Diet Challenge Update - Week 3

I'm down a pound. But I think it's the same pound that I tend to gain and then lose again. So I'm not thrilled. I need to do something better, something different. I've been going to the gym a couple times a week when my schedule lets me but maybe I need to do a little Wii Fit or something on the days I can't make it. Sigh.

Moving along... here are some dessert recipes that Sharon gave us for our "homework" this week. LOL.

Vanilla Pound Cake

Serves: 12

Points: 5

1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 large egg(s)
3 large egg white(s)
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
8 oz light cream cheese
3 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/3 cup(s) sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1 3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, vanilla extract and almond extract; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until blended. Beat in sugar, baking powder and salt until blended. Beat in flour and egg mixture, little by little, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.
Cool cake in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 12 slices and serve. Yields 1 slice per serving.

Add some berries and maybe a dash of whipped cream... YUMMY!

Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

2 points per serving

Serves: 12

1 spray cooking spray - flour variety

1 tsp all purpose flour

4 large egg whites

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup mini chips

1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 2oo degrees

2. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray and dust with flour. Shake off excess - or skip that piece and just put down parchment paper. That's what I do.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks are formed. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form; gently fold in chips and vanilla

4. Drop mixture by heaping tablespoon onto prepared baking sheet (if I want to get really fancy, I pipe them out using a large star tip) about an inch apart, making 24 cookies

5. Bake until lightly golden and no longer sticky on the surface, about 1 hour. Turn oven off and let cookies sit in the oven for another hour. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

If you want chewy cookies, bake the day before. These are really good!

After locating the meringue recipe, I really wanted to make some. Of course... no eggs in the house and I was too lazy to go out and get any!

I hope everyone did well this week with the challenge!

Enjoy your day!

Jen