Banana-Caramel Cupcakes

I am not sure if these are cupcakes or muffins? Maybe I should call them "Cupffins"? :) The cupcake is "Julified" with whole wheat flour & coconut oil. Even still, the girls loved these.

Cupcakes:

1/4 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1 egg

3 ripe bananas

1/3 c. coconut oil, in liquid form (Vegetable oil works too)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp.  baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

-Cream butter & sugar
-Add egg, bananas,coconut oil & vanilla. Mix well.
-In a separate bowl, combine both flours, baking soda, cinnamon & salt.
-Gradually, add to the banana mixture & stir just until combined.
-Add batter to a cupcake pan.
-Bake at 350 for approx. 20 minutes.

Icing:

2 tbsp. butter

1/3 c. Brown sugar

1 tbsp. milk

3 tbsp. powdered sugar
Dash of salt & vanilla

-Add butter to a sauce pan & melt over medium heat.
-Add brown sugar & milk. Bring to a simmer to ensure all the sugar granules dissolve.
-Add powdered sugar
-Add just a dash of salt & vanilla
(This icing thickens as it cools. Wait to add additional powdered sugar if it seems too thin)

Cora, Rapunzel enjoying her cupcake

Oriental Chicken Salad

This delicious salad was last night's dinner! Here is the recipe that I'm certain you'll want to cook on a Hot summer night::: {originally from my mother-in-law w/ a few changes!}

Oriental Chicken Salad- Makes 2 dinner portions
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp sesame seeds
S&P
1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
2 stalks green onion, chopped
1/2 c. silvered almonds
1/2 c, chow mein noodles
1/4 c. oil
3 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp poppy seeds

-In a small bowl whisk: soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger & S&P. Grill chicken breast for about 10 minutes. Just before it is finished brush with soy sauce mixture.
-In a large bowl add: lettuce, green onion & almonds
-In a separate, small bowl whisk: oil, vinegar, sugar & poppy seeds. {Ken & I don't use much dressing. If you know that you do you'll defiantly need to increase measurements!}
-Assemble salad & top w chow mein noodles

Fish N Chips, Julified Wins!

My take on Fish N Chips! I love fish, especially grilled in the summer. This recipe is a way to change it up! Baking it saves several calories and fat grams.  Serve w/ malt vinegar!

Fish:
2 white fish fillets (Ex: Cod, Mahi, Grouper), thawed
salt & pepper
1/4 c. flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 c. Panko bread crumbs
Parsley

1. Season fish w/ salt and pepper.
2. Dredge in flour, shake off excess.
3. Dip in egg then in Panko, coating all sides of the fish.
4. Place on a wire baking rack over a cookie sheet. (This allow fish to cook evenly and bottom doesn't get soggy.)
5. Sprinkle w/ parsley and spray lightly w/ cooking spray.
6. Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes or until browned.
7. Serve right away w/ malt vinegar for the traditional "Fish N Chips" taste!
-6 WW pts for 1 fish fillet


Chips:
2 medium sweet potatoes
2 Tbsp. Olive oil (aprox)
Course salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

1. Scrub potatoes well! Peel off any blemishes.
2. Slice thin into rounds. Place in a large bowl w/ remaining ingredients. And toss to coat. (Just use enough olive oil to lightly coat potatoes)
3. Line a cookie sheet w/ foil & place potatoes in a single layer, make sure none are touching.
4. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, flip each potato and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
-6 WW pts

Brussels Sprouts Win!

If you think you do not like Brussels sprouts; please try them prepared this way! I personally do not like steamed or boiled Brussels sprouts, which is how my lovely grandma used to make them. ICK! Then I learned that way of cooking them intensifies the crucifer  flavor. (The strong cabbage like taste)
This is an easy way to prepare them that masks the usual strong flavor. I "Julified" them but if serving to kids or a picky husband add more cheese and/or prepare with whole milk or heavy cream to give more flavor. I promise the small amount of red pepper flakes will not make it too spicy but just enough!
Comment on this post when you try these :)

Brussels Sprouts Au gratin: 4 servings
1 lb. brussels sprouts
1/2 c. skim milk
1/2 c. reduce fat cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 c. bread crumbs
1 Tbsp EVOO (olive oil)

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bring water to a boil in a medium pan.
2. Cut off the bottom core of brussels sprouts & then cut in half long ways. (Some of the outer leaves will fall off-I use them) Place in a colander and rinse in cold water. Blanch in boiling water for 4 minutes.
3. Transfer blanched brussels sprouts to a greased baking dish.
4. In a small bowl mix: milk, cheese, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Pour over brussel sprouts.
5. In another small bowl mix bread crumbs and EVOO. Sprinkle on brussels sprouts.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until browned.

4 WW pts. per serving

Fruit Pizza, Julified

Perfect summer treat~I changed up the traditional fruit pizza. Instead of a sugar cookie crust I used whole wheat flour and a butter substitute.  It only requires the oven on for 10 minutes at 350!  Swap whatever fruit is in season or on sale! I usually use blueberries but they were $2.95 for a pint yesterday! Ouch! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have lots of blueberries from my MIL:)

Fruit Pizza
1/2 c. Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 c. AP flour
1/4 c. Confectioners Sugar
1/2 c. Butter (I use Best Life butter substitute)
8 oz Cream Cheese Light, at room temperature
1/4 c. Sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
zest from 1 lemon
1 c. Strawberries, chopped
1 Mango, peeled, cored and chopped
1/2 can (11oz) Mandarin Oranges
1/4 c. pecans or almonds
1/4 c. coconut

1. In a large bowl combine flours and confectioner's sugar. Cut in butter.
2. Press into a ungreased pie plate.
3. Bake at 350 for 10-12minutes. Allow to cool
4. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl- beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla until creamy.
5. Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.
6. Top w fruit of your choice, nuts and coconut
(Makes 12 servings. 4 WW points per serving)

Beef Stroganoff is the Winner this Week!

Beef Stroganoff, Julified WINS!
I got this recipe from my mom years ago.I, of course, "Julified" it though!

Tips while browning

1- 1 1/4 lb. sirloin tips
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 pkge fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. beef broth
2 tsp. dry onion
1/4 c. white wine vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp corn starch
1/2 c. fat free half & half
1/2 c. fat free sour cream
1 tbsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
cooked whole wheat pasta

 1. In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown tips in olive oil
2. Transfer to crock pot or baking dish
3. In same skillet, saute mushrooms and garlic. Pour over meat.
4. Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours OR cook on low heat in crock pot for 4-6 hours.
5. In skillet combine broth, vinegar, soy sauce, worchestershire sauce and dried onion. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 5 minutes, it will reduce greatly!
6. In a separate bowl combine mustard, corn starch, half and half, sour cream and spices.
7. Combine cream mixture w broth mixture. (Bc the cream products are fat free they are more likely to curdle. To prevent this let broth mixture cool slightly and temper cream mixture instead of adding all at once)
8. Drain and discard any juices that accumulated from meat while baking. Pour cream sauce over meat
9. Serve over cooked whole wheat pasta

Biscuits & Gravy, Julified WINS the most votes!

I took a classic breakfast, Biscuits & Gravy and made a few changes to cut some fat and calories. I know many of you will say "If I'm going to eat B&G I might as well go all out!" Although I agree with this way of thinking sometimes; I tried to come up with a version of B&G that has so much flavor you can enjoy them often and not feel so guilty about it! My mom was here when I made these and she said "They were so good! I wasn't sure if they would have the flavor that "bad for you" biscuits & gravy have. Sure did, yummy!" Trust me, she would have let me know if she didn't like them :) So here is the recipe-try them out and let me know your review! Honestly, I'd love to hear it!
Sorry, but I do not have any pictures of this recipe! Saturday morning, when I made this, Tamale pie was wining by quite a bit that I didn't think I need to snap photos :( Sorry!

Biscuits: Makes 10 biscuits
1/3 c. butter, softened
1 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. AP flour + more for dusting
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. skim milk

-Preheat oven to 450
-Combine all dry ingredients into large bowl and cut in butter w pastry blender until mixture is course and crumbly
-Pour in milk all at once and stir just until combined. Form into a ball
-Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Roll until about 1/2 inch thick
-Cut out biscuits using aprox. 1in cookie/biscuit cutter (I rerolled dough 1x)
-Bake for 10min. or until tops are golden brown

Nutrition Information for Julified Biscuits: 1 biscuit = 3 WW pts
Cal: 141
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 17g
Fiber: 2g
Nutrition Information for Regular Biscuits: 1 biscuit = 4 WW pts
Cal: 159
Fat: 8g
Carbs: 18g
Fiber: 1g

Gravy:
1 lb. turkey sausage
1 tbsp olive oil ( I had to add this bc I didn't get enough grease to make a rue)
2 tbsp. flour
1 c. fat free half & half
1/2 c. skim milk
spices: pepper, sage, crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika and thyme. Add as much or little to your liking. This is how I added flavor to copy regular B&G.

1. In a large skillet over medium heat add spices to turkey sausage and cook through.
2. Remove sausage or move to side of skillet and add olive oil and flour. Cook rue for 2minutes.
3. Whisk in half & half and milk.
4. Bring to a slight simmer or until gravy thickens, about 5minutes!
5. Add more pepper to taste

Nutrtional Information for Julified gravy:  1/4c.= serving 2 WW pts
Cal: 86g
Fat: 4g
Carbs: 1g
Fiber: 0g
Nutritional Information for regular gravy: 1/4c.= serving 3 WW pts
Cal: 128
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 1 g
Fiber: 1g

I was happy to see how much fat and the WW points I was able to cut out. Keep in mind, I obtained nutritional information for 1 biscuit and 1/4c. gravy. An average serving of B&G would be 2 biscuits and 1/2c. gravy! So, instead of 14pts I cut it down to 10pts total!