Peanut Butter Pie

This pie is Aaron's favorite (because peanut butter, of course). I started making it years ago when we were first married, and today I'm making it once again for his 42nd birthday!

Ingredients

1 10 inch prepared graham cracker crust

1/2 jar of hot fudge, heated slightly

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 c powdered sugar

1 8 oz package cool whip, thawed (4 oz more to top, optional)

Chopped Reeses peanut butter cups, optional    

Directions

For the crust: Pour 1/2 jar hot fudge into prepared graham cracker crust, and spread around the bottom of the pie.

For the filling: Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed whipped topping and beat until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.

Pour the filling into the crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Garnish top of pie with more Cool Whip and chopped Reeses, if desired.

Salsa Verde Burgers

In our house, Aaron is the king of burgers. He makes such amazing hamburgers. He makes all kinds, and they are all delicious. So you can imagine the anxiety I felt when I had planned on burgers for dinner one night, and then he didn't have enough time to grill them for me. I pulled up a recipe that I'd pinned on Pinterest from SkinnyTaste, and decided to make burgers myself. I was terrified.

I was completely shocked and flattered, however, when Aaron raved and asked if I would make more, and said it was one of his favorite burgers he'd ever had. What?! This man takes his burgers very seriously, so it was a huge honor coming from his mouth.

And now, for the recipe!

Salsa Verde Burgers 
Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• pinch kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 (93% lean) beef patties, 4.75 oz each
• 1/2 cup salsa verde, homemade or store bought
• 4 slices Sargento reduced fat pepper jack cheese
• 4 (100 calorie) whole wheat potato buns
• 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage (or lettuce)
• 4 ounces sliced avocado (from 1 medium haas)

Directions: 

Heat a skillet or grill over high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add the patties. Season with salt and pepper and cook a few minutes on each side, to your desired liking. Add the cheese and cover; cook to melt, about 30 seconds.

Servings: 4 • Size: 1 burger with the works • Old Points: 8 • Weight Watcher Points+: 10 pt
Calories: 407 • Fat: 17.5 g • Carb: 25 g • Fiber: 8 g • Protein: 42 g • Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 445 mg  • Cholest: 87 mg 

Roasted Butternut Squash

I've discovered over the past couple of years that I really like butternut squash. Trouble is that every time I try and make it, I fail miserably. After tasting a particularly delicious version of Butternut Squash in Ireland, I came home resolved to try one more time. 

So I came across this post on the "Perfect" roasted butternut squash. And then sort of improvised from there. So here goes...

INGREDIENTS
1 butternut squash
Olive oil (or other oil)
1 T. butter
2 T. cream or milk
Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, then coat with oil (skin as well as the exposed insides).
3. Put flat sides down on cookie sheet (with skin up), then place in preheated oven.
4. Cook the whammy out of it. At least an hour, but probably more. Maybe an hour and 20 minutes or so? It should be very tender and mushy.
5. Let cool for a few minutes, then scoop out and discard seeds. Scoop squash into a bowl and set aside.
6. In a saucepan over low-medium heat, add cream and butter. 
7. Once butter melts, stir in squash until blended. For extra creaminess, blend using an immersion blender. 
8. Season with salt and pepper, then serve.

Garlic Baked Shrimp

Tonight, I tried making a new recipe I found on LaaLoosh. I typically don't like shrimp, but this one caught my eye (it looked similar to one of my favorite restaurant dishes, Shrimp Paesano) and I decided to give it a go. Well, this dish passed the family test with flying colors! Aaron is still talking about it several hours later, and is asking if we can have it tomorrow too.

Ingredients

• 1lb fresh, raw shrimp, deveined, peeled and tails removed
• 2 tbsp light butter, melted
• Juice from ½ a lemon
• 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped (optional)
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tbsp lemon zest
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup Special K cereal, crushed
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine shrimp, lemon juice, garlic, paprika and salt & pepper. Pour into a small baking dish.
3. In another bowl, combine Special K, butter, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest and parsley until it reaches a course, mealy consistency – just enough to evenly blend the ingredients.
4. Sprinkle Special K mixture over shrimp. Transfer to oven and bake until shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

PER SERVING: 180 calories; 5g fat; 7g carbohydrates; 24g protein; 0g fiber

SERVE WITH: Angel Hair Pasta, Steamed Vegetables