Recipe: Naked Pear and Cranberry Pie

This is not an original recipe. Rather, it's one that I'm reposting from a blog I follow -- http://www.snack-girl.com/. The author is absolutely brilliant, makes great food, and we share a very similar food philosphy.

She posted this recipe a few days ago, and I am absolutely trying it this Thanksgiving. It looks positively divine -- and super healthy!

Naked Pear and Cranberry Pie Recipe

(serves 8)

• 4 large ripe green pears (Bartlett)
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• ¼ cup sugar plus 2 teaspoons
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 375. Slice two pears and layer in bottom of pie plate. Add ½ cup cranberries. Slice the last two pears and layer onto the cranberries. Add final ½ cup cranberries to the top.

Mix the ¼ cup sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a small bowl with the water. Pour over the pie. Cover the pie with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar, and bake for 10-20 minutes uncovered or until pears are tender.

Can be served warm or room temperature.

106 calories, 0.1 g fat, 0.0 g saturated fat, 27.9 g carbohydrates, 18 g sugar, 0.5 g protein, 4.0 g fiber, 2 mg sodium, 3 PointsPlus

Fun with Bake Pops

The new trend of "cake pops" is spreading everywhere. A little ball of crumbled cake and icing, cake pops are very cute and portioned, (Great for calorie counters) but also labor-intensive. I'd been itching to try them, but life's been hectic -- so I found the next best thing: Bake Pops.

Bake Pops, by TeleBrands, is a pan that makes the pop for you -- just mix up your favorite cake mix (there's also a recipe inside if you want a more traditionally dense texture), throw them in the oven, and you're set.

The one criticism I will say is that the directions do not tell you how high in each divot to fill the batter. My experience was to go no more than half way, or the batter will spill over the top. Other than that, I really had a lot of fun with the product. It was very simple, quick, and I LOVE the concept of mini portions of cake, for when I'm trying to be "good", but would like just a taste of dessert. I'm getting my sister a set for her birthday -- I know she'll have a ball with these!!


I brought Bake Pops to the going away party for my friend, Becca, where they were a huge hit. 

Thank you to the lovely Mel and Jess, who were happy to first pose with, then try, then rave about how much they loved the pops. Don't they look purdy?!

Happy Cooking, Fellow Foodies!!

Recipe: 100 Calorie Diet Coke Brownies

Today on Pinterest, which I'm quickly becoming addicted to, I saw a recipe for low calorie brownies. Now, I've heard many secrets for making low calorie brownies (from box mixes). There's the trick where you use apple sauce in place of vegetable oil. My friend Hannah has also substituted a can of black beans for ingredients to achieve that "fudgey" texture we all know and love.

So, I have heard of several healthy dessert substitutes. This trick, however, I've never ever heard of before.

The secret:

It's true. According to the recipe from Pinterest, one 12 oz can can be added to store bought mixes to achieve "Skinny Mini" brownies - without any altered taste-effects!

Ingredients:

• A boxed brownie mix. (Your choice)
• 1-12 ounce can of Diet Coke.

To Make:

• Combine ingredients
• Stir together
• Bake as directed on box

The one precaution I'm seeing online is that you may need to add an additional 5-10 minutes of cook time to the brownies, depending on your oven, so watch them closely.

Nutrition facts for the recipe (using Betty Crocker's Fudge Brownie mix) are as follows:

Serves: 20
Each Serving: 100 calories, 23 g Carbs, 1 g Fat

Has anyone tried this, readers? I think I'm going to give it a try.