Chocolate Almond Cups

One of my favorite things to do when I have a free day is cook or bake! And today was the perfect day since we're all snowed in with nowhere to go. With a taste for chocolate, I created this perfectly sweet dessert that will have you wanting more... and more snow days too! 

Ingredients:

- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbs oil
- Pillsbury pie crust, 1 sheet

Preheat oven to 400. In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients together except for pie crust. Set aside. Spray mini cupcake pan with Pam baking spray. Lay out pie crust and take a small-rimmed glass to cut out small circles. (You'll need to roll out the extra dough after cutting out about 6 to 8 circles so you can continue cutting out the rest, until you have 24 total). Lay each circle inside of the mini cupcake pan and fill with chocolate chip mixture. Bake for 11 or 12 minutes until the edges of the pie crust is lightly browned. Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy with a nice cup of coffee. If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

"Everything is ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end." 

- Anonymous

Low-Point Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

"Will you be mine, delicious little cookie?"

Time to start creating some Valentine goodies! These soft-baked red velvet cookies are the perfect way to tempt your secret Valentine. Baked to perfection, all you need is a great cup of coffee and you're all set! :)

Ingredients:

- 1 and 1/2 cups + 1 Tbs flour

- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

- 1 tsp. baking soda

- 1/4 tsp. salt

- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or margarine, softened (I used Imperial)

- 3/4 cup light brown sugar

- 1/4 cup Splenda

- 1 egg, room temperature

- 1 Tbs milk

- 2 tsp. vanilla extract

- 2.5 tsp. red food coloring

- 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside. Using a hand-held or stand mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and Splenda until combined. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Add the food coloring and beat until combined. Turn mixer off and pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly beat until a very soft dough is formed. On low speed, beat in the chocolate chips. The dough will be sticky. Cover dough tightly and chill for at least one hour. Chilling is mandatory. Scoop and form dough into little balls. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 10 or 11 minutes. The cookies will only spread slightly, but that is ok. Add a few chocolate chips on top of each cookie, if you desire. Enjoy! If you'd like a printer-friendly copy of this recipe, Click Here.

"Sometimes it takes a cup of coffee to espresso yourself."

Chicken Hash

This perfectly seasoned entree' is pure satisfaction! Fresh herbs and vegetables tossed with diced chicken make this recipe easy to make and definitely one worth repeating!

Ingredients:

- 5, 4 oz. chicken breast, boneless, skinless
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 5 Tbs butter, Land O Lakes Light with Canola (50 cal., 5 grams fat)
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and largely diced
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 cup diced fresh asparagus
- 2 Tbs tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 tsp. dry basil leaves
- 2 tsp. fresh thyme
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 2 green onions diced (both white and green parts)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, diced
- 1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
- Low-fat sour cream (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove. Let cool and cut chicken in large dice pieces and set aside.

In a large skillet, melt butter. Add next eight ingredients (down to green onions). Cook on medium heat until potatoes are cooked through, stirring frequently. Add chicken, green onions, and parsley. Mix. When chicken is hot, remove to a serving platter and sprinkle on cheddar cheese. Add a dollop of sour cream to each serving if desired. If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step." 

- Anonymous

Low-Point Spice Muffin Trio

Why I'm the only one in this house who likes spice cake is beyond me, but since that is the case, I had to get creative because it's this time of the year I love spice cake and different recipes using spice cake mix. By turning this mix into three different recipes, this spice muffin trio has something for everyone; chocolate, cranberries, pumpkin, and pecans.... you pick and enjoy!!!

Low-Point Spice Muffin Trio

Ingredients:

- 1 Spice cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 Tbs dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, eggs, and applesauce. After combined, equally divide batter into 3 separate bowls. In the first bowl, add pumpkin, cranberries, and combine. In the 2nd bowl, add chocolate chips and combine. In the 3rd bowl, add pecans and combine. Spray a muffin tin with Pam baking spray. Add filling from each bowl to the muffin tin. Each bowl will make 6 muffins. Bake muffins for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle. Drizzle with a little icing if desired. Enjoy! If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

Total servings - 18
Serving size - 1
Total points per serving-Cranberry/Pumpkin- 2.5, Chocolate chip - 3, Pecan - 3
Total points plus per serving-Cranberry/Pumpkin-3, Chocolate chip- 4, Pecan - 4

"Be thankful for every moment." - Anonymous

Turkey Cookies!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just happened to come across an adorable picture on Pinterest of something very similar to these and just had to give it a try. How delightfully easy this is! Perfect little dessert your children will love helping you make for Thanksgiving.  

I didn't calculate points because this is store bought cookie dough. Had I had more time, I would have made my own dough recipe that I am sure would have been fewer points; however... IT'S THANKSGIVING... the one time where it's ok to indulge! :)

With cookie dough, icing, candy corn, and mini M&Ms, this simple and sweet recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving! Enjoy! 

Blessings to you and yours at Thanksgiving!