Apple Pie Ice Cream - well, as close as I can get!

In the fall, Edy's brand came out with a seasonal Fun Flavor "Apple Pie"... who doesn't love apple pie and ice cream!? So, needless to say, I fell in love with it. Now that it's spring and rolling rapidly into summer, my craving still exists... So... I made up my own version.

APPLE PIE ICE CREAM

4 medium gala apples (I like them because they're sweeter and I had them on hand, but use whatever kind you like the best - some like them tart!)
1/2 cup or so of Granulated Baking Splenda
2 tbsp. vanilla extract (less if you like)
2 tbsp. cinnamon
4 tbsp. water

ONLY 170 calories total for the apple mixture!

This is a stove top version, I'm sure you could simply remove the cores and bake them in the oven for a long time and the flavor would be incredible. However, when it's 80 degrees outside, the last thing I want to do is have my oven on for an hour.

Peel your apples. Slice them up into about 1/2 inch wedges. If you have one of those apple slicer things, use that, then slice those in half. Take a small 1.5 quart sauce pan and put all ingredients in the pan. Toss through with a spoon. Simmer on medium for about 20-25 minutes or until they still have a little bite to them. They will need to be stirred about once every 5 minutes or so. The apples will cook down quite a bit, so double the recipe if you want more. Also, the "sauce" they create in the bottom of the pot will be perfect. If you want it a little thicker, add about 1/2 tbsp of corn starch.

Spoon a quarter of the mixture into the bottom of a small bowl, place 1/2 cup scoop of light vanilla (about 110 calories depending on the brand) on top of the hot apples, top with 2 tbsp of light cool whip (20 calories). For added crunch sprinkle with nuts or crunchy cereal. The only thing this is missing, is the crust!!

1 serving = 173 calories for the whole "sundae"

ENJOY!

In other news... I've done it... I've lost 100 pounds!

It's amazing for me to believe that statement is true, but it is... I've lost 100 pounds.

I've lost a 6th grader.

A 2 month old horse.

A 70" diameter pumpkin with all it's insides.

A large male deer.

And it feels, incredible!!

Fruity Granola-y Banana-y Chocolate-y Cookies...

BANANA OATMEAL RAISIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES      

2 ¼ cups Rolled or Quick Oats 

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

3 ripe bananas 

1 tbsp. raisins

1 tbsp. mini chocolate chips 

¼ cup Baking Splenda

2 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas in bowl, add in oats, applesauce, raisins, splenda, chocolate chips and spices. Stir well. Let sit for a few minutes. Spoon onto cookie sheet by the tablespoon and flatten to desired shape – they will not spread out on their own. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly golden. These cookies will be more like chewy granola bars. You can add other variations as well: nuts, other dried fruits, honey instead of Splenda.

Yields 28 cookies – 40 calories each