Sweet treats from Guest Bloggers

I am so excited. This week, two best friends of mine, one being my fiancé, sent me yummy recipes for sweet treats. The first is a gluten-free recipe and the second is for some chewy oatmeal cookies. I am hoping that a cookie remains in the next day or so when I visit my fiancé in North Carolina. Try out the recipes for yourself and let us know what you think!

Banana Irish Cream (gluten-free)

Ingredients:

• 1 small-medium banana, cut into chunks, at least 4 hours 
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 4 tbsp sugar  
• 2 tbsp Bailey's Irish cream 
• Handful toasted chopped pecans (optional) 
• 1/2 banana in slim slices for garnish (optional)

Recipe:

1. Place metal bowl and whip into the freezer.  Meanwhile, place frozen bananas in food processor.  Blend on med-high until creamy.  Scoop out and place into a bowl.  Place in the freezer.

2. Remove the metal from the freezer and pour in the whipping cream.  Whip on low for one minute, then increase the speed.  This might take 5 minutes.  When the cream forms, add the Bailey's and sugar and whip just to combine.  Top bananas with cream.  Save some of the bananas for a garnish.

3. Slice the remaining unfrozen banana thinly.  Chop the toasted pecans.  Garnish with both.

Eat and revel in the fact that you're not eating more than 230 calories.  :-)

Recipe from B. Riley, guest blogger

Guilt-Free Oatmeal Cookies 

(15 min. prep, 25 min. total)

 Recipe adapted from recipezaar.com, recipe #238738

I was faced with the task of making something for a work pot-luck and I decided to utilize my baking skills. I was able to create a very tasty guilt free treat.

Approximately serves 36

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) Smart Balance 50/50 butter blend

22 packets of splenda (slightly less than 1 cup of sugar equivalent)

2 eggs (I used “best of the egg” no cholesterol liquid eggs)

1.5 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups Quaker Old Fashioned Oats

Ingredients:

Add in the order, as you see fit: nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, craisins, etc.

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Microwave butter sticks for about 35 seconds and add in sugar, beat.
3. Add eggs and beat well.
4. Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. 
5. Add vanilla.
6. Stir in oats and the add-ins.
7. I used a tablespoon and dropped cookies onto greased cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 11 minutes.

Enjoy!

Recipe from C. Jones, guest blogger