Low Calorie Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Happy Memorial Day!!! Today I was elected to create a healthier dessert for today's Memorial Day BBQ menu. You know me, Challenge Accepted! :) 

This recipe was actually derived from several different recipes to acquire the right taste. Trust me, every Pineapple used in these attempts were appreciated and pleasantly consumed! 

The Winner Winner??

Ingredients: 

1 box Yellow Cake Mix (some recipes also suggested Boxed Angel Food Cake; I elected for a more buttery approach)

1 box Fat Free Vanilla Pudding Mix

1 16oz can of Pineapple Rings in Juices (set aside juices from rings)

1 12oz can Diet Mountain Dew (Sprite or Sierra Mist did NOT taste the same)

Maraschino Cherries

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then spray 13x9 baking dish with Pam and line with equal amounts of rings and cherry centers. 

Then, combine both Yellow Cake Mix and Pudding mix into Medium sized bowl. Slowly add 8oz of soda and 4 oz of pineapple juice from can. With the remaining Pineapple I chopped and added to cake mix. 

Mix ingredients well and pour over rings/cherries. Bake as normally directed on box or until toothpick comes out clean (I used a glass pan, roughly 25-30 min)

Lastly, allow to completely cool! This is very important to allow cake to fully come out without any damage or detached rings. And flip! Cut and Enjoy the OOOHHHSS and AAAHHHSSS

Lower Calorie Recipe: about 157 calories per half cake or 79 calories per quarter cake. 

Original Recipe: 367 Calories per quarter cake

Holy Guacamole Sunday!!

Hi all! Wasnt this weekend just wonderful!?! 

BBQ's, warm weather, swimming and fun! 

Seeing as were on a lower calorie diet, jumping from BBQ to BBQ and Friend to Friends houses we get easily tempted to fall off the steady courses we are on.... 

So, in order to be sure we had a delicious and delightful treat to snack on was most important to feel like we weren't ruining our diets. Best of all.... No one knew the dishes we prepared were Low Calorie and extra healthy!!! This special treat was found on a Weight Watchers recipe blog you can find here, I cut back on some ingredients and added others but here is my version.

Todays Treat is ...Guacamole

Ingredients:

4 Medium Avocados; Ripe, Peeled and Pitted

1/2 bag of frozen Peas; Thawed and mashed

1/4 cup Red Onion; Diced

1/4 cup Chopped Cilantro

1-2 Jalapenos; Diced (depending on spice level and I removed Seeds to lessen intensity)

1/4 cup Diced Tomatoes ( I enjoy using Roma Tomatoes)

1/4-1/2 cup Plain Yogurt

1 whole Lime; Juiced

1/2 Lemon; Juiced

1-2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon Cumin

1/2 Teaspoon Celery Salt

Pinch of Cayenne Red Pepper

Salt and Pepper to taste

First, put peas in a medium bowl and mash with a fork until almost smooth. I personally used a food processor to fine the texture of peas to hide the flavor more. Then I added Avocados and mashed to the consistency I desired ( On this occasion I opted for extra creamy)

Add remaining ingredients and still until combined. Cover bowl and refrigerate up to 1 day prior. This recipe made a party amount to serve hungry people. 

Serving Size=1/3 cup. Each Serving = 1 Weight Watcher Point or about 64 calories. 

Traditional Recipe = 197 calories per 8 Tablespoons.

So Happy "Skinny" dipping and Enjoy!!! 

In addition to a "Skinny' dipping Guacamole, who could resist a Low Calorie Virgin Margarita to help wash down?? Not Us!!

Ingredients:

1-2 fresh Limes; Juice

1 fresh Lemon; Juiced 25

1/2 cup Sprite 48

1/4 cup pulp free Orange Juice 55

1 -2 packets Splenda 4

Crushed Ice 

Lime wedge for garnish

In a small glass, combine juices and sweetener. Stir. Can make ahead and refrigerate. 

When ready to serve, fill a 12oz glass with crushed ice. Add juice mixture and top off with Sprite. 

Garnish with lime slice to make extra special. Serves about 4

Low Calorie Recipe=about 33 calories per 12 oz glass

Original Jose Cuervo on the rocks= 300 calories per 12 oz glass