Brownie Muffins [Hungry Girl]

Thought that these Hungry Girl Brownie Muffins looked so cute and are on the better side for a lighter dessert options.  Cut the calories in half by preparing them in mini muffin tins instead of the full size ones.    Check the recipe out here

Chocolate Rice Krispy Crunch-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

I love Rice Krispy treats, but they can get kind of heavy on the caloric scale with all the butter that the recipe calls for.  Here is a recipe for Chocolate Rice Krispy Crunch from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.  I like this because it can be a lower calorie snack with a delicious chocolatey crunch.  You can check her recipe out here 

BLT B-Fast Burrito from Hungry Girl

For those of you who love breakfast burritos, here is a delicious lightened up version from the ever lovely, Hungry Girl.

BLT B-fast Burrito

PER SERVING: (entire recipe, 1 burrito): 243 calories, 5g fat, 968mg sodium, 26g carbs, 7g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 23.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 6*

Spinach plays the part of lettuce in this BLT breakfast. Get ready for a super-tasty morning burrito that's ready in mere minutes!




Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
Dash each onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1/4 cup diced tomato, patted dry
1 tbsp. precooked real crumbled bacon (like the kind by Oscar Mayer)
1 medium-large high-fiber flour tortilla with 110 calories or less (like the kinds by La Tortilla Factory)
1/2 cup spinach leaves
1 tbsp. chopped scallions

Directions:
Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add egg substitute, spices, and cheese wedge, breaking the wedge into pieces as you add it. Microwave for 1 minute.

Add tomato and bacon to the mug, and gently stir. Microwave for 1 minute, or until scramble is just cooked. Set aside.

Lay tortilla flat on a microwave-safe plate, and warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay spinach leaves horizontally across the center of the tortilla, and evenly top with the scramble. Sprinkle with scallions.

Wrap tortilla up by first folding one side in (to keep filling from escaping), and then rolling it up from the bottom. Bite right into the open side!

MAKES 1 SERVING

HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

The most irritating thing about eating out at restaurants is when you decide to order a salad to be healthy; come to find out that the salad has more calories in it than the juciest burger with the most delicious fries. First of all, is it even fair to call those meals "salads"? Sneaky calorie traps is more like it. Check out Hungry Girl's take on Applebee's Brucshetta Chicken Salad...less calories and even more delicious, this is how restaurant salads should be made.

HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

Serving Size: 1 salad with dressing (entire recipe)
Calories: 360
Fat: 11g
Sodium: 988mg
Carbs: 26g
Fiber: 6.5g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 37.5g

PointsPlus® value 9*

HG FYI: The recipe method of calculating PointsPlus® values counts the carbs, protein, etc., from vegetables -- even those with a value of 0*. If calculated without 0-value vegetables, this recipe has a PointsPlus® value of 6*.

We love the idea of a salad topped with chicken and a delicious tomato mixture, but the one at Applebee's is straight-up SILLY. Feast your eyes on our beauteous bowl of greens...

Ingredients:
Bruschetta Topping
1 cup chopped plum tomatoes (about 2 tomatoes)
1/4 cup chopped red onion (about 1/4th of an onion)
2 tbsp. drained and chopped roasted red peppers (packed in water)
2 tbsp. sliced black olives, finely chopped
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

Salad
One 4-oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet
Dash each salt and black pepper
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
1 stick light string cheese, cut into coins
2 tbsp. fat-free or low-fat balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for bruschetta topping and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

Spray a grill pan (or skillet) with nonstick spray, and bring to medium heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in the pan. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes per side, until cooked through. Once cool enough to handle, slice chicken into strips and set aside.

Place lettuce on a large plate or in a large bowl. Add bruschetta topping and chicken. Sprinkle with Parm-style topping, and top with string cheese coins.

Top or serve salad with dressing. EAT!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Banana Split Milkshake-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Here is a simple and easy to make healthy milkshake recipe from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. My mom used to make a version of this for my sister and I when we were younger and it was so good! Here's the recipe, have fun!

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches-Hungry Girl

I saw these snacks on Hungry Girl and they look so good! It's kind of like a mish mosh shmorgasbord of movie theater snacks in one delicious snackwich. Check out this recipe for Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches.

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches


PER SERVING (1/7th of recipe, 1 sandwich): 158 calories, 2g fat, 128mg sodium, 32g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 7g sugars, 2.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

These treats are packed with the flavors of your favorite movie-theater snacks, so you can enjoy said flavors without the high calorie count and kicks to the back of your seat. Lights, camera, SNACKTION!!!!


Ingredients:
One 8-oz. container Cool Whip Free, thawed
3 pieces Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, finely chopped
1 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp. chopped peanuts
14 Quaker Butter Popped Corn Rice Cakes (1 package)

Directions:
To make the filling, transfer Cool Whip to a medium-large bowl. Add chopped Twizzlers, chocolate chips, and chopped peanuts. Gently stir.

Set out 7 rice cakes, and evenly spoon filling over them, about a heaping 1/4 cup each.

Lightly place another rice cake over each filling-topped cake to form a sandwich, for a total of seven sandwiches.

Place in the freezer until filling is firm, at least 1 1/2 hours. (Use a few plates or a baking sheet, so the sandwiches are not stacked.) Eat up!

MAKES 7 SERVINGS

Blueberry Cobbler-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Check out a delicious and easy recipe for Blueberry and Strawberry cobble from Lynn at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures...found here