Fudgy Banana Pudding Pops- Gluten Free

With warmer weather I am always looking for easy and healthy snacks for my kids.  This is a great GLUTEN FREE, fat free and low sugar snack for the kiddos and the kid in you!  ENJOY!

FUDGY BANANA PUDDING POPS

1 box (4-serving size) chocolate fudge sugar-free fat-free instant pudding mix

2 cups fat-free (skim) milk

1 medium ripe banana

1 container Yoplait® Light very vanilla yogurt

8 waxed paper cups (5-oz size)

8 craft sticks (flat wooden sticks with round ends)

In medium bowl, beat pudding mix and milk with wire whisk about 2 minutes or until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes or until thickened.   Meanwhile, in small bowl, mash banana with fork. Stir in yogurt.

Place paper cups in 8-inch pan for easier handling. Spoon 2 tablespoons pudding into each cup. Divide yogurt mixture evenly among cups. Top with remaining pudding mixture. Tap cups on work surface to level top. Insert wooden stick into center of each pop.

Freeze pops about 2 hours or until solid. Store frozen pops in plastic freezer bag in freezer. Peel off paper cups before serving.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

I love using my slow cooker.  It is a wonderful feeling to get up and get dinner in the crockpot in the morning and not have to worry about it the rest of the day!  This recipe is a wonderful, kid friendly recipe.  You can use any spices that you like to make it your own! 

ENJOY!

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CACCIATORE

(Image from here.)

4-6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I would NOT reccommend Ragu.  It makes this too watery.  I use Classico sauces.  If Ragu is all you have, add a small jar of tomato sauce.)

1 green bell pepper

1 cup of fresh mushrooms

2 TBS. chopped fresh garlic

1 teaspoon of oregano

1 teaspoon of dried basil

Place chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker.  In a small bowl mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over chicken covering it completely. 

Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5.

Serve over your favorite cooked pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

Easy Cake Mix Banana Bread

I've said it before...  When you say cake mix, I listen  and when I say banana bread, my kids come running!!  This banana bread is like a mixture of good old fashion banana bread and cupcakes!  Oh my goodness!  Enjoy!

EASY CAKE MIX BANANA BREAD

1 box Betty Crocker® cake mix
3 eggs

1/3 cup oil

4 mashed bananas

Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease and flour 2 (9x5-inch) loaf pans. Select your favorite banana bread recipe from the list below. In large bowl, beat all ingredients together (including those specific add-ins mentioned in the ingredient descriptions below) until well mixed. Pour batter loaf pans. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center, comes out clean.

Whole Wheat Brownies

When you say the word brownie, I come running!  I love them!  Even from the box, but there is nothing better than a made from scratch brownie.  Escepically ones that are healthy! (for the most part anyway!) ENJOY!

WHOLE WHEAT BROWNIES

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan

1/2 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 1/4 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish; line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

In a large bowl, stir together sugar, applesauce, and egg. Place butter and 6 ounces chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water; stir until melted. Stir chocolate mixture into sugar mixture. Stir in flour mixture. Pour into pan and top with 2 ounces chocolate.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 40 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Use parchment to lift cake from pan and cut into 16 squares.

(recipe and pic from here.)