Skinny Easter Egg Cake Balls

A fun Easter dessert idea, cake balls decorated as Easter eggs! Put them in a basket and watch them disappear.

We are all ready for the Easter bunny in my home. We painted some eggs, we made cake balls, maybe we'll even get to see the Easter bunny himself.

These cake balls were fun to make, and are made lighter than traditional cake balls by using a box cake mix, egg whites and fat free Greek yogurt – no oil, no butter required! Because I use a cake ball pan, there's no need to mix the cake with frosting, which is time consuming and adds a lot more fat and calories.

Aren't these just the cutest?!  And yes, they taste just as good as they look. To make them look like Easter eggs, we drizzled some colored chocolate on them, used some sprinkles, and just played had fun playing around with them.  I packed some in small boxes to give away as Easter gifts.

You can come up with countless ways to decorate cake balls, using the same basic recipe with this Nordic Ware Cake Pop Pan I purchased at Target. I highly recommend buying 2 pans if you plan on making these to speed this up. The candy melts were from Wilton, which I purchased at Michael's.

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Crock Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy

Juicy slow cooked turkey breast with rich turkey gravy, all in your crock pot. This was my first time making a turkey breast in the crock pot, but it won't be my last!

What an easy way to prepare turkey breast that doesn't require too much attention. The vegetables are first browned with a roux on the stove to ensure the gravy has a rich flavor base, then it's all slow cooked in the crock pot. At the end, I simmered the braising liquid on the stove until it reduced and thickened into a delicious, easy gravy.

I modified this recipe from the Slow Cooker Revolution cookbook. It's a great base, and I can see playing around with the ingredients in this recipe.

Madison, my toddler said yummy juicy meat (that meant she liked it) and my husband was thrilled there were mashed potatoes AND gravy on his plate. This was like a mini Thanksgiving feast, I made some skinny mashed potatoes on the side, (you could also make cauliflower mash if you want to go low carb) and I also served this with some sauteed broccolini which is not pictured.

Today, I guess I'll be making some turkey noodle soup with the leftovers!

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Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroons

If I'm craving something sweet, macaroons are a good option because they are made with just egg whites and sugar – no flour or butter. Of course, you shouldn't eat the whole batch, because too much sugar is not a good thing.

Last year I posted a recipe for plain coconut macaroons, but this year I was craving them drizzled with a little chocolate, so I reduced the sugar a little to compensate for the chocolate and drizzled some chocolate over them once they were done.

I've been using only raw sugar these days, so the color may not be as white, but they worked out just fine. These are gluten-free and Passover-friendly, hope you enjoy!

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Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

Pretty little bundles of bacon wrapped French "green beans" known as Haricot verts which are longer and thinner than the typical American green bean. Of course, American green beans will work just fine here too.

As a kid, I never liked green beans because the only way I tasted them was boiled and overcooked. As I got older, I learned that I actually enjoy them if they are prepared right. Fresh green beans are a must for me, and I like them roasted or sauteed until tender and crisp. Add a little bacon to them and you can't go wrong.

These are really easy to make, I served them as a side with Petite Turkey Meatloaf for dinner, but this would also make an elegant side dish for Easter dinner if you double the recipe. You can prep them ahead of time, then roast them just before serving.


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Guacamole Deviled Eggs

If you're looking for a healthy snack of appetizer for St Patrick's Day, these green deviled eggs are the perfect solution.

My mom adds hard boiled eggs to her guacamole, so I thought why not add guacamole to hard boiled eggs? The results were lovely, and since I was testing them out for the blog, I actually enjoyed them for lunch.

These are a fun, "clean" snack or appetizer, not just as a green food for St Patrick's day, but for anytime of the year. Loaded with a good dose of healthy fats and perfect for any dietary restriction – vegetarian, gluten-free, weight watchers, low-carb, paleo, and more!

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Potato Parsnip Mash

Potatoes and parsnips mashed together with a little garlic, sour cream and butter make a surprisingly tasty side dish. The parsnips add a slightly sweet and spicy taste to the potatoes that I really enjoyed.

Hurricane Sandy is keeping most of us New Yorkers indoors today. So far I haven't lost power so I figured I would share this recipe in case I do later (crossing fingers I won't).

I had bought these parsnips the other day with no real plans for them, and decided I would try them mixed into my mashed potatoes. Parsnips, quite honestly are not a vegetable I grew up eating, so I never really know what to do with them. In the past, I've added them to stews and soups but I was pleasantly surprised how well they tasted mixed in with potatoes. My husband agreed, and they made a wonderful side dish to the roast beef I prepared in the oven.

Do you have a favorite way you enjoy parsnips? Would love to hear how you prepare them!

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Skinny Hummingbird Cupcakes

These scrumptious hummingbird cupcakes are super moist and light, full of pineapple, chopped bananas, pecans, cinnamon and spices topped off with a sweet cream cheese frosting.

Hummingbird cake first appeared in Southern Living Magazine back in 1978, originally submitted by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina and is known to have won numerous blue ribbons at county fairs. This skinny version does not disappoint! The flavors are reminiscent of a carrot cake, without the carrots and make the perfect Mother's Day dessert!

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Avocado Egg Salad

Whether you serve this as a wrap, on whole-grain toast or in a lettuce cup, you will love this egg salad that uses half the yolks and lots of healthy fats from the avocado.

I tried a Flat-Out for the first time after hearing your positive reviews about it and loved how easy it was to create a wrap. It tasted great too! If you're on a gluten free diet or looking to use less calories this is also wonderful in a lettuce wrap or why not a hollowed out tomato!

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Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb

Roasted boneless leg of lamb seasoned with rosemary, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and garlic is a succulent Easter delight that truly celebrates Spring.

If rosemary is not your thing, you could use other fresh herbs such as thyme or oregano. Ask your butcher to trim off all the fat for you to make this easier. I like to roll and tie the lamb myself so I can season the inside as well as the out. If you are nervous about doing this, you can just have the butcher do it and just season the outside.

To compliment the lamb, serve it with Teeny Tiny Potatoes with Rosemary and Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette for a Skinny Easter Feast, and don't forget the cupcakes!

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Braised Brisket with Potatoes and Carrots

Lean beef brisket slowly braised in the oven with potatoes, carrots and onions. Slicing the brisket half-way through cooking assures that the meat is tender and flavorful. Perfect for Passover or Easter dinner.

I made this recipe Passover friendly using ground matzo in place of flour. I simply took a matzo I had from my matzo pizza and ground it in the food processor or you could also use cake meal which they sell in the Kosher section of your supermarket. If you are not celebrating Passover you could use all purpose flour instead. For gluten free, rice flour works fine. This serves about 8 people, give or take depending on this size of your brisket after it's trimmed or how hungry your guests are!

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Coconut Macaroons

Moist and chewy coconut macaroons are not just for Passover! They are pretty addicting, and naturally gluten free, so enjoy them any time of the year!

... and making macaroons couldn't be easier, you simply combine coconut flakes, egg whites, and sugar, simmer on the stove, cool then bake in the oven.  If you want to get fancy you could add some slivered almonds or drizzle them with chocolate, but here's a basic recipe.

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Skinny Coconut Cupcakes

A quick and easy coconut cupcake made with a box white cake mix as a base. No butter or oil was used in this recipe, I simply swapped out the oil for light coconut milk and apple sauce. Sweetened coconut flakes are combined with a light cream cheese frosting for a divine finish!

And to give it an Easter vibe, don't you just love these adorable Cadbury mini-eggs! Completely optional, but fitting for the Easter Holiday. If you're a coco-NUT like me, you'll just love these!

 

If you prefer baking from scratch, try these Pineapple Zucchini Cupcakes made with coconut flakes... amazing! And if coconut isn't your thing, these Pineapple Bliss Cupcakes are one of my most popular desserts and are so simple to make. Enjoy!

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Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

Nothing says Spring like the sweet taste of asparagus! Wrap it in prosciutto for a simple yet elegant side dish, perfect for Easter.

I got this idea from Rachel Ray only her version was with bacon. Prosciutto is a little fancier and I loved how the flavors combined. I enjoyed a bundle with a poached egg for lunch and it was divine, great for brunch!

You can easily double or triple this and assemble them ahead. Can you make them without the prosciutto? ... sure! Just sprinkle with a little salt and lay them flat on the baking sheet, you can use the same cooking time.

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Skinny Spinach and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushroom caps are generously stuffed with a combination of sautéed baby spinach, chopped mushrooms, bacon, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. A lighter alternative to traditional stuffed mushrooms yet loaded with tons of flavor. The stuffing is so good, I could eat it by the spoonful!

I like the flavor of real bacon, so I buy center cut which is a bit leaner than regular bacon and I drain it well after cooking. Can you make them with turkey bacon? Sure, if you don't eat pork that would work.

Can you make these vegetarian? Why not replace the bacon with a little Feta cheese and chopped fresh herbs.

Can you make them ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the stuffing ahead, then fill and bake them right before serving.

They are only 34 calories each or for those of you on Weight Watchers, only 1 point each so I know what some of you will be making Superbowl Sunday!! Enjoy!

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Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

Tender crisp green beans roasted to perfection, topped with shredded parmesan cheese. This is the easiest way to prepare the best tasting green beans, picky kid approved!

I'm getting tons of requests for green bean casserole, and I'm not going to lie, I've never been a fan. I dislike soft, mushy green beans, I much prefer them tender crisp. The easiest way to achieve that is by roasting them, they come out consistently perfect every time!

I make these quite often, you can season them however you like, add some crushed red pepper for a little kick or even leave the parmesan off. If you want to double the recipe, I suggest using two baking sheets. Serve them immediately out of the oven for best results.

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Skinny Scalloped Potato Gratin

Thinly sliced yukon gold potatoes, layered and baked in a light buttery sauce and shredded cheese. So good without the guilt! 

This is one of those dishes that exceeded my expectations, you can use red potatoes or new potatoes, but I really love the buttery texture of yukon gold. The only thing I urge to ensure the potatoes are cooked and tender is that you slice the potatoes 1/8 inch thick, a mandoline really makes this easy. Any thicker and you'll have to adjust the baking time.

This is a must for Thanksgiving!

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Lavash Flatbread Pizzas

If you like thin crust pizza, you'll love these super easy Lavash flatbread pizzas! Kids love them and they take only minutes to prepare.

Lavash is a Middle Eastern flatbread, usually in the deli section of your supermarket or you can find it at Trader Joe's. Last week I posted my quick marinara sauce recipe, which is the perfect sauce for these thin crust pizzas. You can either cut the lavash into 4 squares before you add the sauce which will give you crispy edges all around, or you can make one large pizza and cut it after.

A perfect recipe to make with your kids, they will love making their very own pizza, and they can add whatever toppings they like.


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Skinny Low-Yolk Egg Salad

What to do with all your leftover Easter eggs? Make this easy guiltless egg salad made with mostly egg whites and scallions. Serve this on your favorite whole grain bread or enjoy on lettuce cups.

I like to keep my egg salad simple, that is just my preference but you can add chopped celery, bell pepper or even pickles to yours. Have fun with it and adapt it to your taste! This recipe easily doubles or triples. Hate mayo? Use fat free Greek yogurt instead. Add some paprika, curry powder... the ideas or endless.

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Rack of Lamb with Dijon Glaze over Wilted Baby Spinach

Lamb chops marinated with Dijon mustard, garlic, balsamic vinegar and herbs served over a bed of wilted baby spinach in garlic and oil. This is so good you'll be licking the bones clean!

I LOVE lambs chops, it's usually what I order when we go out for special occasions. But making them at home is really quite simple and a whole lot cheaper then going out to eat so any night can be a special occasion.

Buy them trimmed and frenched then all you have to do is season and cook. My husband claimed he didn't like lamb when I met him, but I quickly converted him. This is perfect for date night with your significant other!

For the glaze I decided to modify this glaze from Julia's Healthy Italian which she uses for her chicken to freeze for later use. She mentioned how great it was over lamb so I was all over that!!Double this for 4 people.


Tip on using fresh herbs: Nothing beats the flavor of fresh herbs. Whatever you don't use right away, tightly wrap in plastic wrap and freeze in portions. When you need fresh herbs, remove from the freezer, it thaws in seconds and is ready to use in any recipe.

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Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole

Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole, a dish your whole family will enjoy.

Italian rice balls, otherwise known as Arancini are one of my favorite appetizers, but I usually stay far away because they are deep fried and loaded with fat. If you've never tried them, they are balls of rice stuffed with chopped meat, peas and cheese, then breaded and fried, what's not to love?

This lightened up casserole is the genius of my friend Julia from Julia's Healthy Italian. I "skinnified" her recipe a bit to cut the points down, but she takes all the credit for the creativity of turning an otherwise very heavy meal and making it lighter. The servings are large and very satisfying. A simple green salad on the side is all you need to complete this.

This is probably a good weekend recipe to make since it requires some prepping, Julia usually makes double and freezes the second casserole to use later on. I halved her original, but it makes sense to make two for the same amount of work it takes to make one.



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