Reduced Guilt Key Lime Pie

Five years ago, I dedicated an entire month to pies on my blog.
I made so many pies that month it's amazing I didn't gain tons of weight.
Please remember that all posts are from 2011, but here are five of my favorites:
Lemon Meringue Pie
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Dutch Apple Pie
Chocolate Cherry Pie
Turkey Pot Pie

With all the pies I made, it's amazing I never made a Key Lime Pie.
I changed that recently though and made one,
but decided to try to make it just a tad healthier!

The Goods:

Graham Crackers

Brown Sugar

Salt

White Chocolate Chips

Butter

Reduced Fat Greek Yogurt

Key Limes

Eggs

Fat-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk

Whipped Cream

Crush your graham crackers in a gallon bag using a rolling pin.

In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup graham cracker crumbs,

1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 ounce chopped white chocolate.

Add 2 tablespoons melted butter and toss until evenly moistened.

Press crumb mixture into greased pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool completely on a wire rack.

While crust is cooling, in another medium bowl combine 1/2 greek yogurt, 

1/2 cup fresh key lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon key lime zest, 

3 large egg yolks and (1) 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk.

Pour mixture into crust and bake at 350 degrees for about 14 minutes.

Cool pie completely on wire rack. 

Chill at least 2 hours before cutting. 

And of course, serve with whipped cream!

Reduced Guilt Key Lime Pie

Adapted from Cooking Light

For the Crust:

1 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon Salt

1 Ounce White Chocolate Chips

2 Tablespoons Butter

For the Filling:

1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Greek Yogurt

1/2 Cyo Key Limes

3 Large Egg Yolks

1 (14 Ounce) Fat-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk

1. Crush your graham crackers in a gallon bag using a rolling pin.
2. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 ounce chopped white chocolate. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter and toss until evenly moistened.
3. Press crumb mixture into greased pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
4. While crust is cooling, in another medium bowl combine 1/2 greek yogurt, 1/2 cup fresh key lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon key lime zest, 3 large egg yolks and (1) 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk.
5. Pour mixture into crust and bake at 350 degrees for about 14 minutes. Cool pie completely on wire rack. Chill at least 2 hours before cutting. 

Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops

I recently had the honor of making some tasty treats

for one of my best friend's baby showers!

Her sister and mom were planning everything 

and I offered to make something sweet!

After a little discussion, we decided on...

Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops!

I've never made ANY version of a Push-Up Pop, 

but I've done my fair share of baking so I said "YES!"

I mean, how hard could it really be???

They didn't look that hard to make,

And a little extra work for such a great friend is worth it!

Keep reading to find out how the beauties above were made.

The Goods:

Boxed Pound Cake

Fresh Strawberries

Powdered Sugar

Whipping Cream

Vanilla

Eggs

Butter

Cream Cheese

Now before you start to freak out...

Yes, that is A LOT of ingredients in the picture above.

But it's everything that's needed to make FOUR times the original recipe. 

Why four times you ask?

The original recipe (found below) makes about a dozen, 

but I needed a total of 50, yes FIFTY, Push-Up Pops! 

Make the pound cake layer.

Combine cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 Cup butter.

Spread into a greased jelly roll pan and set aside.

Melt remaining 1/4 butter and soften cream cheese in microwave.

Beat cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, melted butter and vanilla

until fluffy - about three to five minutes.

Pour over pound cake mixture in pan, spreading to the edges.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

And done!

Cool cake completely.

Cut into circles with open end of push-up pop container.

Also, cut the same number of little squares using remaining cake.

Assemble your push-up pops,

and put them in the stands!

(Post on homemade stands coming soon!!)

When ready to make pops,

cut up fresh strawberries

and make some yummy whipped cream!

Assemble your Push-Up Pops!

Put a circle cake on the bottom of the pop,

then a layer of whipped cream and strawberries.

Now comes a little square of cake and of course,

more whipped cream and strawberries!!

That's it!!!

Put on the tops and cute little stickers and you're DONE!

With the mama to be!

These babies were a BIG hit and I can't wait to make them again.

And even try making a different kind of Push-Up Pop too!

Now for the recipe...

The recipe I used was found in the book, Push-up Pops.

But because I'm me, I modified the recipe just SLIGHTLY!

3/4 Cup butter, divided

1 box pound cake mix

4 eggs - room temp, divided

1 (8oz) package cream cheese

2 Cups powdered sugar

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Pints fresh strawberries

whipped cream - fresh or canned

To make the cake:

Combine cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 Cup butter.

Spread into a greased jelly roll pan and set aside.

Melt remaining 1/4 butter and soften cream cheese in microwave.

Beat cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, melted butter and vanilla

until fluffy - about three to five minutes.

Pour over pound cake mixture in pan, spreading to the edges.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool cake completely.

Cut into circles with open end of push-up pop container.

Also, cut the same number of little squares using remaining cake.

To assemble your Push-Up Pops:

Put a circle cake on the bottom of the pop,

then a layer of whipped cream and strawberries.

Next add a little square of cake and some more 

whipped cream and strawberries!

Thanksgiving 2013

As I mentioned in this post, I wasn't going to be hosting again this year - but instead would be spending the day with some of my family a few hours South of Los Angeles. Even though I wasn't making the whole dinner, I offered to make a thing or two and was assigned an appetizer and a dessert.

And because I'm me, I made one additional little goodie too! 

I knew almost immediately what appetizer I wanted to make, but deciding on a dessert took a little more thought. My amazing brother is the one that gave me the great idea, but I put my own twist on it! 

So what all did I make?!?!

Curious aren't ya?

Okay...I'll tell you!!

I made...

Bacon Wrapped Bleu Cheese Stuffed Dates!

YUMMMM! These are SO good and I can never get enough. These little suckers even converted a couple people who weren't fans of bleu cheese or dates!!! They are so easy to make, super tasty and I'd absolutely consider them a success at Thanksgiving this year.

And my brother - he suggested a Pumpkin Cheesecake, which sounded great!

But I like mini/individual treats, so I made...

MINI Pumpkin Cheesecakes!
They had an amazing gingersnap crust and weren't too pumpkin-y. Just right in my opinion.

Now what about that other little treat?

Oh right...

These cute little things...

Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwich and Hersey Kiss Acorns!
A friend showed me a link with them around Halloween and I couldn't resist!! I made a batch for work earlier in the week and they were devoured. I knew then that I had to make some more to take for Thanksgiving!

After I finished getting everything prepped or made, I decided I should take a lil gift for the person hosting this year's Thanksgiving. I kept if festive and made the gift instead of purchased it!

Wondering again what I made???

I made...

Flower Bouquets in Mini Pumpkins!
(Look for a post about these real soon!!!)

How cute are these???

I was originally only going to make one for the host, but I had enough flowers so I made one for my grandma and a close friend too! I think they turned out great and I can totally see myself making these again!