Tastes just like pumpkin pie!

Last week I decided to give up bread, potatoes and candy in an attempt to eat healthier and trim a few pounds off before our the wedding. During supper last night my fiance turned to me and said, "can you make me some brownies, a cake, some cookies, something sweet?" I chuckled and said of course. After all the guy has been quite a trooper eating oranges, cut up apples with peanut butter, and peaches as dessert for the past week.

I pulled out the cookbooks and recipe box looking for something we haven't had for awhile. I remembered a few years back at a WW meeting a gal talked about a good healthy dessert she had made. I didn't know the words "healthy and dessert" could possibly be used in the same sentence. I tonight I made it.

Pumpkin Cake

1 box spice cake mix

1 can of pure pumpkin

Directions: Stir together and pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

I whipped come cream to top Justin's and otherwise use a fat free cool whip.

**Instead of making a cake try making muffins. Yields 24 muffins. 1 muffin = 2 ww pts.

  

After the first bite...came the first comment...."tastes like pumpkin pie!"  (This cake is very moist.) It's not too late to add these two ingredients to your holiday grocery list and enjoy a guilt-free dessert with you family!

Enjoy!

Coleslaw

Recipes from scratch are always a favorite but then there are days when you just don't have enough time! For example this last Saturday, we worked cattle! I've already shared the Calico Beans recipe and here is the coleslaw recipe! The truth is: Not every recipe needs to make 20 dishes dirty to taste awesome!

Coleslaw
2 bag of coleslaw mix
1 small bottle of coleslaw dressing
3 apples peeled and cut into small pieces
1 bag of slivered almonds or cashews...whichever you have on hand
onion to taste if you wish

Directions: Mix it together, chill and enjoy!

I like to think the more apples I add, the healthier it is or the less guilty I feel eating it. I used low fat coleslaw dressing, the guys couldn't taste the difference. I highly recommend cutting the calories if possible....especially if you cannot taste the difference. This coleslaw was a big score!

Calico Beans

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here and the stores full of Christmas decor already! I'm not sure if we are a little behind this year or if we start preparing for the holiday's earlier each year!  We brought the cows home and worked them yesterday. It's a given that the ladies of the farm provide a hearty meal for the help. This year I made the beans and coleslaw. Have I ever mentioned how much I love crock pots? Well if I haven't I LOVE CROCK POTS! I was able to put the beans in and head out the barn to help! I will add that it doesn't matter how good of a camera or how good a  bean recipe tastes, photos never do justice. Cheyenne requested that I post the recipe on my blog so here it goes....

Calico Beans

1 lb hamburger

1/2 lb bacon

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup ketchup

1 T salt

1 T mustard

1 T vinegar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 can pork and beans

1 can butter beans

1 can kidney beans

Directions: Fry the first three ingredients in a frying pan. Then add all the ingredients to a baking dish. Bake at 250 for 1 hour.   ***In a programmable crock pot cook on high for 4 hours. Stirring occasionally.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. I generally double the recipe to ensure we have left overs! This recipe has been borrowed from my lovely sister, Brandee!