An Easy Valentine Treat Just For You!

Here is a special little something just for you for Valentine's Day... a wonderful easy and delicious chocolate treat you can whip up for yourself in just a couple of minutes.... because you are special and deserve to be treated like it!  A little self-love goes a long way...

This recipe was shared with me by a long-distance Weight Watchers buddy.  She saw it in her local newspaper and said it reminded her of some of the microwave muffins I have featured here. 

It is very tasty, very chocolatey and not very sweet, and the addition of a few berries and a spoonful of Greek yogurt makes it seem like such a decadent treat.   And if you do have a special Valentine, by all means... make 2!

I suggest you taste the batter before you pop it into the mike and if you think it isn't sweet enough, add a dash of Stevia or a packet of Splenda.

Easy Single Portion Brownie

• 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/16 tsp baking soda
• 1 Tbsp fat ff plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp cold strong coffee
• 10 semi-sweet chocolate chips   

1. Coat a small 6 oz ramekin with non-stick spray.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.
3. Add the yogurt, the coffee and stir to combine.
4. Fold in the chocolate chips gently.
5. Place the mixture in the ramekin and microwave on HIGH for 42 seconds.
6. Cool for 10 minutes.
7. Garnish with a berry and a dollop of fat free Greek yogurt if desired.

Per serving, not including garnishe.s
Weight Watchers P+ = 3.
Calories 90; Protein 4g; Carbohydrate 19g; Fat 1g; Fibre2 g.

You may be tempted to substitute Splenda packets for the brown sugar, as I was.  And I did make one up this way.  The volume was much less and the texture was thick and dense, and it really didn't taste very good at all.   I don't normally post failures but I thought I would mention this as it seems like it would be a workable substitute... it's not, and I want to save you the effort.

Brown sugar on the left, Splenda on the right... noticeable difference in volume.

Mix the five dry ingredients together.

Stir in the yogurt and coffee, then fold in the chocolate chips.

Place in prepard ramekin or mug.

Allow to rest 10 minutes after it comes out of the mike.

Garnish and thoroughly enjoy!

Printable Recipe

  

Heart-Healthy Strawberry Oatcakes For Your Valentine

It is fun to come up with something special for Valentine's Day... and this year, because it is on a Tuesday, special breakfasts are likely to fall by the wayside in favor of dinners and desserts.

Save this for the weekend if you don't have time to make it on a weekday morning..... but do give it a try.  Somehow strawberries just ooze romance, and the rich, luscious Greek yogurt tops it all off with an air of decadence!

Strawberry Oatcakes

Makes 2 servings

• 1/4 cup quick (not instant) oats
• 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• dash of salt
• 2 packets Splenda or dash of Stevia
• 2/3 cup of Almond Breeze, vanilla unsweetened
• 1 cup chopped strawberries, divided 

1. Wash, hull and chop fresh strawberries and set aside.( I used 6 medium strawberries.)
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, salt and sweetener.
3. Add the Almond Breeze and stir to combine.
4. Fold about 1/3 of the strawberries into the mixture.
5. Preheat skillet and coat with non-stick spray.
6. Use 1/4 of the batter for each oatcake.  Pour enough batter for 1 cake into the skillet.  Allow to cook about 2 minutes then flip and cook second side for 2 minutes.
7. Remove and keep warm while you make 3 more oatcakes. Respray pan as necessary.
8. Divide the cakes between 2 serving plates and top with syrup, yogurt and garnish with whole strawberries.

 Per serving, including yogurt, but not syrup.
Weight Watchers P+ = 6.
Calories 258; Protein 14g;  Carhohydrate 43g; Fat 3g; Fibre 6g.

Don't chop the strawberries so small that they will get lost in the batter.

Add the Almond Breeze to the combined dry ingredients...

and stir till mixed.

Then fold in a handful of chopped berries.

Cook each cake for a couple of minutes.

Then flip over and cook the second side.

Arrange them on plates...

top with Greek yogurt and more chopped berries...

whole berries and a bit of syrup, too.

  



And enjoy with your Valentine!

Printable Recipe

BSAT Salad

I love BLTs  and they just get even better with the addition of some avocado.  I wanted to have a big salad for lunch, and so I made this up... absolutely delicious!  I used spinach leaves but you could use Romaine or mixed greens if that is what you have on hand.

If you want bread, toast a slice or 2 of whole grain bread to go alongside.



BSAT Salad
Makes 1 serving

• 2 cups cut or torn spinach leaves
• 6 grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/2 small avocado, sliced (about 1-1/2 ounces)
• 1 Tbs cooked crumbled bacon
• 1 tsp EVOO
• 1 Tbs white balsamic vinegar
• dashes of salt and pepper

1. Place the cut spinach leaves on a dinner plate and then layer on the the tomatoes, avocado slices, and bacon crumbles.
2. Drizzle the olive oil and vinegar on top.
3. Season with salt and pepper.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 164; Protein 6g; Carbohydrate 8g; Fat 13g; Fibre 4g.

Printable Recipe