Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Creamy low-fat yogurt, sweet frozen strawberries, reduced-fat cream cheese and graham crackers are blended into this satisfying Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie...

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This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

When I need to satisfy my sweet tooth without the guilt, I make a creamy smoothie inspired by one of my favorite desserts. Lately, my guilty pleasure has been a slice of cheesecake drenched in strawberry topping. The problem is, cheesecake isn't exactly good for you, or low in fat or calories. My solution? This lower guilt Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie that tastes just like the delicious sweet treat it's fashioned after!

Creamy low-fat yogurt, sweet frozen strawberries, reduced-fat cream cheese and graham crackers are blended into this satisfying smoothie. I added some chia seeds to sneak in a little nutrient-packed punch too. Trust me when I tell you all that it tastes just like a slice of cheesecake topped with strawberries. Who says you can't have your cheesecake and maintain that waistline too? ;)

Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

A simple healthy recipe gets a kick of intense vanilla flavor in this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding...

Okay, you all- I finally jumped on the chia seed bandwagon, and now I am wondering why I ever waited so long. I may have had a little bit of a prejudice against them before because all I could think of when someone mentioned chia seeds were chia pets. Do you all know what I am talking about? (And now that jingle from the television commercial is stuck in my head- Chi, chi, chi, chiaaaa... ;) )

But nevertheless I had been kind of curious about chia seeds for the past few months, but I had no clue where I would even buy them here in small town West Virginia. Then lo and behold, one day I was shopping at my local ALDI and there they were on the shelf- a bag for less than $3! I mean, what did I have to lose really? So I grabbed a bag and started asking around to my fellow food bloggers what were their favorite ways to enjoy and prepare them. Many said that they loved sprinkling them over yogurt (which is yum, by the way) or mixed into smoothies. But again and again, they mentioned chia pudding.  

The first couple of times that I tried making chia pudding I got the ratios off, and my pudding ended up more like a slurpy mess.  But this latest attempt? I nailed it! :) I decided that I want to stick to a simple chia pudding recipe, but added a kick of intense vanilla flavor. By stirring in a simple teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, this healthy and easy to make pudding becomes almost like a creamy vanilla dessert. You could also substitute a teaspoon of vanilla extract, but trust me on this- splurging a little for some good quality vanilla bean paste is so worth it for this recipe. Enjoy this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding simply as is or feel free to top it with your favorite fruits, berries, or nuts... 

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

This velvety and creamy slow cooker-baked Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding is a lightened-up version of a traditionally decadent dessert...

I adore a good, creamy bread pudding. But what I don't adore is all the egg yolks and cream that is in traditional baked bread pudding. Especially when you are trying to make some healthier changes to your eating.

That is why I was thrilled to come across this recipe for Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding in my copy of American Test Kitchen's Healthy Slow Cooker Revolution that I received in the mail the other day! :)

After perusing hundreds of recipes for soups, chicken, pasta, casseroles, and more and being sure to dog-ear my faves, I finally came to the coveted Desserts section of the cookbook. There are 16 better-for-you dessert recipes there, folks. And all of them are made in your slow cooker!

This creamy Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding really caught my eye (and my sweet tooth!), and I knew I had to give it a try for myself. The results were absolutely delicious. From the perfectly cooked, creamy bread pudding itself to the ooey-gooey chocolate chips- this is bread pudding perfection, folks...