Some Must Try Recipes

I have been doing a lot of Internet searches lately for healthy"ish" snacks, desserts, meals, etc. There are a couple that I have made and my kids love as much as I do. They are packed with hidden healthy stuff too.

The first one is chocolate chip cookie dough:

1/2 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
1/3 cup brown sugar (I use half brown sugar, half splenda)
2 T. oats
2 T. butter or peanut butter or I've tried fat free cream cheese with success or even applesauce (or any combination of them to equal 2 T.)
1/8 t. salt and baking soda
1 t. vanilla or more if you would like
I like to add a pinch of cinnamon (not from the original recipe) To me, it helps hide any leftover "beany" taste
2 T. (or as many as you want) chocolate chips

Blend everything except chocolate chips in blender or food processor. You might have to stop the blender and stir and then start the blender again. It will be kind of thick. Stir in your chocolate chips and eat away.

It is not exactly low calorie but it is high protein, fiber, fruit if using applesauce. It is gluten free and can be sugar free. You can make them truffles by scooping out melon-ball size blobs, put them in the fridge to cool and then dip them in melted chocolate. I've done this too..yum!

The next recipe is a green monster smoothie:

This is a perfect recipe to get in tons of veggies, protein, and calcium and you will just have to trust me when I say you can't taste the green stuff.

2 c. spinach
1 T. peanut butter
3/4 c. milk
small mashed banana (I HATE banana, so I use 1/4 c. applesauce and it works great!)
1 t. vanilla
pinch salt (optional)

Blend everything in blender and when it is WELL mixed add 1/2 tray of ice cubes and blend it up. It will be a smoothie consistency, perhaps a little frothy. It makes enough for 2 large servings but it is really supposed to be just one serving worth. I eat/drink this for breakfast and it is so filling. I don't know of a better way to enjoy 2 cups of fresh spinach...yum!!

The next one is chocolate chip cookie dough "boatmeal":

This is a delicious way to enjoy a sweet treat for breakfast.

1/2 c. oats
1/4 c. applesauce
2 T. sugar or 2 splenda packets
1/4 t. vanilla
1/4 c. water or milk
I like to add a pinch of salt and cinnamon
You could also add 1-2 T. butter/oil but I have never done this because of the fat and mine still tastes delish
Then add some chocolate chips and mix it all together.

Spray a small casserole dish, muffin tin, or whatever and bake at 380 degrees (not a typo) for 20 minutes.

This is only one serving, so for me and the two kids I double or triple the recipe. I figure each kid eats half the serving and Justin and I get a whole serving.

And finally, this may be a no brainer but I have wanted to make a healthier homemade ice cream but don't have an ice cream maker. So, when I saw this idea I had to try it.

Mix up 1 c. milk ( I use skim)
1 T. vanilla or any flavoring you wish
pinch of salt (don't skip)
I have flavorings that are sweetened with splenda (Torani), so I don't add sugar but you could add 1 T. sugar to make it sweeter

mix together and put in a shallow container or ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, blend it up and enjoy. It makes A LOT! And with skim milk it is only 80 calories. So for me this is two bowls of ice cream at 40 calories each and takes care of my sweet tooth.

Let me know if you try any of them and what you think.

I have fallen in love with www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com