snack time!

holiday blogging hiatus is over!

it feels good to be back, though it feels a little frustrating since hubby is gone until 10pm for the next three months. we're doing lots of kid-friendly, non-interesting food around here. but that's okay. i like kid food.

my mom packed awesome school lunches. one of my fondest school lunch memories is peanut butter and jelly on graham crackers. now i try not to eat it for lunch but i do eat it for a late night "non-dessert" snack once in a while. here it is for your enjoyment - with the trick that makes it eatable!

graham cracker pb&j

graham crackers
peanut butter (jiff reduced fat is my favorite... only because it's sweeter than regular pb)
grape jelly (try others - this is my go to for this snack though)

1. spread a thin layer of peanut butter on a graham cracker. spread a thin layer of jelly over that. top with another graham cracker.
2. ****here's the trick: let them sit for at least 30 minutes (or lots longer in a school lunch) so the crackers get slightly softer so it doesn't crunch and get as many crumbs all over the place when you bite into it.

next up - a magic cole slaw for people who don't like cole slaw. i would know - because i don't like it. :)

and more pb&j just for fun...

no-bake berry smoothie cheesecake

cheesecake is one of those crowd-pleasing, beautiful desserts. but, let's be honest - it's pretty much terrible for you.

i found this version by philadelphia (like the cream cheese) that i absolutely love. made with 1/3 less fat (neuschfatel cheese - have i mentioned i use this in everything. i never ever ever use real cream cheese) and cool whip, it's far lighter than the original. and you don't have to bake it so it whips up in no time.

theirs is a berry smoothie version which is amazing, but try your own add ins - swirl in peanut butter and chocolate, other fruit, or just top with pie filling. i'm going to do it plain and top it with red raspberry pie filling for a festive feel.

no-bake berry smoothie cheesecake
16 servings

2 cups graham cracker crumbs (make your own!)
6 tablespoons butter, melted (you can't escape the butter, so we'll cut back elsewhere)
3 tablespoons sugar
4 (8 oz) packages 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened (never pay more than $1)
3/4 cup sugar
1 12 oz package frozen mixed berries, thawed and drained (or your own topping)
1 tub whipped topping lite or fat free

1. line 13x9 pan with foil with ends extending over the edge of the pan. mix graham cracker crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons sugar, press onto bottom of prepared pan. refrigerate while preparing filling.
2. beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until well blended. add berries, beat on low speed just until blended. gently stir in whipped topping. spoon over crust; cover.
3. refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. use foil handles to remove cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve. store leftovers in refrigerator.



what dessert are you serving for christmas/christmas eve dinner??

raspberry bread pudding

there's this quaint little sandwich shop in provo, ut (where i went to college at BYU) that has delicious.... everything. for the most part its a pretty healthy place to lunch, too.

with the most delicious exception - kneaders' raspberry bread pudding. wow. it's too good. but it's also too bad, made with whole cream.

so after too much time craving it i found a copy cat recipe on the sisters cafe, deciding i just had to have it since it isn't down the street anymore. but when i went to buy half and half to make it a bit lighter i made an amazing discovery. did you know that wal-mart has fat free half and half? i didn't. (i'm not sure what is in it to make it half and half since half and half is 1/2 cream, 1/2 milk. don't ask don't tell.) but now i do and i would gladly take this drastically fat and calorie reduced version of this delicious dessert over the original any day.

it makes a ton - a perfect dessert to serve at a big Christmas dinner. i hope you enjoy it at yours.

i keep forgetting to take a picture. it gets eaten too fast. and you can make it without the vanilla sauce. it's still amazing and then there is no butter or oil in the whole thing. you decide how to splurge.

kneaders' raspberry bread pudding
healthified from the sister's cafe

10-12 servings

cream mix

1 1/2 loaves aged, french bread

1 quart fat free half and half

3 cups sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

in large bowl combine cream, sugar, egg and vanilla. cut bread into 1 1/2" cubes (or do this ahead and let it sit out and get stale to "age" it!) and add to cream mixture, coating bread well. let stand 30 minutes stirring every 5 minutes to allow cream to absorb completely.

fruit filling
5 cups frozen raspberries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup apple juice

combine raspberries, sugar and apple juice, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

layer a roasting pan (13x9 is too small!) 3/4 full with bread mixture, pour fruit filling over bread mixture, spreading evenly, top with remaining bread. bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees. serve warm. top with vanilla sauce.

vanilla sauce (makes enough for 2 batches of bread pudding with how much we put on!)
1 1/3 cup butter

5 tablespoons flour

3 cups fat free half and half

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 cup sugar

over medium heat melt butter, and add flour stir 10 minutes until it has a nutty aroma, do not brown. add cream and sugar and boil till mixture is thick, remove from heat adding vanilla. serve this wonderful sauce cold.

store leftovers in fridge and eat for breakfast. but don't tell anyone i told you to do that.

10-minute chicken tortilla soup

with all of the fun holiday activities going on i'm finding myself needing quick meals. this is one of the quickest, yummiest meals, and it won't hurt your wallet too bad, either! and it will take you 10 minutes including opening cans. can't beat that.

it's compliments of trader joe's. i love that place. i wish i could afford to buy more things there.

trader joe's 10-minute chicken tortilla soup
suggested bovine modifications in parentheses
5-6 servings

1 box chicken broth (or 32oz or 4 cups)
1 can chunk chicken (or 1 chicken breast cooked and shredded)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1 12 oz container pico de gallo (the tjs one is good!)

toppings - crushed chips, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro

1. put broth, chicken, beans, corn and pico de gallo in large pot. cook 5-7 minutes until heated through. serve with toppings of choice.

kick me in the pants and call me slacker banana pancakes

kick me in the pants and call me slacker. i haven't abandoned this blog. have you abandoned me? i have no comments!! ahh!!

hubby's new job has him working late most nights, so he eats at work. why would i cook for just me and two little kids who'd probably rather have pasta or cheerios anyway? needless to say, i haven't been cooking much.

since he's sometimes around for breakfast though i have made these a few times. they are amazing! kick me in the pants and call me slacker, but at least i'm back on the posting band wagon!

stay-tuned - i'll post some desserts that won't do you or your budget in over the holidays.

kick me in the pants and call me slacker banana pancakes
4-6 servings
modified from allrecipes.com, here

1 cup whole wheat flour (or 1/2 white 1/2 wheat)
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons applesauce
2 overripe bananas, mashed (i used really overripe that i defrosted from my freezer)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. mix wet ingredients (including banana) well. add dry ingredients and mix until just wet. batter will be lumpy.
2. heat griddle to medium heat. pour about 1/4 cup on griddle for each pancake and cook slowly until both sides are light golden brown.
3. the most important part: serve hot with a tiny layer of peanut butter spread on top and then your favorite syrup. (i used maple... my husband used berry, with no peanut butter. weirdo.)

five ingredient fridays: bruschetta chicken pizza

my darling sister-in-law is quite the gourmet camping chef, so when the family got together to go camping at the end of the summer she, of course, wowed us with something amazing - bruschetta pizza. the veggies were all fresh from her garden and it was so good.

i thought it would be fun to do a version of my own at home instead of over the campfire. she did hers with red wine vinegar, but since i have a love affair with balsamic i stuck with my old friend.

the results were amazing. and so easy to throw together for homemade pizza. every tomato you bite into feels like it bursts an explosion of balsamic in your mouth. definitely give this one a try!

prepare ahead though and really marinate the tomatoes for at least 8 hours. it really makes a difference.

bruschetta chicken pizza
1 pizza

2 small chicken breasts, seasoned generously with salt and pepper, cooked and sliced
bruschetta (my recipe below)
10 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
pizza crust of choice (i did a half recipe of my favorite with 3/4 white, 1/4 wheat flour)

1. roll out pizza dough to fit desired pan. bake as instructed (if you're using mine cook at 400 degrees) until bottom and top of crust are starting to brown, but not quite done. this is important as you don't want the marinated tomatoes to make the top soggy.
2. put bruschetta in a strainer for a few minutes and let most of the liquid run off.
3. on partially baked crust, add bruschetta. top with basil and chicken. add mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
4. return to oven. bake until toppings are hot, cheese it melted and crust is done baking and is golden. sprinkle with sea salt and pepper before serving or put it on the table for people to add themselves.

if you're vegetarian you can try this without the chicken.

bruschetta ala bovine - prepare ahead - marinate at least 8 hours!
8 on-the-vine tomatoes (good sized - but still smaller than a baseball. my price point for these is $0.69/lb - they are normally $1.88/lb at my wal-mart. ouch!), chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper

cut tomatoes. add garlic and onion. pour oil and vinegar over the top. season with salt and pepper. stir well. cover and refrigerate, letting the tomatoes marinate for at least 8 hours.

five ingredient fridays: chicken tacos

chicken tacos have got to be one of my all-time favorite meals. and i just realized they qualify for 5-ingredient fridays. pretty sure that makes them yummier.

chicken tacos
8-10 tacos

2 chicken breasts, butterflied
marinate most of the day in: enough lime juice to douse them, a few dashes of olive oil and a few cloves of garlic
grill to perfection seasoned generously with salt and pepper

double wrap in corn tortillas (2 tortillas per taco)

top with lots of cilantro and other toppings of your choice (cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce, etc!)

this is delicious with mexican rice on the side. enjoy!