Hot Chicken Salad Dip

This is a great appetizer recipe.  I like serving it at baby showers and other family gatherings.  I was skeptical of the ingredients at first, but ended up really liking it!!

2 large cans of chicken breast drained & cut into smaller pieces

1 can (8 oz.) sliced water chestnuts (I slice them in half again)

1 c. mayo or Miracle Whip

1/2 c. sliced almonds

2 T. lemon juice (or apple juice)

1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese

crushed plain potato chips

Ritz crackers

Spray 9x13 pan. Put potato chips at bottom of pan. Mix all other ingredients together using only 1/2 cup of cheese. Pour over potato chips. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Serve with crackers.

100-Calorie Chocolate Cupcakes

Yes, it is true these tasty cupcakes are only 100-calories each.  So, if you have an incredible sweet teeth like myself, you can indulge without feeling guilty.

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

5 large egg whites (or 3/4 cup egg substitute)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with cupcake wrappers. Beat cake mix, water, fat free sour cream, and egg whites or egg substitute in large bowl on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium speed and continue beating for 2 minutes. Fill cupcake wrappers 2/3 full. Bake for about 16 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Dust the tops of the cupcakes with powdered sugar using a sifter, sugar shaker, or wire mesh strainer.  Makes 24 cupcakes.

Source:  www.MedicineNet.com

Pudding Fruit Salad

This is a recipe that my mom used to make while I was growing up.  It is not only easy and yummy but low-fat and low-calorie.  A great recipe to enjoy with your New Year's resolutions.

3 (15 oz.) cans lite fruit cocktail
1 (29 oz.) can pear halves in light syrup, diced
1 (1.5 oz.) box of sugar-free/fat-free vanilla pudding
1 container fat free Cool Whip
bananas

Drain juice off of fruit and into a large bowl.  Whisk dry pudding into juice until mixed well.  Add fruit to bowl and stir together.  Refrigerate until served.  Add sliced bananas and top with Cool Whip when served.

**Approx. 175 calories per 1 cup serving with 2 Tbsp. of Cool Whip

Oven French Toast

Looking for any easy way to make French toast.  Try this out!!  My family gobbled it up and I didn't spend a ton of time in the kitchen. 

3 large eggs
3/4 c. milk
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla (or almond extract)
1/8 tsp. salt
8 slices sandwich bread

Heat oven to 500 degrees.  In 2 qt. casserole dish (easiest for dipping bread), mix eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt with wire whisk until well mixed.  Generously butter 15x10x1-inch pan.  Heat pan in oven 1 minute; remove from oven.  Dip bread in egg mixture and arrange on pan.  Drizzle any remaining mixture over bread.  Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown; flip bread.  Bake 2 to 4 more minutes longer or until golden brown.  Serve with cinnamon and sugar, syrup, or your favorite topping.

Source:  Betty Crocker