More fun gadgets

 

I love kitchen gadgets! I especially love when I've been wanting something for a long time and I finally get it! I've wanted a 'stick mixer' and a 9" quiche pan for an eternity......or at least it seemed like an eternity. And who can't use a Silpat?

 

For those who are local to me........like I said before......if you haven't gone to the kitchen outlet store in Crossville, you don't know what you're missing!

 

 

 

 

Pecan Sandy Balls

This recipe is similar to one my Mom always made for us at Christmas.....hers were called Walnut Crescent Cookies and they would melt in your mouth. They have always been my favorite that she made.  These are *almost* as good as Mom's.....but we all know nothing can compare with Mom 'stuff'!  They're easy to make and easier to eat!

PECAN SANDY BALLS

Makes 35 Cookie Balls

1 Cookie Ball = 2 PointsPlus™

1 cup light butter, softened
1/4 cup Splenda granulated
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 TBSP Splenda granulated
2 tsp cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350º.

Beat butter & 1/4 cup Splenda granulated at medium speed with an electric mixer @2 minutes. Gradually add flour, beating on low until blended. Stir in vanilla and pecans.

Shape into 1-inch balls. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 20-22 minutes; remove from oven to wire rack.

 

While cookies are baking, put 2 TBSP Splenda granulated and 2 tsp cornstarch in a small bowl. Press together with the back of a spoon to make powdered sugar.

 

 

Roll cookies in powdered sugar. EAT!!!

Packaged and ready to become a gift!



Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!
Jan

Sorghum Ginger Cookies

What do you do on a rainy Monday? Bake some cookies!

SORGHUM GINGER COOKIES

Makes 72 Cookies

1 Cookie = 1 PointsPlus™

1 cup Splenda granulated
1/2 cup sorghum (or molasses)
1/4 cup light butter, softened
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 TBSP finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup 99% fat-free vanilla or plain yogurt

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a large bowl, mix Splenda, sorghum, butter and egg substitute.

Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended.

Place @1 tsp of cookie dough on ungreased cookie sheet. “Smoosh” down to flatten.

Bake @10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes before removing cookies from cookie sheet to a rack to cool completely.

 

Place a few cookies on a plate with a cup of milk and leave for Santa!

 

 

MY SPIN: The next time I make these I think I'm going to double the chopped crystallized ginger for a bit more flavor/bite.

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!

Jan

Cranberry Nut Bread

This time I had a bag of cranberries I needed to use up before they got 'funky'. This was a nice, easy recipe to make.....and I got to use my chopper 'thingy' that I forgot I had!  If you like cranberries, I would suggest making this!

CRANBERRY NUT BREAD

Makes 2 Loaves

1 Loaf = 16 Slices

1 Slice = 2 PointsPlus™

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups Splenda granulated
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup fat-free milk
1/2 cup sugar-free maple syrup
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites OR 6 TBSP liquid egg whites
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups fresh (or frozen) cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray the bottoms ONLY of 2 8x4” loaf pans.

In a large bowl, mix together the flours, Splenda, baking powder, salt, ginger and baking soda until well blended.

In a medium bowl, stir together milk, maple syrup, applesauce, vanilla, egg substitute and egg whites until well blended. Stir into the flour mixture until well mixed.

Fold in cranberries and pecans. Spoon evenly into loaf pans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bake 55 – 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in the pans. Loosen the sides of the bread from the pans and remove breads to cooling racks. Cool @1 hour. Refrigerate.

To toast pecans: Heat oven to 350º. Spread pecans on a shallow pan. Bake uncovered 6 – 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown.

MY SPIN: The next time I make this.....and there will be a next time.....I'm going to use walnuts instead of pecans because I like them better. OR not use nuts at all which would make a slice 1 PointsPlus™.

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!
Jan

Pumpkin Mousse

This is another really easy recipe. I got this from my cousin, Dela. She got it from a WW person. And I'm passing it along to you! If you like pumpkin, you'll like this recipe. In the picture at the bottom, you'll see only 7 serving dishes......I HAD to try one right away. It was good, but after refrigerating these for a few hours, it was even better!

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

Makes 8 Servings

1 Serving = 2 PointsPlus™

1 (1.5 oz.) package sugar free/fat free vanilla (or butterscotch) instant pudding mix

3 cups cold fat free milk
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 (8 oz.) container fat free whipped topping

In a large bowl, mix together the pudding mix and milk; refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mix together the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.

Fold the pumpkin and whipped topping in with the pudding mix.

Divide into 8 serving dishes and refigerate @2 hours before serving.

MY SPIN: I used the vanilla instant pudding mix because I thought the butterscotch would 'take away' from the pumpkin flavor. This can be served 'as is' or with a dollop of fat free whipped topping.

 

 

 

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!

Jan

Banana Cupcakes

This has to be the EASIEST recipe I've made in a long, long time. The hardest part was mashing the bananas.....and that's not hard at all.  I was thinking about what kind of icing/frosting to put on these, but they really don't need any. They're very moist and flavorful. A great way to use up some very ripe bananas.

BANANA CUPCAKES

Makes 12 Cupcakes

1 Cupcake = 3 PointsPlus™

1/2 cup light butter, softened

1 cup Splenda granulated
1 cup mashed bananas
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350º. Line muffin tin with papers.

Mix all ingredients together.

 

 

 

 

 

Fill muffin papers 1/13 – 1/2 full.

Bake 20 minutes.

That's it!

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!
Jan

WW Friendly Thanksgiving Feast 2012

 

 

I don't know about you, but I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! Where has this year gone? We just got over that Candy Monster 'holiday' aka Halloween.....and now we have the first of the BIG food holidays. Did you know you CAN have a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast and still stay 'on Plan'? If not and you're worried about over-doing it, I hope I can come to your rescue. The following is a list of some of the delicious foods we can enjoy and not have to worry about going over our PointsPlus™. In fact, it's very possible to enjoy a feast for dinner AND have your other necessary meals and still stay within 26 PointsPlus™ IF you're careful. You wouldn't have to touch those 49 "play points" and you wouldn't have to stress!

 

 

I'm going to give you a 'list' of things I would consider incorporating into my feast.  The recipes are on here (Tweaked at Chez Jan).  Then I'll  give you a sample menu (what I would/will make). Ya ready? Here we go!

 

Fresh Fruit Salad 0 P+

Cream of Mushroom Soup 1 P+ (1/2 cup)

 

Reduced fat crescent rolls 3P+ each (I use WalMart brand because I'm cheap!)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 5P+ (1 cup OR 3P+ for 1/2 cup)

Save-The-Day Stuffing 2P+ (1 cup)

Herbed Roast Turkey 2P+ (2 oz.)

Vegetable (non-starchy, steamed) 0P+

Green Bean Casserole 4P+ (1/2 cup)

Spiced Cranberry Sauce 0P+ (1/2 cup)

 

Wayne's Pumpkin Smash 1P+ (served with fat-free whipped topping)

Pumpkin Pie Cuppies 1P+ (served with fat-free whipped topping)

Pumpkin Bundt Cake 3P+ (made with raisins)

Cranberry Torte 5P+ (made with nuts)

 

Here's what my feast would look like:

 

1P+ Cream of Mushroom Soup (1/2 cup)

3P+ Candied Sweet Potatoes (1/2 cup)

4P+ Herbed Roast Turkey (4 oz.)

1P+ Save-The-Day Stuffing (1/2 cup)

0P+ Spiced Cranberry Sauce (1/2 cup)

8P+ Green Bean Casserole (1 cup)

1P+ Wayne's Pumpkin Smash

 

18P+ for my feast. And, yes......this is a feast! I'm going to splurge on the Green Bean Casserole! It's one of my favorite holiday foods and I haven't had it in ages! If I had this for my Thanksgiving Feast, I'd still have 8P+ left for the day. So it IS doable!

 

The only recipe that is NOT on my blog is the Green Bean Casserole.....and here's how I make it: 2 cans (drained) French cut green beans, 1 can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, @1/2 of a 6 oz. package of French's french fried onions; mix beans and soup in a casserole dish; sprinkle onions on top; bake at 350º for @30 minutes.

 

There ya go! Now you can quit stressing, enjoy your feast, and then go for a brisk walk afterwards!

 

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

Later!

Loving Life(time)!

Jan

Ginger Berry Cake

GINGER BERRY CAKE

Makes 12 Servings

1 Serving = 2 PointsPlus™

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup Splenda granulated
3 TBSP sorghum (or molasses)
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup blueberries
1 cup fat-free buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray 11 x 8 inch baking dish; set aside.

Don't forget to spray in the dishwasher lid!

In a large bowl, mix together the applesauce, Splenda and sorghum (molasses) until well blended. Beat in egg substitute.

 

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and salt. Remove 2 TBSP of this and toss with the blueberries to coat.

 

 

 Stir remaining dry ingredients into applesauce mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing after each addition.

Carefully fold in the blueberries.

Pour into the baking dish. Bake 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY SPIN: I think this would be good using cranberries instead of the blueberries.

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!! *** The PointsPlus™ value for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark. ***

Later!

Loving Life(time)!
Jan