Healthy Snacking - Sour Cherry & Almond Oatmeal Cookies

Dieting can really be the pits. I am finding at my age {37} that weight takes it's precious time to come off no matter how hard I work out or how much I watch what I eat. So while I have cut back on my favorite indulgences{french fries I am looking at you}. I have continued to find ways to make other snacks healthy, thanks to discovering Drizzle Me Skinny. Her recipes are easy to follow and adjustable to make suitable to your preferred tastes. Her recipes are also so helpful to have with point values for everything for all you weight watcher folks out there. I was inspired by this recipe but tweaked it to flavors that suit my cravings and I have to say this is my new favorite cookie. One is quite satisfying and they are still chewy and sweet like you want a cookie to be without all the fat. 

below is my slightly tweaked version that makes 9 medium sized cookies 

Ingredients

2 tbsp white sugar

2 tbsp brown sugar

3 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce

1 tbsp reduced fat margarine

2 tbsp egg white

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

½ cup flour

1 cup oats

¼ cup dried sour cherries

¼ cup sliced almonds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F, spray a large baking sheet {thisgold one never let’s me down for baking the perfect cookie} with PAM baking spray and set aside

Cream your sugars, apple sauce, margarine, egg white and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix in your baking powder, flour, oats, sour cherries & sliced almonds then combine the two until they are thoroughly combined.

Drop cookies by ice scream scooper onto your “greased” baking sheet.

Bake in oven for 14 minutes. When your house starts smelling like heaven you will know they are done :)

Donut You Want One

I know there has been some major radio silence here on the blog and I don't have a very good excuse to give you all, that is if anyone is reading this. Life just has been a bit crazy and my little creative corner has taken a back seat on the priority list. As of late I have been really trying to take care of myself health wise. Getting in shape with alternating classes at Soul Cycle and Yoga, dieting with Weight Watchers {down 7 lbs!} and generally tending to myself in a way I haven't in a long time. Since we all know dieting is hard and giving up your favorite indulgences just makes you want to quit. I have decided to try healthier versions of all my favorites. I think this donut recipe from Drizzle Me Skinny has to be my favorite thus far. I have made them numerous times and they always come out great & today I made them even a little more sweeter for my chocoholic husband by adding in some chocolate cake mix & topping with chocolate frosting. I even bagged some up & gifted to friends! All you need is a donut pan and some basic baking ingredients. Enjoy!

more healthy snacking recipes can be found here & here 

Healthy Snacking - Fluffernutter "Ice Cream"

striped board // loaf pan // ice cream scoop // food processor used // latte bowl

Is there anything better then a frozen treat when the weather is this hot?! I think it's fair to say that ice cream is a crowd favorite all summer long and it's only flaw is the calories that each delicious bite has. So to continue my healthy snacking series I thought I would tackle a frosty dessert that is 100% guilt free. Growing up I loved me a fluffernutter sandwich and decided to take those flavors and turn them into an "ice cream". Below is how I did it. 

Ingredients 

4 ripe frozen bananas

1/4 cup low fat peanut butter

1/4 cup marshmallow fluff

Directions

Peel & slice your bananas into small pieces & freeze overnight

Pour frozen banana pieces into a food processor and pulse till creamy

{it will take a few minutes to get the right consistency, I stopped the processor once to scrape the sides down so it all blended evenly}

add in peanut butter and marshmallow cream & blend again

place in a loaf pan and freeze for later or enjoy right away

Enjoy!