Banana Oatmeal Cookies

These are so good! They are so soft and delicate in texture its like a fluffier version of banana bread

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
3 medium bananas, mashed
2 c. oats
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. add to the creamed mixture and mix well. stir in the bananas, oats, and chocolate chips.
Drop on greased baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

110 Calorie Brownies

Here is another yummy, and less fat brownie recipe that is good. They really are only 110 calories per brownie and only 20 of those are from fat!

Ingredients:
1 c. granulated sugar
1 6ounce container of Yoplait 99% fat free french vanilla yogurt
2 TBS canola or vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 egg whites
3/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
powdered sugar for garnish (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8 or 9" baking dish
Mix sugar, yogurt, oil, vanilla, and egg white until combined. Stir in remaining ingredients except powdered sugar. Mix until all combined. Spread into greased baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely and cut 4 by 4 so there are 16 even squares (this ensures your 110 calories) SPrinkle with powdered sugar, if you want to. I looks pretty and if you are entertaining or taking them for a party

Asian Chicken and Orzo Salad

I love love love orzo! Anything with orzo I am totally down with trying.


Ingredients:
1 9ounce frozen pkg sugar snap peas
1 lb orzo, fully cooked according to pkg directions
1 c. water chesnuts, drained and chopped
3 c. diced cooked chicken
3 green onions chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3 TBS rice wine vinegar
2 TBS soy sauce
2 tsp hoisin sauce
2 ounces of slivered almonds (optional I don't use because I'm allergic)

Cook sugar snap peas according to pkg directions. Then Add to orzo, water chesnuts, chicken, green onions and bell pepper. Whisk oil, vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce together, and pour over chicken mixture and if you want stir in the almonds.

So easy, so simple, so delicious!

Healthy Whoopie Pies!?!

Yeah ok Britteny, I found a healthy recipe for a dessert, nearly blasphemy, in my book. I guess that's why you are thin and I am not! :) These are 100 calories per cookie sandwich and still yummy. Plus low in cholesterol with using only the egg white and if you use margarine or crisco shortening, almost zero cholesterol!

1 c. flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 egg white
1/2 c. 1% milk
3/4 c. marshmallow creme

First preheat 425 degrees. In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa, and salt. In a large bowl beat sugar, butter and egg white until fluffy. Add flour mixture, then stir in milk unil just blended.
Drop by tablespoon on ungreased pan, you should get 32 cookies. Bake 5 min or until tops bouce back when touched. Let cool on wire rack and when cooled spoon marshmallow creme on 16 cookies bottom side up then top with the rest to make sandwiches

Banana Cream Brownies

Seriously yummy brownies! Vanessa and Britteny should remember these now you can make them too!

1 pkg (9X13) brownie mix
3/4 c. dry roasted peanuts, chopped
3 medium bananas, sliced
1 1/4 c. milk
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 container cool whip (just the regular size not the jumbo)
12 strawberries (optional), sliced
1 one ounce square of baking chocolate

Mix brownie mix according to pkg directions, and stir in 1/2 c. chopped peanuts. Bake brownies as directed on box. Let cool completely. Then slice 2 of the bananas and layer evenly over the cooled brownies. Then mix pudding mix, milk until slightly thickened, then fold in 2 1/2 c of the cool whip. Spread pudding mix over the banana layer and refrigerate for at least 30 min.
Then using the remaining peanuts and the last banana and evenly put on top of the pudding layer, and this last part is optional with the strawberries, also layer with the bananas and peanuts and grate the chocolate for garnish.

The last time I made this I didnt' have strawberries or the grated chocolate and it's still good either way!

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Cookies

Well I'm going to try to put something new up everyday or everyother day. But that may be too ambitious for me. Anywhoo, I have a serious addiction problem to all things chocolate, cream cheese, and raspberry. I may need to seek some help.

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg. chocolate cake mix

Cream cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, add the egg and vanilla. Add cake mix and mix well, this will be sticky. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Scoop out with tablespoon and form into a ball. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 mins, or until tops are cracked. Cool on wire rack.


Cake mix cookies are my favorites since they are so fluffy and soft.

Sour Cream Drops

Ok after a long break I did finally make something new. These are seriously yummy cookies, I'm mad at myself for not making them sooner, and I just might eat all of them before Mike gets home :)

Sour Cream Drops
1/4 c shortening
3/4 C. sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Frosting:
2 TBS butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3-4 TBS hot water

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to the creamed mixture. cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 7-8 min or until lightly golden around the edges. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Yields 2 dozen if done with tablespoon.
For frosting, melt butter in saucepan until golden brown; stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla ad enough water to get a spreading consistency. Frost when cookies are cooled.

This is really easy and they are so soft and fluffy