Frozen Tapioca Brownie Cups - Perfect Party Food!

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Frozen Tapioca Pudding that is thawed just enough to make it ice cream like. Small brownie bites. And whipped cream. What's not to love?! Here's a unique and delicious treat that will have your guests peppering you with questions - What's in it? Where's it from? How'd you make it taste so delicious? 

We had a first here, people. Well, a "first" since I started this blog, at least. For once, I actually followed the directions on the back of a box. I'm usually trying to make substitutions, like swapping a can of La Croix for eggs, oil, and butter or adding applesauce instead of oil. It's fun!

For this recipe, I was a good girl and followed the directions on the boxes. First, I made a pan of brownies. As they were baking, I made one batch of Tapioca pudding using Instant Tapioca granules. As usual, they overflowed. I have a Tapioca curse, I swear, which means that every - and I mean EVERY - single time I make Tapioca, I manage to boil it over and make a huge mess. This is how my kitchen looked:

Yeah, I know. Somebody save me. Bake on!

Frozen Tapioca Brownie Cups

Servings: 20 (This recipe makes enough for a whole party. If you like Tapioca Pudding and Brownies, though, feel free to make it all and eat the leftover ingredients as separate treats!)
Ingredients:

• 1 box Brownie Mix and necessary ingredients (See box)
• 1 batch Tapioca Pudding Instant Granules and necessary ingredients (See box - probably 1 egg, 3 cups milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp Vanilla)
• 1 can Whipped Cream
• 1/2 cup Almonds

Directions:

1. Make the brownies. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or other temperature, as listed on brownie box). Mix brownie batter and pour into a greased cake pan, then bake for time prescribed on box. Make Tapioca while it bakes, then remove from the oven and let cool.
2. Make Tapioca. Mix your Tapioca batter and bring to a boil. Watch it carefully! This is where I always mess up because I get so impatient that I go to do something else. Once it boils, remove from heat and stir in Vanilla, then let it cool.
3. Once everything is cooled, cut the brownies into small, bite-sized pieces. This is not an exact science, just make them very small. Mine were about 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch.
4. In small cups (or martini glasses - someone try that, please, and send me a picture!), start with a heaping spoon full of Tapioca pudding. Next, add a layer of whipped cream, then the brownie bites, then more whipped cream, and then some sliced almonds. Feel free to continue layering if you'd like to fill the cups up even higher!
5. Optional: Freeze for 2 hours, thaw for 5 minutes before serving. I initially did this on accident -- I wanted to keep them cold but planned to thaw them fully before serving. Instead, I ended up serving them straight from the freezer... but my coworkers seemed to love it and enjoyed the temperature and consistency. Apparently, frozen-and-slightly-thawed Tapioca pudding is to die for. Who knew?! Hey, kind of like how they discovered chocolate chip cookies...

Oh, and because I love you...

Skinny Strawberry Almond Chocolate Trifle

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If you're having a huge dessert craving, this is for you. It is decadent, creamy, and rich... while still being low calorie. And you can trick your friends into eating it. They'll never guess it's low cal!

Time for dessert! You can make this in individual servings for yourself... or have them sitting out at your next cocktail party. I promise they will not disappoint.

P.S. Are you making one of these recipes? Send me a picture (via email or facebook!).

Strawberry Almond Chocolate Trifle

Servings: 6

Calories: 162

WW Points (Old): 3

WW PointsPlus: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Skim Milk
• 1 Box Jello Chocolate Mousse Mix
• 1/4 cup Coconut Flakes
• 10 strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup Sliced Almonds
• Whipped Cream (TruWhip is awesome), to taste (I used 2 tbsp per serving, or 12 tbsp per recipe)

Directions:

1. Combine chocolate mousse mix with 1 cup of skim milk and mix, using an electric mixer, on low for 30 seconds, then on high for 4 minutes.
2. Set mousse in the fridge to cool for 2 hours.
3. In individual wine glasses, begin with 2 spoonfulls of Chocolate Mousse. 
4. Add a layer of Coconut Flakes (or omit if you're not a fan!).
5. Add a layer of Strawberry slices.
6. Add a layer of Whipped Cream.
7. Add another layer of 2 spoonfulls of Chocolate Mousse.
8. Add a layer of Sliced Almonds.
9. Add a layer of Strawberry slices.
10. Add a layer of Coconut Flakes.
11. Add a layer of Whipped Cream and top with remaining Strawberries.

Just for shoots and giggles... how cute is this strawberry? It wants to kiss ya!

Protein Chia Seed Chocolate Pudding

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Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia! ....Sorry. It had to be done.


I've already ranted and raved about Chia Seeds a few times, now. They're low-cal, they keep you full, they're filled with Obega-3 Fatty Acids, Protein, and Fiber... and, best of all, you can add them to just about anything.

So I began by adding them to a delicious berry Muesli recipe. They thickened it up a bit. You see, as Chia seeds sit in a liquid, they begin to "gel" (remember those commercials... I'm gellin' are you gellin'? I'm gellin' like a felon, want some melon?). As they gel, they create a thicker, almost pudding-like consistency.

Pudding. PUDDING?! PUDDING!!!

Yes, folks. Pudding. Like the snack packs from your ten-year-old lunch box. The ones that were like gold when it came to trading for dunkaroos. 

And yet, this pudding is a bit different. Instead of being filled with... excuse my language... fake crap, this pudding is filled with healthy goodness. Instead of using pudding mix, I used chia seeds, truvia, and chocolate protein powder.

See that protein?! Your muscles need it to recover after you shred them during an intense workout (maybe one of these?). With 18g of protein, this pudding can totally be a substitute for a post-workout protein shake! It still has the same protein goodness but is in pudding form! Post-workout dessert? I think YES!

This recipe is also low in saturated fat, high in vitamin B12, and EXTREMELY high in dietary fiber!

Protein Chia Seed Chocolate Pudding

Calories Per Serving: 170

WW Points (Old): 3

WW Points Plus (New): 4

Prep Time: At least 30 minutes (but overnight would be best!)

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Chia Seeds
• 1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
• 1/2 cup Water
• (Optional: Shredded Unsweetened Coconut)
• (Optional: 2 tsp Truvia)

Directions:

1. Combine Chia Seeds and Water in a bowl and stir well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but overnight will yield the best results.
2. When you're ready to eat it, stir in 1 scoop of protein powder. Stir well to break up any powder pockets.
3. Garnish! I garnished with a bit of shredded, unsweetened coconut. Another awesome option would be fresh mint sprigs (with perhaps a drop or two of mint extract stirred in?!).

Chia Muesli Breakfast Pudding with Greek Yogurt, Berries, and PB2

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I recently discovered Chia seeds... and they're my new favorite thing. Truly. Want to know why? Okay, I'll tell you. Just because you asked. ;-)

• They taste like whatever you cook them in - that means you don't have to deal with a funky flavor in order to get healthy food into your body!
• When exposed to liquids, the seeds form a gel-like substance. This causes it to increase in size and makes you feel fuller -- without adding additional calories (as the gel is mostly water).
• They help your body use energy more efficiently, so that you can burn calories steadily instead of all at once and then slumping.
• They contain more Omega 3 Fatty Acids than Salmon! 
• More calcium by weight than whole milk! That means you can enhance your calcium intake, which is good for your bones and also allows you to get your daily calcium needs without consuming other calcium sources, which are often high in fat.
• More fiber than flax!
• They're filled with complete protein, meaning that, unlike peanut butter or bean-derived protein, you don't need to combine it with other foods to get the full effect!
• You can bake with them (get excited for some Chia recipes on Creatlive over the next few weeks)! The gel derived from soaked chia seeds can be substituted for butter and other fatty baking ingredients in most recipes! To do this, use half of the amount of butter/oil you would need (ex: 1 cup butter = 1/2 cup Chia gel)
• Antioxidants prevent free radical damage in your body. That helps protect you against diseases and cancers.

What do you put them in?
Chia seeds do not add or remove from any flavors in your food. That means you can use them just about any way you'd like!

• Baked goods
• Salad dressings
• Puddings
• Smoothies

For today, we're putting it in breakfast. Muesli, to be exact. For those of you who aren't familiar with Muesli, it's a traditional Swiss and German breakfast or light dinner food that consists of various types of rolled oats along with small pieces of nuts and fruits. Muesli is, essentially, an even more antioxidant-rich and healthy version of Oatmeal.

When combined with Chia seeds and soaked overnight in skim milk, you wake up to a DELICIOUS and remarkably healthy breakfast. I know I cook healthy a lot... but this is the healthiest of the healthy. This stuff might make you turn into a superhuman. It's just that good for you!

For 211 calories per serving, you're getting 11.4 grams of protein (wow) and 4.5 grams of dietary fiber. From those of you who read my post yesterday on why you need more fiber in your diet... can I get an amen?

Chia Muesli Breakfast Pudding
Prep Time (Night Before): 2 minutes
Prep Time (Morning Of): 2 minutes
Calories Per Serving: 211
WW Points (Previous): 0

WW Points Plus: 6

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings):

• 2 cups Milk, Nonfat, Fluid
• 3/4 cup Muesli-Old Country Style
• 4oz Yogurt
• 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries (Craisins will also work)
• 4 oz Chia Seeds
• 1/4 cup raw Blueberries
• 1/4 cup Strawberries (cut)
• 1 tbsp dry PB2 (combined with 1/2 tbsp water and stirred to make Peanut Butter... or just use another organic or natural peanut butter that you have on hand, though the PB2 option is much lower in calories)
• 1/8 cup Finely Diced Walnuts

Directions:

1. Combine Muesli, Chia seeds, and Milk and soak overnight.
2. Heat over stove or microwave. 
3. Add other toppings on top and serve!

Credits:
Top 10 Benefits of Chia Seeds

100 Calorie Skinny Oreo Dip

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I know. Your mind is blown right now. Because you can finally eat Oreos without ruining your diet. Congratulations! The world is yours! Happy Monday :)

The pictures in this post are the equivalent of two servings (I kindly shared this treat with Justin. What a lucky kid, no?!). By following the recipe below, you'll get a total of 8 servings. That means you can have seven new best friends if you share!

Instead of boring thrilling you with my fabulous witty word vomit, read more for drool-worthy pics and THE RECIPE!

Recipe | Brown Walnut Tapioca in Brown Sugar and Vanilla

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I have some vague memories of Tapioca Pudding. I don't know when they're from or where I ate it, but I have this memory of absolutely loving it. And, ever since then, I've felt something deep inside pulling me back. Oh, the drama.

So, when I saw it at the local grocery store, I swear, it literally jumped off of the shelf and into my hands. I took this as a sign that our relationship was meant to be. Since then, our love has blossomed.

That's not to say that we haven't had our share of problems, though...

Skinny Monkey

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Who remembers Chunky Monkey ice cream?  It is so delicious! The ice cream, the bananas, the nuts, the chocolate... and the calories (dun dun dunnnn!). How about a delicious dessert that doesn't require the use of the word Chunky? How about a... skinny monkey?

Hmm. That gets the gears turning...Move over, Chunky Monkey! With 5 ingredients (including pudding instead of ice cream) and only 2 steps for preparation, this recipe might even upstage the original...

Ingredients:

• 1 package Banana (or Vanilla) Pudding
• 3 Bananas
• 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts
• 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
• 2 cups Skim Milk

Directions:

1. Combine pudding mix and skim milk and stir until well mixed. Set in the fridge for 1 hour.
2. Add walnuts, chocolate chips, and sliced bananas and stir.
3. Serve!