Puffed up chocolate chip cookies

You guys, these cookies are so delicious!!!! They are super easy to make and super low calorie. YAY! 

My fiance even had a few and he is usually hard to please on the healthy food dessert train. Thanks to Lane and Lucy for tasting while we watched Game of Thrones. 

I found this recipe on Cooking Light but I tweaked it a bit. 

Makes 3 dozen

Calories per serving: 78 

Bonus: Fat 2.9g, Sat fat 1.7g, Protein 0.8g, Carbs 12.8g, Fiber 0.2g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 87mg

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened 
3/4 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup dark chocolate chips 
cooking spray

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk.

1. 3. Spoon applesauce into a fine sieve over a bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Discard liquid. Scrape drained applesauce into a large bowl. Add sugar and butter; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in vanilla and egg. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed until well-blended. Fold in chips.

1. 4. Using your Tbsp to measure 1 Tbsp. per cookie, drop 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until almost set. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks. 

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Baked Apples

Whether it be a dinner party or a just a night at home, this recipe will satisfy you. Honestly, I make this once a week. 

Serves 2

Calories per serving: 175 (doesn't include ice cream)

Bonus: Total Fat 7.25, Carbs 25.9, Fiber 2, Sugars 12.6, protein 2.5

Ingredients: 

2 red apples (I like figi)

1/2 cup Quaker Oats- old fashioned, not instant!

3 tsp light brown sugar

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla

(Vanilla ice cream, optional. It's not included in the calorie count)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Core the apples but don't cut through to the bottom. Carve out the middle hole so you can stuff with oats.

3. In a bowl mix oats, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla. Then stuff the mixture into the apples.

4. Place stuffed apples in a glass baking dish and cook about 45 minutes or until they are soft and wilted. That's it! Serve with a little scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

All I can say is your welcome! 

Mary's Wine Pairing

Kung Fu Girl Riesling would match up perfectly with this delicious baked apple recipe. This is an ever so popular Charles Smith wine out of Washington State. Hints of asian pear, apricot, lime and bright minerality, this wine is sure to karate chop you with flavor!

Body: Light-Medium

Acidity: Medium-High

Dryness: Medium

Shelf Price: $11.99

Calories: 120

Blueberry, Almond, Chocolate Turtles

Thank you Women's Health Magazine! This recipe is low calorie and tastes great. The picture doesn't do this justice but I tried it out on some girls last night at my book club and the response was great.

Makes 5 turtles

Calories per turtle: 104

(Bonus: 8g fat, 3.5 sat, 0 sodium, 9g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g protein)

Ingredients

7 Tbsp (2.5 oz) 60% cocoa bittersweet chocolate chips (I actually mixed dark and semi sweet)

1/4 cup dried blueberries (if you go to Whole Foods they have them in the bulk section already packaged but since you only need 1/4 cup ask a worker to cut the package, otherwise it's $19.99 for one package. You may also want to try  dried cherries or cranberries or any dried fruit you like)

1/4 cup sliced almonds (I also bought in bulk, it's cheaper!)

Method:

1. In a small saucepan melt the chocolate over low-medium heat stirring constantly. Turn off the heat just after it's all melted. The Women's Health recipe says to microwave the chocolate in a glass bowl for 60 to 75 seconds but I went the old fashioned route. 

2. Stir in the blueberries and nuts. After I did this I realized it might be wise to keep out a couple blueberries and almonds to sprinkle on the top after you do the mixing to make the turtles look prettier. These definitely don't look as beautiful as they taste. 

3. Line a glass baking dish with parchment paper. Make a total of 5 turtles balls. Then cover the baking dish and let harden/cool in the fridge for at least 4+ hours. 

5. When cooled you should be able to pick them up off the parchment paper very easily. I suggest storing in the fridge, they melt pretty quickly.