PinterTest Kitchen: sweet craving solutions and vegetable adventures

So this last month there has been zero baking going on around here

well, maybe a little

but i took no part in eating it

it was my first time participating in Lent

and I chose desserts and pastries

no candy, no doughnuts, no cupcakes, no chocolate, NO NUTELLA!

I did leave myself the pleasure of Jello for my birthday

that's right, I'm not joking

my birthday cake was JELLO

it was pretty tough, more about that later

anyway, in a attempt to satisfy my sweet cravings

I decided to pin and test these

don't get me wrong they're no cupcakes and ice cream

but they were pretty delightful

Baked Oatmeal Cups

check out the recipe at sugarfreemom.com

All natural

you can add your favorite toppings

chocolate chips on one, dried apples on another, 

fresh peach, fresh strawberry, craisins, nuts, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

this recipe makes a lot, but not to worry

refrigerate some in an airtight container

and throw the rest in a ziploc for the freezer

then thaw, and reheat in the microwave for 30-40 sec.

 

I may have been a little eager, and eaten right through the paper

don't judge me

I haven't had cake in a month

Frozen Yogurt Dots

Try this one!

Seriously!

NOW!

Your supplies....

pour your yogurt of choice in the ziploc

cut a little hole at the tip of ziploc, and use like a pastry bag

then line a cookie tray with parchment paper and dot

dot your little heart out

then freeze

i don't even think it took 20 minutes for them to harden

once they're done

DEVOUR THEM

no joke, they're gone in seconds

mom's love them, kids love them, even the yogurt hating ones

no one can resist the frozen dots!

-------

now just because I wasn't eating sweets

doesn't mean I was eating healthy 

I wasn't, and I think my eating habits worried by husband a little

because after vacation he willing did the shopping, and brought back a ton of vegetables

including a big bag of broccoli from Costco

luckily I had just been inspired by my mother-in-law to make some broccoli salads

and so I got on pinterest to see what I could come up with

I found this recipe for Mediterranean Crunch Salad and used it as a base for my own version

broccoli florets,

thinly sliced kale,

halved grape tomatoes,

1/4 chopped red onion, 

1/4 of a cucumber halved and sliced, 

halved kalamata olives,

feta cheese,

 some cooked pasta, 

mixed with some kraft greek vinagrette
and chill in the fridge 

 

its fantastic

And if you want to give it more of an italian flare,

substitute black olives for kalamata, 

mozzarella balls for feta, 

and italian dressing for greek. 

And there you go!

Best thing about this salad, it keeps VERY well overnight. 

Maybe even better than the day you make it.

But since my kids won't go for the salad, no matter how good it is

I like to give them carrots with ranch dip. 

Now I saw a pin that said you can make your dip a little healthy

by using "plain greek yogurt mixed with a ranch dip season mix

and it tastes EXACTLY THE SAME"

and all I have to say about that is

LIAR

linking up with Jessica