I posted another recipe for peanut butter baked oatmeal that you also might enjoy, but this one is great too.

My friend Erin made this dish for our Lifegroup one night when we had a Breakfast theme and it was a huge hit.

Here's the recipe. You definitely want to make this one!

Baked Oatmeal
Preheat oven to 350-degrees and grease 9 x 13 pan.
Mix: 3 cups oats, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp. salt.
Beat in 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 2 tsp. vanilla.
Optional: Stir in 3/4 cup dried cranberries.
Spread in pan and bake for 40 minutes.

YUM ... you can substitute away too if interested!

Enjoy!!!!