Death by Chocolate Trifle

4 boxes (or 2 large) instant chocolate pudding

1 8 oz container Cool Whip

6 Skor or Heath bars, crushed

1 box chocolate cake mix (and ingredients for that)

1 cup Kahlua or strongly brewed coffee

Prepare cake mix according to package and bake in a 9 x 13 pan. When done, poke holes in cake and pour Kahlua or coffee on top. Let cool.

While cake cools, prepare chocolate pudding.

Crumble or tear cake into pieces.

In a trifle dish or large bowl, layer cake, pudding, Cool Whip, Heath bars and repeat. Top with Heath bars. Serve chilled.

White Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies

Recipe and picture HERE.

Oh my gosh! These were divine. I added milk chocolate chips, used part chocolate peanut butter, and added butterscotch chips and they were so good! Another one that I didn't get a pic of!

No Bake Cheesecake

Recipe is HERE.

This was SOO SOO good that I didn't get any pics of it! Try it!

Crockpot Pulled Pork and Sauteed Squash

 Recipe adapted from here.

2.5 lb boneless pork loin roast center cut, trimmed of fat

2 tsp red wine vinegar

2 tsp mesquite liquid smoke

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sea salt

Barbecue Sauce ( I used Stubb's and it's the best!)

Directions:

Place pork in crockpot and season with salt, vinegar, garlic powder, and liquid smoke. Cover and set to high for 6 hours. Remove pork and transfer onto a large plate. Reserve all liquid. Shred pork and put back into slower with 3/4 cup reserved liquid and barbecue sauce. Cook on high one more hour.

 Enjoy!

3 oz pork is about 5 points + (Make sure you calculate your sauce, though.)

 I made sauteed squash to go with the sandwiches and it's the perfect side dish for it! 

Ingredients:

Yellow Squash, sliced

Diced Onions (I used frozen.)

2 tbsp butter

Heat skillet and add butter. Add sliced squash and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until squash browns. 

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

Chicken ( I used 3 chicken breasts.)

1 jar salsa

1 can diced green chiles

1 tsp ground cumin

1 whole onion, chopped (I used frozen chopped onion, Easy!)

2 cloves garlic

tortillas or taco shells

shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream or whatever toppings you like!

Directions:

Place chicken in crockpot. Top with salsa, green chiles, cumin, garlic, and onion. Cover and set on low. Cook for 8 hours. Remove chicken from pot, shred, and return to juices. Spoon onto tortillas and top with toppings!

Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle

Recipe from here.
 Ingredients:

10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1 inch cubes

2 pints sliced strawberries

2 pints blueberries

6 tbsp fat free sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 package suger free white chocolate instant pudding

12 oz fat free Cool Whip, thawed

Directions:

Whisk condensed milk and water in bowl. Whisk in pudding mix and let stand for 2 minutes; fold in Cool Whip. Arrange cake in the bottom of a trifle dish sprinkle with blueberries, then spread pudding mixture, then layer strawberries. Repeat layers-cake, blueberries, pudding mixture, strawberries. For the top, arrange prettily! Cover and chill for about an hour.

1 cup=4 points+

Bang Bang Shrimp

Recipe from here.

Ingredients:

5 tbsp light mayo

3 tbsp Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

1 tsp Sriracha

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp canola oil

shredded lettuce or cabbage (optional)

chopped scallions (optional)

Directions:

In a bowl, combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha. Set aside.

 Place shrimp and cornstarch in bowl and mix well. Heat skillet and add oil when hot. Add shrimp and toss about 3 minutes or until cooked. Combine shrimp and sauce. 

 Place shrimp on shredded lettuce or cabbage and top with scallions.

 I served it with quinoa and fresh pineapple.

1/4th of recipe=5 points +

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

recipe from here

Ingredients

9 lasagna noodles, cooked

10 oz chopped spinach

15 oz ricotta (fat free) or cottage cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 egg

salt and pepper

1 jar tomato sauce

9 tbsp 2% shredded mozzarella

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Combine spinach, ricotta (or cottage cheese), parmesan, egg, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Place dried lasagna noodles on wax paper. Spread 1/3 cup of spinach mixture on top of noodles. Then, carefully roll up noodles and place in casserole dish. Continue with each noodle. Top with tomato sauce and cheese. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Italian Turkey Meatballs

Recipe from here

 Ingredients

Lean ground turkey

1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

dried parsley

1 egg

1 clove garlic, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

1 jar tomato sauce (or homemade sauce)

Directions

In a large pot, pour tomato sauce over medium heat. In a large bowl, combine turkey breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, egg, garlic and salt and pepper. With your hands form meatballs and add to sauce. Cook for about 20 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with pasta or as a meatball sub.

Naked Burritos

1 cup brown rice

Extra Lean Ground Turkey

Diced Onions

Taco Seasoning

Black Beans

Corn

Rotel

First, prepare rice. I used boil-in-a-bag rice! Brown ground turkey with diced onions and taco seasoning. When meat is done, add beans, corn, and tomatoes to skillet. Combine until heated. Combine meat mixture with rice. Top with sour cream and taco sauce if desired.

13 points plus for the amount I used.

Hot Crash Potatoes

12 whole small potatoes (like new potatoes or klondike)

3 tbs olive oil

Black pepper

Salt

Rosemary (or I used an Italian Seasoning blend)

Preheat oven to 450. 

First boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Place on baking sheet and gently smash twice with potato masher. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle spices. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and roasted.

Recipe from here.

Taco Pizza

 Ingredients

1 lb. ground turkey
1 envelope (reduced sodium) taco seasoning mix 
2 (8 oz.) cans reduced fat crescent rolls
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans 
2 cups low fat shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend 
1 can dicd tomatoes with green chilies (or you can use fresh to lower sodium) 
1/2 cup sliced black olives 
1/2 cup green onions, chopped 
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees. 

Brown ground turkey and drain. 

Add taco seasoning to the ground beef according to the package directions. 

Unroll crescent rolls into rectangles. Place in ungreased 11 1/2 inch x 16 1/2 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. 

Press dough over the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust. Bake at 375 oven for 11 to 13 minutes or just until golden brown. 

Microwave beans in a bowl for 1 minute (or until warmed through). 

Carefully spread beans over warm crust creating a thin layer. 

Top with cooked beef mixture, sprinkle with cheese followed by tomatoes, black olives and green onion. 

Return to oven for 3-6 more minutes until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. 

Makes 12 main dish servings or 48 appetizers. 


Serving Size: Makes 12 Squares

Number of Servings: 12

Recipe and Nutrition Facts here.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

 Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar

4 ounces butter, softened
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. First, cream the butter and sugar. Then, beat in the mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips. If making a loaf, spray loaf pan with cooking spray. If making muffins, line muffin pan with cupcake liners. For loaf, baking about 1 hour or until done in the middle. For muffins, bake for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Breaded Shrimp

 Ingredients

16 oz jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (weight after peeling 12.5 oz)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup egg substitute (egg beaters)
6 tbsp whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
2 tbsp panko
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

Put egg beaters in one bowl. Combine bread crumbs, parmesan in another bowl.

Wash shrimp. Season with salt and pepper, place in egg beaters bowl. Then in bread crumb mixture, then on baking sheet. Spray tops of shrimp with cooking spray. Place on middle rack for 6-7 minutes. Turn over and cook for additional 3 minutes.

Recipe from here.

The BEST Pizza Crust and Semi Homemade Garlic Knots

At our house, we have a weekend tradition of making homemade pizza! So, I've gone through quite a lot of different pizza crust types to find the best (and easiest) one! My absolute favorite one is Fleischmann's pizza crust yeast! It is so freaking good!

To make an awesome homemade pizza, you'll need:

1 pack of Fleischmann's Pizza Crust Yeast

1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups flour 

1-1/2 teaspoons sugar 
3/4 teaspoon salt 
2/3 cup of very warm water (120° to 130° F) 
3 tablespoons oil 

Pizza sauce

Shredded cheese ( I always use 2% Mexican blend)

Black olives, sliced

Marinated artichokes

White onions, chopped

Mushrooms, sliced

Turkey pepperoni

1. Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add water and oil

2. Mix together until well blended; about 1 minute

3. Add 1/2 cup flour gradually until dough forms a ball. Add additional flour, if needed to handle

4. Spoon dough out of bowl onto floured surface. Dough will be slightly sticky

5. Knead on floured surface

6. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic; about 4 minutes

7. Press dough out to fill greased pizza pan or roll dough to a 12-inch circle and transfer to greased pizza pan

8. Top as desired with pizza sauce, cheese and toppings

Bake on bottom oven rack at 425 for 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is brown.

Add these garlic knots and some salad and you have the perfect weekend meal! 

Garlic Knots

1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls

6 tbs butter, melted

1 tbs minced garlic ( I use jarred.)

Combine 4 Tablespoons of the melted butter with the minced garlic in a small bowl. Reserve 2 Tablespoons of melted butter.
With each triangle of crescent dough, roughly form into a snake shape and dredge through the garlic butter, then knot and place on your baking sheet.
Bake according to crescent roll package directions then baste with remaining butter when finished.
Serve & enjoy!

Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

 Ingredients

1 cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup mix-ins (chocolate chips, coconut, m&ms, anything you want!)

Mix all the ingredients together.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake in a 350F oven for about 10 minutes, or until set in the center.

White Chocolate Banana Pudding

 Ingredients

1 3.4 oz box Banana Cream Jello

1 3.4 oz box White Chocolate Mousse Jello

4 cups milk

3 bananas sliced

Vanilla wafers

Cool Whip or Reddi Whip

In separate bowls, combine jello and milk according to package. Line bottom and side of bowl with Vanilla wafers. Layer bananas, half of banana pudding, and half of white chocolate pudding. Repeat layers. Top with Cool Whip or Reddi Whip. Serve chilled.

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

 Ingredients

12 reduced fat mozzarella string cheese (cut in half)

2 tbsp flour

1 egg

5 tbsp Italian bread crumbs

5 tbsp Panko bread crumbs

2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp dried parsley

olive oil spray

Freeze sting cheese.

Preheat oven to 400. Whisk egg in one bowl, in another bowl place flour. In a third bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, and parsley. When cheese is frozen, remove from freezer. Dip cheese in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Place on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. After all cheese is breaded, lightly spray the tops with olive oil spray. Bake for 4-5 minutes on bottom rack. Turn cheese over and bake additional 4-5 minutes, watching carefully.

Recipe from Skinny Taste

2points+ for two sticks

Taco Dip

 Ingredients

8 oz 1/3 reduced fat cream cheese

8 oz light sour cream

1 packet taco seasoning

16 oz jar salsa

shredded lettuce

diced tomatoes

2% Mexican Shredded cheese

Sliced black olives

Combine cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, and salsa. Mix with electric mixer. Spread misture onto the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese and olives. Serve chilled.

Recipe from Skinny Taste

2 points+ for 1/24th of dip

Baked Chicken Nuggets

 Ingredients

16 oz (2 large) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces

salt and pepper

2 tsp olive oil

6 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

2 tbsp Panko breadcrumbs

2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Olive oil spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 and spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

 Put olive oil in one small bowl. In another bowl, combine both types of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in olive oil first, then in breadcrumbs. Place chicken on baking sheet. Lightly spray top of chicken with olive oil spray. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Flip and bake for additional 4-5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Recipe is from Skinny Taste

4 points+ for 1/4 of chicken nuggets

Italian Chicken and Potatoes

Chicken Breast tenders
Potatoes
Italian Seasoning
Fat Free Italian Dressing
Parmesan Cheese

Spray your Crockpot well.
Then place chicken in the bottom.
Sprinkle with half the Italian dressing, half of the Italian Seasoning, and half of the Parmesan.
Place potatoes on top of that layer.

Then add the remaining Italian Dressing, Italian Seasoning, and Parmesan on top of potatoes.

Turn the Crock-pot on low, then put the lid on it and cook for about for six hours.