Low Fat Mocha Brownie Bars

A lovely little recipe from Faith over at Gold In The Clouds



1/2 c. butter, softened

1 (14 oz) can of low-fat (or fat free) sweetened condensed milk

2 tsps of pure coffee extract

2 eggs

1 cup of HeartSmart Bisquick baking mix (low-fat biscuit mix)

1/2 c. baking cocoa

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 c chopped walnuts (optional)

1 c. of semi-sweet chocolate chips for "frosting"

  

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the walnuts and chocolate chips.
• Stir well.
• Add in the walnuts if desired.
• Spread in a lightly greased (I use Baking Spray by Crisco) 13x9 inch baking pan.
• Bake for 25 minutes (or until sides pull away from pan) in a 350 degree oven.
• Cool for about a minute then sprinkle the cup of chocolate chips over the top and smooth with a knife.  
• Set aside to completely cool.  
• Store in an air-tight container or freeze half the pan after cutting into squares

Chicken Parmesan Spinach Pasta Bake

An easy pasta dish thats a great twist on the traditional Chicken Parmesan. Thank you 365 Days of Baking

1 lb. pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut up into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 ounce bag fresh spinach, chopped
2 24 ounce jars Pasta Sauce

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9 X 13-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.
• Boil pasta for 2 minutes less than what is directed on package. 
• Drain and set aside.
• In a shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and mix well.
• Working in batches, coat the chicken pieces in egg and then coat completely in the bread/cheese mixture.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 
• Place half the chicken pieces into the skillet and cook about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
• Remove and place on a plate covered with a paper towel. 
• Continue process with remaining chicken, adding remaining olive oil to the skillet.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped spinach and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• Add both jars of pasta sauce. 
• Mix well.
• Add chicken pieces and mix to coat.
• Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle with remaining cup of shredded mozzarella.
• Bake for 30 minutes.

Spicy Slow Cooker Beef & Bell Pepper

This is so delicious and  better than takeaway. Thank you Let the Baking Begin

2 lbs beef chuck, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped to 1 inch squares bell pepper
½ medium onion, peeled, cut in half, sliced
1 cup broth or 1 cup water + 3 bullion cubes
2 tsp freeze dried garlic
⅓ cup chopped parsley
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp – 1 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
To thicken
½ cup water
2 Tbsp corn starch

• Place the meat on the bottom of the slow cooker. 
• Sauté onion in skillet until golden brown, then add it to the slow cooker.
• Top with cut up bell pepper. 
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic.
• Mix the broth with Sriracha, or water, bullion cubes and Sriracha. 
• Pour over the peppers and beef.(if using bullion cubes, add only 1 tsp salt). 
• Set on high heat for 3.5-4 hours.
• Mix ½ cup water and 2 tablespoons corn starch. 
• Add 1 cup of liquid from the meat & pepper mixture and cook on medium heat until boiling
• Cook 2 minutes past boil to remove the cornstarch flavor. 
• Add this mixture back to the meat and bell peppers. 
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley, stir and serve.
• Serve hot over rice, noodles or mashed potatoes

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

A no bake Banana Pudding Cheesecake is easy to make and sure to be a hit with banana cream pie and cheesecake lovers alike. Thank you Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

1 2/3 cup Graham Crackers, Crushed (about 12 whole crackers)
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar 
1/2 cup Butter, Melted
2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 cup Flour
1 pinch Sea Salt
2 cups Milk
3 whole Egg Yolks, Whisked
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
16 ounces Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
4 whole Bananas, Sliced
 For Serving: Whip Cream and Additional Sliced Banana

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl add graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar, mix until well combined.
• Drizzle in melted butter and mix well. 
• Press graham cracker mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate. 
• Bake for 7 minutes or until light brown, cool completely.
• To make Vanilla Pudding: In a large saucepan whisk together 2/3 cup granulated sugar with flour and salt until well combined. 
• Slowly whisk in milk until smooth.
• Bring mixture to a simmer while stirring over medium heat. 
• Cook until thickened.
• Slowly stir in 2 cups of milk mixture into the egg yolks.
• Add egg yolks back to the pan and continue to stir while returning mixture to a simmer. 
• Cook until thickened and the consistency of pudding.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy. 
• Add pudding mixture to cream cheese and mix until well combined, scraping sides of bowl well.
• Cover bottom of graham cracker crust with 1/3 banana pudding cheesecake mixture. 
• Add sliced bananas and cover with remaining cheesecake mixture.
• Refrigerate cheesecake until cold or overnight.
• Serve with whip cream and additional sliced banana.

Cheesy Spanish Rice Skillet

This Cheesy Spanish Rice Skillet is the perfect meal to add to your weeknight dinner rotation. Serve this with refried beans and flour tortillas to complete the meal. Thank you Mommys Kitchen

1 1/2 - cup long grain rice
1 - tablespoon canola or olive oil
1 - (14.5 oz) can diced chili ready tomatoes 
1/2 - cup mild salsa or picante sauce
1/2 - teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 - teaspoon Mexican oregano
1/2 - teaspoon onion powder
1/2 - teaspoon garlic powder
1 - teaspoon chili powder 
4 - cups low sodium chicken broth
1 - lb lean ground beef or turkey, browned
1 - small onion, chopped
1 - clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 - 8 oz package shredded sharp cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend
fresh chopped cilantro for garnish 
  

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Heat canola oil in a large skillet and add rice cook for about 5 minutes or until rice becomes a golden brown color. 
• Add the diced tomatoes, salsa, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder, and chicken broth. 
• Stir to combine. 
• Bring the mixture to a  boil and then reduce heat to low and cover. 
• Simmer for 15 - 20 minutes or until the liquid is almost absorbed and the rice it tender.    
• While the rice is cooking in a large oven proof skillet brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic until the onions are translucent in color. 
• Drain off any grease. 
• When the rice mixture is done add it to the ground beef and gently mix to combine. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste if needed.  
• Top with shredded cheese and bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted. 
• Remove from oven and add chopped cilantro and serve. 

Apple Cider Pork Chops

Seasoned pork loin chops baked with apple cider and Worcestershire sauce and finished with sherry. Serve with mashed potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil
4 pork loin chops
seasoning salt to taste
black pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 (8 ounce) container frozen apple cider concentrate, undiluted
1/4 cup dry sherry

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe frying pan over medium-high heat. 
• Sprinkle chops with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and poultry seasoning. 
• Place in hot oil, and brown on both sides. 
• Drizzle Worcestershire sauce over chops, and pour in apple cider.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. 
• Remove chops to a plate, and return frying pan to stove over medium-high heat. 
• Stir sherry into pan, and boil until sauce thickens, stirring frequently. 
• Serve sauce over chops.

Mince Pies

Mince pies are the ultimate Christmas staple. The sweet, fruity mincemeat with all of those wonderful festive spices, encased in icing-covered crumbly, buttery pastry.. is festive food heaven

Pie crust dough (enough for two crusts) or
Homemade using the following recipe:

2 1/2 cups / 350g plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 cup /225g butter, diced
tsp sugar
1 whole egg
Cold Water

1 jar of mincemeat either good quality shop bought or homemade (see recipe)
1 orange, juice and zest
1 apple, finely diced
Dusting icing sugar

• Heat the oven to 400°F/200°C/Gas 6
• Place the flour, butter and salt into a large bowl.
• Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs
• Stir in sugar,
• Add the egg to the mixture and using a knife stir, 
• Add cold water a teaspoon at a time until the mixture binds together.
• Roll in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
• Meanwhile add orange juice, zest and apple to mincemeat and stir well
• Choose a muffin or bun tin for the size of the pie you want.
• Dust a work surface lightly with a little flour and roll out two-thirds of the pastry to 1/8"/3mm thick.
• Cut circles to line the cups of your tin.
• Fill the pastry lined tins 2/3 full with mincemeat.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness and cut smaller circles to fit as lids or cut out star shaped lids to be decorative.
• Lightly brush the tops with milk or an egg wash.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 mins or until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the icing sugar.