Low-carb Chocolate Peanut Butter Treat

I have no idea what this recipe is really called.  I got it from my friend Jamie Duncan.  It saves me when I'm eating more low-carb and really need a filling treat.

1 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. cocoa powder
3 pkg. stevia
1/2-1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together well and your done.  :)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I got this recipe from dealstomealsblog.com I made it one time for a football snack and it was a hit.  Now it is a major part of the fall football season for our family.   

Buffalo Chicken Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 c. blue cheese or feta (If you don't like blue cheese use feta..it is delicious with both types of cheese)
1/2 c. ranch dressing
1/2 c. franks hot sauce
1/2 c. green onions, sliced
1/4 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cans Costco canned chicken, drained
Crackers, chips 

In a microwave safe bowl, heat the cream cheese in the microwave until soft. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Place the dip in a 8x8 or 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until the dip is slightly golden brown. If you don't have a lot of time you can also broil the dip for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully that the dip doesn't burn. Serve the warm dip with crackers, celery sticks or tortilla chips. 

Tropical Smoothies

2 cartons pina colada or pineapple yogurt
1 cup milk
1 can (11oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 banana
1/2 cup frozen peach slices
2 T plus 1 1/2 tsp instant vanilla pudding
17- 20 ice cubes

Combine first 6 ingredients in blender; cover and process until smooth,  While processing, add a few ice cubes at a time until at desired thickness.  Pour into chilled glasses.  Serve immediately.  Yield:  5 servings.

Banana-Oat Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup quick oats
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 T butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
2 T unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine dry ingredients.  In separate bowl beat butter and brown sugar until crumbly.  Beat in bananas, egg, applesauce and vanilla.  Stir in dry ingredients just until moist.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Bake at 350, 15-20 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes.

Cowboy Salsa

From the kitchen of:  Denise Smith

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
1 T cilantro, snipped
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can black beans
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 can shoe peg corn
1/3 cup Italian dressing

Mix all ingredients and chill 1-2 hours.

Avocado Hummus

I got this recipe from my cousin Annie.

1 ripe avocado
1/2 can garbanzo beans, drained
2 T olive oil
2 T water
juice of one lemon
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried thyme
handful of cilantro
1 green onion, minced

Put avocado flesh, garbanzo beans, olive oil, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin and thyme in blender or food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Pulse in cilantro and green onion.  Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips or fresh veggies.

Sugar Spiced Nuts

1 large egg white
1 tsp water
4 cups mixed, salted, roasted nuts (about 11/4 lb.)
1/2-1 cup sugar
11/2 T cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 250.

Whisk together egg white and water in a large bowl until frothy and stir in nuts.  Stir together sugar and cinnamon and stir into nuts, coating well.  Spread nuts in a lightly buttered large shallow pan and bake in middle of oven until dry, about 50 minutes.  Cool and break into bite-size chuncks.

Note:  Nuts keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days.

Pumpkin-Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

6 eggs
4 cups sugar
11/2 cups oil
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup milk
1 lg. can pumpkin
3 ripe mashed bananas
1 tsp vanilla
51/2 cups flour
3 tsp salt
3 tsp baking soda
2 tsp heaping, cinnamon
1 tsp heaping, nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spray baking pans with flour spray.  Mix eggs, sugar and the rest of the wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients.  Bake at 350.  Regular-sized muffins: 25 minutes.  Mini-muffins:  15-18 minutes.  Bread:  1 hour.