Heart Shaped Cake

My hubby made this for me for Valentine’s day! He’s so sweet!

Cake

  • 1 box cake mix (any flavor) prepared to box instructions. (I use egg beaters and apple sauce instead of oil)
  • 1 Square cake pan
  • 1 Round cake pan
  • Cooking spray

Cookies & Cream Frosting (pictured). You can increase amounts if you want more frosting)

  1. 1/3 tub Cool Whip Free
  2. 1/3 Tub Betty Crocker Fluffy White Whipped Frosting
  3. 5 Reduced fat Oreo cookies

1. Bake cake according to package instructions in pans sprayed with cooking spray. (one in square pan and one in round pan). Let cook completely.
2. Remove cake from pans. Cut the round cake in half and place halves on 2 adjacent sides of the square (this makes a heart).
3. Frost, decorate, or bedazzle cake as desired.

Makes 12 servings

Nutrition (with apple sauce and egg beaters)
Calories 242
Fat 6g
Sat Fat 2g
Sodium 407
Potassium 13mg
Carbs 47g
Fiber 1g
Sugars 16g
Protein 4g

Holly’s Crockpot Gumbo

This is one of my recipes I’m most proud of. It can be done in a dutch oven too, but I always do it in a crock pot.

Ingredients

  • 2 cup chicken broth (I used water with sodium free chicken brullion powder)
  • 1 link Italian turkey sausage
  • 2 oz chicken tenderloin (or you can use another sausage link or more shrimp)
  • 1 1/2 cups shrimp, baby, precooked
  • 3/4 cup canned diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp jalapeno peppers (OR just use 1 can Rotel in place of the tomatoes/jalapenos)
  • 1/2 diced bell pepper (I didn’t have this tonight)
  • 2 cups okra (I use frozen in the bag)
  • desired amount of dried onion
  • desired amount of garlic powder
  • desired amount of cayenne pepper (you can use more or less for desired spicyness)
  • Liberal amount of Louisiana hot sauce (tobasco sauce) -to taste- can get hot, so you were warned!)
  • 1 bag Boil-in-Bag brown rice (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 4 hours. If you’re doing this stovetop, you may want to brown the sausage first to make sure it’s cooked through.

2. Serve in a bowl over rice if desired.

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition (w/o rice)

Calories 122

Fat 3g

Sat Fat 1g

Cholesterol 57mg

Sodium 441mg

Potassium 48mg

Carbs 7g

Protein 13g

I use 1/4 bag of rice per serving which adds 75 calories, making the entire meal around 200 calories.

Banana Bread Pudding w/ Caramel Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup soy milk (skim works)
  • 1 tablespoon splenda
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 egg beater
  • 3 slices bread (I use 35 calorie slices), cut into cubes.
  • Cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 banana)
  • 1 tablespoon splenda
  • 2 tablespoons fat-free caramel topping (like for ice cream or apples)
  • Powdered sugar (optional)
Directions

  1. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, and stir with a whisk.
  2. Add bread and stir to absorb
  3. Stir in 1 tbsp of splenda in the mashed banana
  4. Place 1/4 of the bread cubes into each of 2 (4 inch) ramekins coated with cooking spray.
  5. Top each with 1/2 the banana mixture.
  6. Spoon remaining bread mixture over banana.
  7. Chill 30 minutes.
  8. Preheat oven to 350.
  9. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until done.
  10. Spoon 1 tablespoon caramel sauce over each serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Makes 2 servings

Nutrition
Calories 175
Fat .5g
Sodium 260mg
Potassium 297mg
Carbs 39g
Fiber 3.5g
Sugars 9g
Protein 7.5g

Sausage Jumbalaya

Jeremy LOVED this…and he’s picky!

Ingredients

  • 2 links italian turkey sausage
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh or 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon splenda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth (I use bruillon cubes)
  • 1 bag boil-in-bag brown rice, prepared
  • Red pepper sauce (Louisiana Hot Sauce) to taste, if desired
  1. Spray skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. In skillet, cook sausage about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until brown. Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients except rice and pepper sauce. Heat to boiling; stir in rice. Return to a boil until most of the liquid boils out.
  3. Stir in sausage; cover and simmer until headed through. Stir in hot sauce.

Makes 3 servings

Nutrition
Calories 224
Fat 5g
Sat Fat 2g
Cholesterol 34mg
Sodium 570mg
Potassium 6mg
Carbs 27.5g
Fiber 1g
Protein 14g

Crunchy potato chip chicken

  • 12 oz chicken tenderloins
  • 1.5 oz Lays light potato chips, crushed
  • 1 tbsp parsley flakes
  • 3 tbsp egg beaters
  • .5 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • cooking spray
  1. In a shallow bowl, mixed crushed potato chips and parsley. In another bowl, combine the egg beaters and worcestershire sauce.
  2. Spray a skillet with cooking spray and bring to medium heat. Dip chicken in egg and then in potato mixtures.
  3. Cook on skillet for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until deep golden brown and juice of chicken is clear. (170*F)

Makes 3 servings

Nutrition
Calories 133
Fat .5g
Cholesterol 65mg
Sodium 419mg
Potassium 65mg
Carbs 12g
Fiber .5g
Protein 23g

Loaded twice baked potatoes

  • 1 medium idaho potato (Mine was 10.5 oz!)
  • 1.5 Wedges laughing cow cheese (any flavor)
  • 2 tbsp fat free shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 slice turkey bacon, crumbled
  • 1 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp soy milk (or skim)
  • 2 tbsp chives
  • salt & pepper to taste
  1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  2. Poke a few holes in the potato with a fork.
  3. Place on a baking sheet & bake for 60 minutes or until tender (Mine took 1.5 hours). You can always do this step in the microwave too.
  4. Remove from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
  5. Reduce oven temperature to 375°.
  6. While the potato is baking, combine cheeses, turkey bacon and chives in a small mixing bowl.
  7. Cut the potato in half lengthwise.
  8. Using a spoon, gently scoop out the potato flesh of each half, leaving a 1/4-inch thick shell.
  9. Season shells with salt & pepper.
  10. Transfer the warm potato flesh to the cheese-bacon mixture.
  11. While warm, add milk and sour cream; whip by hand or with an electric mixture until smooth.
  12. Season with salt & pepper.
  13. Spoon whipped potato mixture back into the potato skin shells.
  14. If desired, top with additional cheddar cheese, and bake for additional 15 minutes to heat through.

Makes 2 servings

Nutrition
Calories 154
Fat 2g
Sat Fat 1g
Cholesterol 14mg
Sodium 340mg
Potassium 713 mg
Carbs 28g
Fiber 3g
Sugars4g
Protein 9g

Dulce de Leche brownies

*Note* You can use regular boxed brownie mix if you want!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1 1/4 cup splenda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 egg beaters
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 1/2 can Dulce de Leche (found on the international foods aisle)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients except the Dulce de Leche. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
  3. Drop the Dulce de leche by spoonfuls onto the brownie batter.
  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Makes 9 servings

Nutrition
Calories 107
Fat 2g
Sat fat 1g
Cholesterol 6mg
Sodium 53mg
Carbs 14.5g
Fiber 1g
Sugars 11g
Protein 3.5g

Chicken Bacon Carobona w/ Shiritaki Noodles

This was SUPER good!

Note* You can use Ramen or Spaghetti instead of Shiritaki (tofu) noodles, but it will greatly increase the calorie content!)

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag House Foods Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Shaped Noodle Substitute
  • 1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
  • 1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
  • 1 tbsp. reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
  • 3 oz chicken tenderloins
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (canned)
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 slices cooked and crumbled Turkey bacon
  • Optional: salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Use a strainer to rinse and drain noodles well. Pat dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, nuke for 1 minute. Drain excess liquid. Dry thoroughly, using paper towels. Cut noodles up a bit. Set aside.
  2. Break cheese wedge into pieces, and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Nuke for about 15 seconds, and stir until smooth. Add egg substitute, Parmesan, and 2 tbsp. water, and whisk until mixed and almost smooth. Set aside.
  3. Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. If you like, lightly season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken, mushrooms, and garlic to the skillet, and cook until mushrooms are browned and chicken is mostly cooked through, about 2 minutes. (NOTE: I just cooked my chicken on my Foreman grill, or you could just boil it)
  4. Add noodles and bacon to the skillet, and toss u ntil mixed and hot. Reduce heat to lowest setting. Add cheese-egg mixture and immediately toss with other ingredients, until everything is coated and sauce has fully thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste, if you like. Enjoy!

The original recipe says this makes 1 serving, which would be fine for dinner, but at lunch, I eat lighter so I split this into 2 servings.

Nutrition (for 2 servings)
Calories 129
Fat 4g
Sat Fat 1g
Cholesterol 39mg
Sodium 1000mg
Potassium 25mg
Carbs 6g
Fiber 2.5g
Protein 17g

Dinner would only be 258 calories!

*Note* Shiritaki noodles are tofu “noodles” that are only 20 calories/serving (as opposed to 200 calories/serving with regular noodles) and can be found at any health food store.

Stuffed Avocados

  • 3 avocados
  • 2 cans tuna or chicken (or boil and shred chicken tenderloins, about 6 oz)
  • 1 Tbsp fat free miracle whip

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit by hacking the pit with a knife and wiggling it until the pit comes out.
2. Mix the mayo in with the drained tuna
3. Stuff the tuna/mayo mixture into the avocados.

Makes 3 servings

Nutrition
(w/ Chicken Tenderloins)
Calories 249
Fat 19g
Sat Fat 2.6g
Monosat Fat 33g (good!)
Cholesterol 33mg
Sodium 200mg
Potassium 641mg
Carbs 12g
Fiber 8g
Protein 13g

S’more oatmeal

I LOVE playing with my oatmeal. I get my ideas here. I’ve tried several of these! I probably won’t post all the ones I try (b/c I do it a lot), but this is just to give you an idea of how easy it is! I like the PB&J oatmeal too (with PB2 of course).

  • 1/4 cup original Quaker quick cooking oats
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 large marshmallow, broken into pieces (or equivalent mini marshmallows)
  • 1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 sheet fat free graham cracker
  • Splenda to taste
  • (optional) 1/2-1 TBSP Chocolate chips (Jeremy likes this)
  1. Place oatmeal and water in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 1.5 minutes.
  2. Stir in cocoa powder and splenda until dissolved.
  3. Top with marshmallows (and microwave for 5 seconds if desired), crushed graham crackers and chocolate chips if desired.

Nutrition (w/o chocolate chips)
Calories 138
Fat 2g
Sodium 54mg
Carbs 29g
Fiber 3g
Protein 4g

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