Instead of a brief visit this cold virus has decided to take up residence in my body! Last night I had split pea soup for dinner but then I wanted something warm and chocolate for dessert. As I stood in the pantry the box of Trader Joe’s Guiltless Brownies caught my eye. Not wanting to wait for a pan of brownies to bake or have the temptation of a whole pan of brownies sitting around I went with the directions on the side of the box to make a single serve brownie. I remember doing this years ago with some No Pudge brownie mix.
It couldn’t be easier, 2 tablespoons of the dry brownie mix and one tablespoon of non fat yogurt stir, microwave for 45 seconds in a little ramekin or a coffee cup. Let it cool slightly and turn out onto a plate. A warm, soft chocolate brownie! Just the kind of comforting sweet treat I wanted and in a controlled portion size too!
I microwaved it in a small ramekin sprayed with nonstick spray.
It has more of a cake like crumb than a brownie but it tasted good!
Isn’t this an old fashioned looking box?
I won a blog giveaway from Erica of Fashion Meets Food. Thanks Erica! I am looking forward to having cheerios. Stop by and take a look at Erica’s blog. She is a Weight Watcher who loves fashion so she posts recipes and the latest on fashion. She always has some fun things to giveaway too!
NUTMEG NOTES
I seem to have lost my voice. It is strange to have a couple days of little to no talking. No complaints really from the guys here – h-m-m-m, they might be enjoying the silence!
For a sweet treat I often like to have a piece of dark chocolate with a few almonds and dried apricots. It is so delicious and taste like a candy bar. Other times the single serving of banana soft serve will do the trick. Easy chocolate dipped strawberries can be made in single servings too, so no chance of going overboard with treats. The Z bars made by Cliff bars have two flavors I enjoy. The chocolate brownie and the chocolate chip are wonderful. I love the little single servings for portion control!
Tami
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What do eat when you want a little treat?
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Karen says:
March 2, 2011 at 6:34 am (UTC -7)
Looks yummy! Now those Cheerios… you won’t have the problem I had with the box my husband brought home from Costco:)
Carol says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:17 am (UTC -7)
Your brownie/cake looks yummy! I have to say that a brownie is one of my favorite treats. We can’t get any really good low fat mixes here. I buy the Ghirardelli mix from Costco and a 2 inch square is a 4 Points+ decadent treat!My guys prefer these to the homemade.If I have them made, I will have one after my weigh in on Wednesdays.
Multigrain Cheerios are my favorite but I quit eating them as the P+ are so much higher now.
Feel better soon Tami!
Carol says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:19 am (UTC -7)
Yikes….my reply double posted…sorry about that!
Tami says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:45 am (UTC -7)
No problem Carol, I removed the double comment! I have had those Ghiradelli brownies and they are decadent!
Carol says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:48 am (UTC -7)
Thanks Tami!
I found a link to a list of recipes using that brownie mix. Might be something to think about for holidays or special events.
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:19 am (UTC -7)
A whole list of recipes Carol -oh my-you must share it!
Carol says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:51 am (UTC -7)
Here is the link Tami. I have copied a few of them to make for holidays or very special occasions….
http://www.continentalmills.com/brands/ghirardelli/Recipe_Central/brownie_mixes/Double_Chocolate_Brownie_Mix/
I sent you an email with a question about the Quinoa Burgers.
Amanda says:
March 2, 2011 at 8:12 am (UTC -7)
Lately I’ve been eating when I want a treat or not! Bad bad bad news!
Never had the TJ’s brownies. I’ve had no pudge before. I should try the single serving idea! I’m not good with a tray full of brownies!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:19 am (UTC -7)
Hi Amanda. I don’t think many of us can be trusted with a full pan of brownies around! Sad but true!
Enjoy your weekend.
Helen says:
March 2, 2011 at 8:13 am (UTC -7)
A warm brownie has to be at the top of my list of desserts I love. I rarely make them because I don’t want to eat the whole pan! There’s no Trader Joes’ around here but I know I can find the No Pudge so next time I want something like this, I’ll make just one!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:18 am (UTC -7)
My mom got the no pudge brownie mix to try this with too Helen. I need to toy with a homemade mix and just mix up the dry ingredients and see if I can achieve the same results! In my spare time of course. LOL
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Biz says:
March 2, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC -7)
Alright, its decided – I need to make a trip to TJ’s this weekend! I love that you can make just one
I usually go with something salty – like salt and vinegar chips when I want a treat!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:17 am (UTC -7)
Biz I would never consider salt and vinegar chips a treat! That is so funny! My daughter also loves that flavor of chips.
Hope you and Tony have a great weekend!
Jenn@slim-shoppin says:
March 2, 2011 at 11:24 am (UTC -7)
Hope you feel better Tami!
It’s no fun not feeling well. I totally forgot about the “no-pudge” brownie mixes!
I like making just one serving too, then you can’t keep going back to the pan for more!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:15 am (UTC -7)
I think many of us appreciate the single serving option for treats. You are so right, you can’t go back to the pan for more and I have been guilty of that many a time!
Lisa T says:
March 2, 2011 at 12:07 pm (UTC -7)
My go to sweet treats right now are a Breyer’s chocolate caramel ice cream sandwich (Yum, yum, yum) because ice cream and chocolate are all time favorites and these scratch that itch in a portion controlled way, and 1 ounce of Ghiradelli 60% cocoa chips melted in the microwave with 1 serving (about 4) dried apricots to dip in it. Again, this hits that chocolate craving and there is something about dipping the dried apricots in the warm melty chocolate that is very satisfying as well.
Love the single serve brownie idea!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:14 am (UTC -7)
Thanks for the tip about Breyer’s chocolate caramel ice cream sandwich that sounds divine. Thanks for the reminder about dipping apricots in melted chocolate. Years ago I use to dip almonds and apricots when I would make chocolate dipped strawberries and I forgot all about that.
Hope you have a splendid weekend.
renee@mykitchenadventures says:
March 2, 2011 at 1:28 pm (UTC -7)
Hi Tammy!
Thanks for visiting my blog and the nice compliments…I have been looking at yours and I LOVE yours as well. Very nicely done! so good to have so many resources for WW points!
Hope you feel better! And congrats on the Cheerios winning! I won one a couple of weeks ago, and I have to admit, I am not a huge cereal eater, but I enjoyed the entire box of those MG cheerios with lots of fresh cut up fruit on them!
I also do the strawberries with the melted chocolate for a quick sweet treat…I take 2 tbs of milk chocolate chips I I know, what can I say, I like milk better than dark! haha ) and melt them in the micro and dip my strawberries in it! So yummy!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:08 am (UTC -7)
Thanks for visiting my blog Renee. I am slowly feeling better and trying to get caught up on my blog and emails! I have not opened the cheerios yet, I do like to eat them just plain as a dry snack. When my kids were little I made the best cheerio bars – kind of like rice krispie treats. I might have to see if I can make a healthier version just for fun!
janetha @ meals and moves says:
March 2, 2011 at 1:37 pm (UTC -7)
Yet another reason I wish I had a TJs! I always bring back a lot of stuff from there when I visit one in other states, I will have to put this mix on the list. When I want a treat, I usually have a Vitatop paired with plain Greek yogurt. I have a never-ending supply of them and I love that they are 100 calories a piece.
Hope your voice comes back!
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC -7)
Janetha I never thought to have my vitatop with some Greek yogurt-great idea. I forgot that I have some vitatops in my freezer. Thanks for the reminder!
Andrea@WellnessNotes says:
March 2, 2011 at 1:37 pm (UTC -7)
Sorry you are sick! Hope you’ll be all better soon. And that you get your voice back!
The individual brownie sounds like the perfect treat! I’ll of to pick up that mix at TJ’s. Thanks for sharing! My go-to treat is banana soft serve or a small piece of dark chocolate with almond butter.
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:04 am (UTC -7)
Andrea, dark chocolate with some Almond butter-love that idea! I have had almond butter with a banana a couple times this week and that is really good. I am going to try it with the dark chocolate. Thank you so much.
Janine says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:09 pm (UTC -7)
Really quick and easy fix: sugar free chocolate pudding mix made with non-fat milk. I use an immersion blender, so it takes only a minute or so. Once in firms up (again a matter of minutes), I fold in 1/4 of a Cool Whip lite container. Tastes like chocolate mousse.
I use the chocolate sf pudding Cook and Serve, and use it as a strawberry and banana dip while it’s still warm mmmmmmmmm
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:03 am (UTC -7)
Janine I never thought to use the immersion blender for pudding! Great idea. Warm pudding for a fruit dip is a great idea – you are brilliant.
Amanda @ The Artsy Kitchen says:
March 2, 2011 at 7:46 pm (UTC -7)
You are pretty much a genius for thinking of that!! I usually just grab a lazy girl dessert – small square of dark chocolate, but I think I could do the brownie thing
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:02 am (UTC -7)
I keep the little individually wrapped squares of chocolate on hand as well. Love to have one with a few almonds and dried apricots – so satisfying!
Roz says:
March 3, 2011 at 10:29 am (UTC -7)
Feel better soon Tami!!! I love that there are instructions for a single serving on that brownie pack. Next time I get to a Trader Joe’s, I’m going to pick up a pack. Sometimes, a little portion controlled “something” is all you need! Take care.
Tami says:
March 4, 2011 at 7:01 am (UTC -7)
I have been seeing a lot of bloggers posting about single serving recipes and I think many of us are looking for that built in portion control.
Sometimes if we can have just a little bit of a treat it keeps us from diving head first into the sugar!
Jody - Fit at 53 says:
March 4, 2011 at 4:31 pm (UTC -7)
You are so friggin creative! Next time I hit TJ’s, I know where I am headed!