Skinny Mini Pumpkin Cream Pies

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! And hello all my fellow last minute Thanksgiving preppers. I love the day before Thanksgiving. Prepping all the food and making all the things that can be made ahead of time.  Last night I made these quick pies to take to work and share with all the others that were stuck working today. The office was pretty empty today so I got out early today and headed over to Target to pick up all the last minute things I needed. I always seem to forget something. I wanted to share with you a super quick and super easy skinny mini pumpkin cream pie recipe in case you might have forgotten to bring something. My grandma, never the one to go to anything empty handed, makes chocolate cream pie as a last minute go to. Cream pies have got to be the easiest dessert to make. It's just pudding mix, whip cream, and pie crust.

Ingredients

1 package Jello Pumpkin Pie Spice Instant Pudding & Pie Filling

2 cups skim milk

1 1/2 cup fat free cool whip

12 Ready Crust Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crust (2 packages)

I found this delicious pumpkin spice pudding mix on the thanksgiving display. You know that section they put together to make shopping for holiday baking or cooking easier.

Follow the pudding mix directions by mixing with 2 cups of skim milk.

Once it's all mixed together fold in the Cool Whip. (BTW if you have the Target Cartwheel app they have a coupon for Cool Whip right now).

Pour the mixture into the mini graham crack pie crusts and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

For only 159 calories these mini pies are amazing. I mean a traditional slice of pumpkin pie has over 300 calories but if you are still craving that custard-y pie texture you could always make my crustless pumpkin pie. 
I got rave reviews for these pies. In fact I had people try one and then end up taking one home for later because they loved it so much.

What is your favorite easy pie recipe?

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Mini Pie (makes 12 pies)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 159 Calories from Fat 41

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.5g 7%

Saturated Fat 3.0g 15%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 1mg 0%

Sodium 245mg 10%

Potassium 63mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 25.4g 8%

Sugars 13.8g

Protein 2.3g

Vitamin A 2% • Vitamin C 1% Calcium 5% • Iron 2%

Nutrition Grade D+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Homemade Egg White Delight

I'm back!!! And hopefully for good this time. Quick catch up since it's been months since I've posted anything. The company I was working for closed down and it got me into a bit of a rut and I was too stressed being out of work to count calories and diet and I kind of fell off the wagon but I'm back. I have a really great job at an accounting firm and I'm ready to get back in this.

I have a terrible habit of running late for work. When I notice that I'm running late and ran out of time to make breakfast I end up stopping at the McDonald's on the way and picking up an Egg White Delight. It's only 250 calories and its super tasty but it's probably not all that great for me or my wallet. So I decided that I would go ahead and make a few of my own and stick them in the freezer. Whenever I am running a bit late I'll take one from the freezer, stick it in my bag and heat it up in the microwave at work. After the egg was done I placed the three slices of ham on the hot skillet and let them fry up a bit.

Ingredients:

1 light whole grain English muffin

2 large egg whites

1 mini Babybel light cheese

3 slices thin sliced lean smoked ham

I just threw the English muffin in the toaster oven and while it was toasting I fried up the egg in Pam. While the egg was cooking I rolled out the Babybel so that it was fat and large enough to fit on my sandwich.

For the rest of the sandwiches I just wrapped them in aluminum foil and placed them in the freezer. So now whenever I'm running late I can just grab one and take it to work. All I have to do now is unwrap the sandwich and place it in the microwave for 2 minutes. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 204 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  220                     Calories from Fat  51

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  5.7g 9%

Saturated Fat  2.6g 13%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  45mg 15%

Sodium  1128mg 47%

Potassium  108mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates  25.4g 8%

Dietary Fiber  8.0g 32%

Sugars  0.9g

Protein  19.6g

Vitamin A 6% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 35% • Iron 9%

Nutrition Grade B-

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

It's finally Fall ya'll! You have no idea how happy I am about this! I could write an entire post about all the wonderful things about Fall but I will spare you and just simply say PUMPKIN! If you don't like pumpkin you're wrong. Pumpkin is delicious in everything. Including this delicious pumpkin pie oatmeal that I have been making all week for breakfast (and once for dinner). 

When it start getting chilly out oatmeal is the best breakfast. It sticks to your bones and warms you right up. And then when you add pumpkin it's like a home run. 

Ingredients:

1/3 Old Fashioned Oatmeal

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1/3 Cup Canned Pumpkin Puree 

1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Packets of Splenda (Or 1 Tbs Sweetener of choice, like Agave or Honey )

1 Tbs Chopped Pecans

2 Tbs Fat Free Cool Whip

1. Pour almond milk and oatmeal in a sauce pan on medium heat.

2. When it starts to bubble add the pumpkin and stir it up. Let it bubble for another minute.

3. Add the vanilla extract, Splenda, and pumpkin pie spice. Let it sit on low heat for 5-7 minutes stirring occasionally.

4. Take off the heat and allow it to rest for 2-3 minutes.

Top with Cool Whip and Pecans.
Enjoy!

I love to make this the night before and let it sit in the fridge to "marinate" over night.
Oh My Gosh!
Yum!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size (Recipe makes 1 serving)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 267 Calories from Fat 88

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9.8g 15%

Saturated Fat 1.1g 6%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 190mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 36.3g 12%

Dietary Fiber 8.3g 33%

Sugars 5.6g

Protein 7.6g

Vitamin A 264% • Vitamin C 7% Calcium 51% • Iron 21%

Nutrition Grade B

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

What's your favorite pumpkin food?

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Lately, I've been craving comfort food. But comfort food isn't typically diet friendly. I wanted to make lower calorie sloppy joes and add in a bit more veggies than I normally would (normally, I don't add any veggies at all so this is an improvement). I think this sloppy joe recipe rocks. Totally delicious and really quick and easy. 

Ingredients:
2 lbs Lean Ground Turkey
1/2 Red Onion
1 large red bell pepper
3 Celery Stalks
1 Garlic clove
1 cup Ketchup
3 Tbsp Tomato Paste
1 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire
1 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Tabasco (Optional)
1 tsp sriracha (Optional)
Hamburger Buns

Chop up the red bell pepper, celery, and onion as finely as possible.

Spray the pan with Olive Oil spray and set to medium heat.

Throw those veggies in the hot pan.

Wait until they are a bit soft and tender then add in minced garlic and sprinkle salt and pepper.

Let the veggies cook for another 2-5 minutes then remove from the pan and set aside.

I have never been that crazy about ground beef. In fact, when I was little I wouldn't eat anything with ground beef, not even a hamburger. My taste buds have changed,of course, but I still prefer ground turkey over ground beef when I can. This Jennie-O ground turkey is my favorite! 

Cook up the ground turkey until you no longer see any red/pink. Use a spoon or spatula to go through and break up any of the larger pieces. 

Add in the rest of the ingredients, including the veggies we set aside earlier.

Stir it up until everything is fully coated in sauce.

I put half a cup of the sloppy joe mix in a toasted bun. I used regular hamburger buns because the whole wheat buns were an additional 100 calories. Of course whole wheat is a lot healthier but right now I'm focusing primarily on calorie count. 

    Makes 8 Servings

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 sandwich with 1/2 cup of sloppy joe mixture

Amount Per Serving

Calories 328 Calories from Fat 88

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9.8g 15%

Saturated Fat 2.5g 13%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 80mg 27%

Sodium 668mg 28%

Total Carbohydrates 34.2g 11%

Dietary Fiber 2.7g 11%

Sugars 13.7g

Protein 26.4g

Vitamin A 26% • Vitamin C 55% Calcium 7% • Iron 21%

Nutrition Grade B-

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

What is your favorite comfort food?

Amazing Flax Pancakes

I finally did it!! I mentioned in a previous post, Saving Money with Homemade Freezer Food, that I'm a pancake addict. I love pancakes and will make them almost every Saturday. I was stuck making basic Heart Smart Bisquick pancakes but I really wanted something made from scratch that would taste delicious as well as being really healthy. Well... I figured out how to make homemade, delicious, low calorie pancakes! I am so freaking excited to share this with you.

I have been playing with different ways to make healthy low cal pancakes for a while now. A lot of them tasted pretty gross of absolutely nothing like actual pancakes. These taste like pancakes, just like they should.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Ground Flax Seed 

1 egg

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Splenda (or 2 packets)

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Pinch of Salt

Mix all of the ingredients but the egg together in a bowl.

Add the egg and stir until everything is well mixed.

Place heaping spoonfuls of the mixture into a heated skillet sprayed with canola oil. When you start to see bubbles it's time to flip them over.

I don't know anything about Paleo or Gluten Free diets but I think they may pass for both. I'm not really sure. If you know please comment. 

If you want the most amazing pancakes you can cook them up in coconut oil instead of the canola oil. It will add 120 calories but every now and then it's worth it because it's like eating sweet, fluffy clouds straight from heaven.

I can happily say that I can now have yummy pancakes as much as I want. 

These also freeze well.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size - Recipe makes one serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 139 Calories from Fat 80

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 8.9g 14%

Saturated Fat 1.9g 9%

Cholesterol 164mg 55%

Sodium 648mg 27%

Total Carbohydrates 8.0g 3%

Dietary Fiber 4.1g 16%

Sugars 1.6g

Protein 8.5g

Vitamin A 4% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 26% • Iron 11%

Nutrition Grade C

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet