Tuesday Tip: Bake with Yogurt

Yes you read that right--bake with yogurt.  I saw it on Pinterest a while ago, and I just had never gotten around to actually doing it.  Why?  Because I was worried that it wouldn't work!  LOL  Good news is that it did!  Not only that, I tried it twice with muffins and cupcakes, and it worked both times!  It's really easy--just follow the recipes below!

 {Healthy Cupcakes}

 {Just three ingredients!  The batter will not be as runny as you are used to, but it does work out!}

Healthy Cupcakes

Makes 18 cupcakes

1 box cake mix (whatever you like!)
6 oz vanilla Greek yogurt (your favorite)
1 cup water

1. Preheat oven to temperature specified on the cake mix package.
2. Line a muffin tin with liners.
3. Mix cake mix, water and yogurt together until well combined.
4. Spoon into liner until 2/3 full.
5. Bake according to cake mix directions.
6. Cool.
7. Enjoy!

I didn't ice the cupcakes because I didn't have any, and I am not a frosting fan.  Besides, if you leave it without frosting, it would technically count as a muffin!  Right? Speaking of muffins...

 {Healthy Muffins}

 {Just three ingredients!  Only fill liners up 2/3 because they will rise!}

Healthy Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

2 packages muffin mix (whatever you like!)
6 oz vanilla Greek yogurt (your favorite)
2 oz milk

1. Preheat oven to temperature specified on the muffin mix package.
2. Line a muffin tin with liners.
3. Mix muffin mix, milk  and yogurt together until well combined.
4. Spoon into liner until 2/3 full.
5. Bake according to muffin mix directions.
6. Cool.
7. Enjoy!

How much "healthier" are these baked goods?  Well, first of all, they are baked goods so not the healthiest, but adding 6 oz of Greek which only has 120 calories compared to 3 eggs and 1/2 cup oil (one egg alone has about 100 calories!) is definitely better.

Everyone loved how moist the baked goods were!  The hubby claimed all of the blueberry muffins as his own so I had to smuggle some out for co-workers to try!  They loved them too, and the muffins got the same reviews as the cupcakes.  I'm definitely making them this way from now on.

So tell me--will you try baking with yogurt?

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Black Bean Cookies

I have done it!!!  Not only have I perfected Black Bean Brownies (which are still requested by co-workers and family members alike), but now I have added the cookies to my repertoire!  It took several trial and errors since I was making this recipe from scratch.  I went to work with a full tub of cookies and left with none!  Plus it has the approval of my family!  (You guys are awesome for encouraging my madness!)

Seriously, I cannot convey my excitement enough through this blog, but it was FANTASTIC!  Not only that, but I also completed two challenges this month with one recipe--WOW!

 {Simply.Food Vegetarian Sweet Treat Challenge}

 {Tea Time Treats Chocolate Challenge}

And now without further ado, I present to you, my awesome readers, Black Bean Cookies!

 {Black Bean Cookies}

{Placing ingredients in the blender then adding chocolate chips}

{Drop by spoonfuls (or use a cookie scoop) and cover in sprinkles if desired; baked cookies}

 {I put Valentine's Day sprinkles on them because I love sprinkles--they make me happy!}

Black Bean Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

2-15 oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup nut butter of your choice (I used peanut butter)
1/4 cup olive oil
1.2 oz (or 1 package) vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Sprinkles (if desired)

1. Place ingredients in a blender in the order above, leaving out chocolate chips and sprinkles.
2. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping the sides after 1 minute.
3. Scrape dough into another bowl and add chocolate chips.
4. MOST IMPORTANT---Let the dough sit out for about 10 minutes before baking.  This gives the protein powder time to work.
5. After 10 minutes, heat oven to 375.
6. Line cookie sheets with foil.
7. Place 1 tablespoon cookie dough on the tray; they spread a bit so only do about 6 cookies per sheet.
8. Top with sprinkles if desired.
9. Bake for 14-16 minutes.
10. Cool for 2 minutes on the tray and then pull off the foil to cool completely.
11. Handle with care when placing in a container.

I'll know what you'll be doing this weekend--making cookies!  I hope you love them as much as everyone in my life does!

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Fajitas

I've always loved fajitas--the sizzling goodness!  It's such a simple dish with the most important part of it being to get a good caramelization on everything (which is also the hard part!).  The easiest way to combat this is to make everything in batches and add it back together at the end.  The result is a deliciously caramelized fajita meal!

 {Beef Fajitas}

 {Caramelizing the beef}

 {Caramelizing the vegetables}

 {Add everything back to the pan and add your homemade fajita seasoning}

{How I had my fajita--without a tortilla but still delicious!}

Fajitas

Makes 4 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds steak or chicken, cut into strips
1 medium onion, sliced
3 peppers, sliced
2 tablespoons fajita seasoning
Toppings like sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, etc

1. Heat olive oil in a heat skillet like a cast iron skillet until very hot.
2. Add meat and cook until caramelized on the outside (deep brown but not burned).  This might have to be done in more than one batch to get a good color to them.  Set to the side if doing more than one batch.
3. Add peppers and onions, searing until caramelized.  This might have to be done in more than one batch to get a good color to them.  Set to the side if doing more than one batch.
4. Add meat and pepper mixture back into pan and sprinkle seasoning on top.
5. Stir until seasoning is incorporated.
6. Serve with tortillas, sour cream, salsa, cheese, etc

What else can I say?....  YAY it's Wednesday!

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Tuesday Tip: Fajita Seasoning

Seeing as how I made taco seasoning, it only made sense to continue on with fajita seasoning.  Then I had to make fajitas.....  That's the natural progression of things around my house.

 {Fajita Seasoning}

 {Fajita seasoning's individual spices}

Fajita Seasoning

Makes 4 tablespoons spice mix or 2 fajita meals

1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1. Mix ingredients together until well combined.
2. Store in an air tight container until ready to use.

So go home and make the seasoning tonight so you can make fajitas tomorrow for dinner!  They are quick and easy--promise!

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