Skinny Strawberries Romanoff

16 oz strawberries, washed and cut                                         
4 oz low fat sour cream (I use fat-free plain Greek yogurt)                                      
2 tbsp brown sugar
mint leaves for garnish (optional)


Combine sour cream and brown sugar. Place about five strawberries in each glass and drizzle each with 2 tablespoons of cream sauce.

Serve in champagne glasses and garnish with mint leaves for an elegant presentation.

Servings: 5 • Serving Size: about 5 strawberries + 2 tbsp cream

From:  Skinnytaste.com

Zucchini-Carrot Cupcakes

Here's the basic recipe:

3/4 C sugar
1/3 C Br sugar
1/4 C molasses
3/4 C oil
2 eggs
2 C flour
3/4 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1 1/2 C shredded zucchini
1/2 C shredded carrots
3/4 C walnuts

Bake 350 for 25 min for muffins (or 55 min for a loaf)

My variations may make your head spin, but I really never make it the way the basic recipe goes... It actually tastes best as is, but I pile on more healthy substitutions that really don't make it taste better... it just makes it healthier...

-I take out 1 tablespoon each out of the sugars
-I substitute unsweetened applesauce for most of the oil (1/2 C apple sauce + 1/4C oil)
-I use only 1C white flour and make a combo of whole wheat, rye, spelt, and soy flour to make the other cup
-I also add 1/4 C oatmeal and a couple tablespoons each of wheat germ and ground flaxseed meal
- I increase the cinnamon to 1 1/2 Tablespoons (cinnamon=good!)
-I add a handful of raisins and cut up dried figs
-The molasses isn't necessary (I only buy it for this recipe) so you can just skip it or up the br sugar a bit or use 1-2T honey

I don't have an exact recipe for the frosting. But here's a ballpark...

1/2 package cream cheese
1T honey
2T powder sugar
1 small carton of whipping cream

I whip the cream cheese with a mixer, then add the honey and powdered sugar. In another bowl, I whip the cream until it looks like whipped cream. I put the cream cheese mix into the whipped cream and mix it together.

Happy baking!

-Theresa

Soft Batch Christmas Cookies (Cut-Outs)

5 cups of flour
2 tsp. of baking powder
1 tsp. of baking soda
1 cup of margarine (at room temperature)
2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. of vanilla
1/2 tsp. of salt
1 cup of sour cream

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Cream together margarine and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla - beat well. Add flour mixture and sour cream alternately. Refrigerate overnight. Roll dough to ¼" and cut out (they will rise to double the size). Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes. Frost and decorate as desired.

Yield: 7 dozen (small to medium cut-outs)