Healthy Banana Pudding

It's been a while, guys! Time to sweep the cobwebs off this blog with a simple dessert I just put together for Sunday dinner. It's easy to make banana pudding using low calorie ingredients, but I wanted to take it a step further. This delightful dessert is only 200 calories per serving and a whopping 6 grams of fiber!

Healthy Banana Pudding
Serves 6

1 box Fiber One sugar cookies (6 cookies)
1 package sugar free pudding mix (I used cheesecake flavor -- try vanilla, banana, white chocolate, whatever you're in the mood for!)
2 cups skim milk
2 bananas
1 cup Cool Whip lite

Prepare pudding per package directions. While pudding is setting up, break the cookies down into smaller pieces but not quite crumbs. Peel the bananas and cut into thin slices. In a 2 quart bowl or dish, layer 1/2 of the cookie crumbles, then 1/2 of the pudding, then 1/2 of the banana slices. Repeat layers and top with whipped topping. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

Grandma's Book - 3 Ingredient Key Lime Pie

This is fantastic. So easy and so good. This only uses 6 ounces of limeade, so mix the other 4 with a can of water for a refreshing drink. 

KEY LIME PIE

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tub cool whip, thawed

6oz frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

1 graham cracker crust

Combine milk, whip, and limeade concentrate in a bowl. Stir. I added about 5 drops of green food coloring, this is optional. Pour into pie crust. Garnish with lime and chill until firm, 4 hours or overnight. 

Grandma's Book - Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I brought these to church this past Sunday, and my favorite thing happened: Someone took a bite, their eyes got big, and they looked around the room saying "Who made these?" with a mouth full of cookie. They flew off the plate! 

She wrote the measurements for a half recipe next to the whole recipe. I am giving you the whole one, which makes about 4 dozen.

OATMEAL COOKIES

1c softened butter

1c sugar

1c brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

2 1/4c flour

2c oats

12oz chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter and sugars. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Add salt, soda, powder, and flour, mix until combined. Add oats and chips, mix with a wooden spoon. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

Grandma's Book - Mashed Potato Salad

This is from Allrecipes, but she took the time to print it out and put it in the book. I used leftover mashed potatoes. It's good! She always puts vinegar in her regular potato salad, but this called for pickle juice so that's what I did. 

MASHED POTATO SALAD (from Allrecipes.com)

6 Yukon Gold potatoes, cooked

3 boiled eggs, chopped

1 sweet onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped pickles

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup pickle juice

1 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbsp mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Mash potatoes with a potato masher. Stir in other ingredients and chill for a couple hours. 

Top with paprika and parsley if you wanna get fancy. :)

Grandma's Book - Blonde Brownies

Very easy and very good! Enjoy with cold milk. 

BLONDE BROWNIES

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder 

A pinch of baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips, or add-in of choice

Preheat oven to 350 and grease an 8x8 baking pan or dish.

In a bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and egg. Stir in dry ingredients, then add vanilla and chocolate chips, stir to combine. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

Grandma's Book - Deluxe Mac and Cheese

We had this at several family gatherings. I always wanted the recipe. :)

Now when we say a dash, we mean a dash! Too much garlic salt and you'll be swimming in sodium but just a pinch is what makes this recipe perfect. It's easy, too! 

DELUXE MAC AND CHEESE

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

1 cup sour cream

2 cups cottage cheese

1 beaten egg

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 tsp salt 

Dash of pepper and garlic salt to taste

Parmesan and cheddar for topping

Cook and drain macaroni. While pasta cooks, grease a 9x13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine sour cream, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Add cooked macaroni and stir. Transfer to greased baking dish and top with parmesan and more cheddar as desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. 

Grandma's Book - Oven Swiss Steak

This is fantastic. It's a bit of work, and it's worth the effort. I suggest serving with plain mashed potatoes; the meat is very rich and flavorful! The tone of the recipe and the fact that it was typed on a typewriter means this is one of her older recipes. Those are the best kind. :)

OVEN SWISS STEAK

1 1/2 lbs. round steak, 3/4" thick

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes

1/2c chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrot

2T chopped onion

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cut meat into 4 portions. Mix flour and salt. Sprinkle 1/2-1 tsp worth of flour mixture onto each, and pound into flour mixture on both sides. Reserve remaining flour mixture. Brown meat in a small amount of fat, preferably shortening but I used butter. Place browned meat into a baking dish and set aside. 

Combine remaining flour with drippings in pan. Add vegetables and Worcestershire sauce. Cook mixture until it boils, stirring constantly. Pour mixture over meat. Cover, and cook at 350 for 2 hours. Add cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes.

*I have a very hot oven, so I did 325 for 2 hours. It was very tender and developed a lovely crust on the bottom; if you want them more even, turn them halfway through cooking. 

Enjoy.