Green Bean Casserole

A Thanksgiving favorite I'm posting on this blog to remember how much I need to buy at the store...

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Servings: 12+ people (one large dish)

Ingredients:

• 1 (10.5 oz) can of cream of mushroom soup (buy 2 cans for more people)
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans of green beans (buy 3 cans for more people)
• 2 2/3 cup French's crispy fried onions (buy a 6 oz. container)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. In a 1.5-quart baking dish, combine soup, milk, and black pepper.
2. Stir in green beans and 1 1/3 cup French's crispy fried onions.
3. Bake at 350° F for about 25-30 minutes.
4. Top with the remaining 1 1/3 cup French's crispy fried onions and bake another 5 minutes or until top of casserole is golden brown.
5. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Truffles

I love the traditional Oreo truffles, but also can't have chocolate. So here's a lovely fall favorite a co-worker of mine made a few years back. I've had the recipe on a post-it note in my kitchen cabinet, and figured I should finally type it up. These things were delicious.

PUMPKIN PIE TRUFFLES

Servings: 40+ truffles

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 oz) Golden Oreos
• 6 oz. cream cheese (could also use the whole package - 8 oz)
• 1/2 c pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 packages (8 oz/each) vanilla almond bark
• (Wax paper for baking sheet)

Directions:

1. Combine Oreos, pumpkin, cream cheese and cinnamon.
2. Refrigerate mix for 30 minutes.
3. Roll in balls and freeze for 30 minutes.
4. Dip into melted almond bark and place on wax paper-lined baking sheet.
5. Refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
6. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Just in time for Halloween or Thanksgiving... Pumpkin Pie Dip!

Pair with some apples, graham crackers, or just eat it by the spoonful... either way, it's FRIGHTFULLY good!

PUMPKIN PIE DIP

Servings: LOTS.

Ingredients:

• 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix (can use sugar free, fat free)
• 1/2 cup milk (optional)
• 1 can (15 oz) of Libby's canned pumpkin
• 1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip (can use fat-free)
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients and store in the refrigerator.
2. Serve with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, ginger snaps, or apples.
3. Enjoy!

Protein Pancakes (No Powder Necessary)

Forget those damn Blueberry Banana Pancakes. Those things don't even taste like actual pancakes. But THESE do! 

Did I also mention they have 29g of protein with NO protein powder used in the batter? And that they are only 7+ on WW for the ENTIRE BATCH? Oh, yes.

These were made on a whim in my kitchen one day (literally, I just grabbed ingredients that had protein in them, avoiding powder after my last mishap) and they turned out fabulous. I then made them again, adapting the recipe (see below) to alter the nutrition a bit. Enjoy!

PROTEIN PANCAKES (NO POWDER NECESSARY)

Servings: 1 batch = about 4 pancakes

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 8+ for recipe #1, 7+ for recipe #2

Note: Nutrition on the left is for recipe #1, nutrition on right reflects recipe #2 (see below)

Ingredients:

• Recipe #1: Uses real eggs / no yogurt
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/4 c lowfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 c oatmeal
• 2 TBSP flour
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• Optional: fruit topping
• Recipe #2: Uses egg substitute / yogurt
• 6 TBSP Egg Beaters
• 1/4 c lowfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 c oatmeal
• 2 TBSP flour
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 c vanilla Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Combine egg, oatmeal, cottage cheese, flour, extracts, and spice in a bowl and stir.
2. Following nonstick spray, place about 2 small spoonfuls of mixture in the pan. 
3. Let cook on low until mixture begins to bubble and then flip to the other side.
4. Top with yogurt/fruit/more spice and enjoy! 

Musical Joke Monday #2

Musical Joke Monday

Strawberry Shortcake

This used to be one of my Papa's favorite desserts. I'm not really a huge fan of the whole Angel Food cake thing (for the sugar value, I'd rather just have a Rice Krispie Treat instead), but this does make for a pretty tasty treat on a hot summer day. And for only 3+ WW points, why not? Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Servings: 1 shortcake

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 3+

Ingredients:

• 1 shortcake
• 2 TBSP Fat Free Whipped Cream
• 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced

Directions:

1. Top shortcake with whipped cream and strawberries... enjoy!