Creamy vanilla goodness with sweet ripe cherries – it doesn’t get any better …oh wait, it does – there’s an oreo pie crust ! You have to make this one ! This is my Mom’s newest favorite dessert

Cherry Cream Pie

8 servings
182 calories per serving

3 c frozen vanilla yogurt, softened (I love Turkey Hill brand)
1 1/4 c sliced pitted fresh cherries
1 prepared Oreo cookie pie crust
2 tablespoons Cool Whip

Make sure yogurt is good and melty and then stir in cherries. Turn all into the pie crust and freeze at least 3 hours. If desired, garnish with Cool Whip and some extra cherries.

This makes such a great custard ! The coconut flavor is mild, the custard is creamy and this is a superb pie. Sometimes I add a little coconut to the custard itself. This is as good as any bakery custard and at only 280 calories per serving, it‘s a great choice.

Coconut Custard Pie

8 servings
280 calories

¼ c flaked coconut
¾ Splenda
⅓ c cornstarch
½ t salt
2½ c skim milk
2 egg yolks
2 T butter
¾ c flaked coconut
1¼ t vanilla extract
¼ t coconut extract
1 low fat graham pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast ¼ cup coconut in a skillet on medium low heat 5 to 6 minutes or until toasted.
Mix Splenda, starch and salt and gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick. Beat egg until pale in color and then whisk in ¾ c of the milk mix. Then add that mix back to the rest of the milk and whisk (in this manner, the eggs do not curdle). Cook one minute to bring to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter, ¾ c coconut and extracts. Pour into crust, cover with plastic and gently press down on the filling. Chill 3 hours and sprinkle with toasted coconut and garnish with some optional whipped cream just before serving.

There are lots of pudding pie recipes out there, but this one is my favorite because it has a bit of everything – bananas, chocolate, shipped topping, peanut butter, nuts – this is decadence at its best High on the calories, but still under 400 and if it’s your only snack of the day along with other 400 calories meals, then definitely allowed !

My Favorite Pudding Pie

10 servings
357 calories per serving

1 Nilla Pie Crust (pre-prepared pie crust made with Nilla wafers – much like a graham crust)
1 1/2 squares Bakers semi sweet chocolate
1/2 c peanut butter
2 bananas, cut lengthwise in half, then make long thin slices
1 3.4 oz. pack of sugar free vanilla instant pudding
1 1/2 c skim milk
2 c Lite Cool Whip
2 T salted peanuts, chopped

Take half of one chocolate square and grate it with a coarse cheese grater to make chocolate flakes for the top of the pie. Take the rest of the chocolate and microwave 1 minute then add the peanut butter and microwave for another minute, until completely melted. Put banana pieces in the crust and add the chocolate mix. Whisk pudding and milk for 2 minutes and then fold in 1 c of the Cool Whip and spread over the bananas. Spread the rest of the Cool Whip on top and then garnish with peanuts and chocolate flakes.

This was a very sweet pie perfect for a hot summer day. I added lots of extra raspberries as a garnish and it really hit the spot !

Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie

8 servings
230 calories per serving

8 oz. low fat cream cheese, softened
1 small package instant lemon pudding
1 c skim milk
2 t grated lemon zest
2 c Cool Whip, thawed and divided
¼ c raspberry preserves
Low fat graham crust
1 c raspberries + extras for garnish

Beat cream cheese, pudding, milk and lemon with electric beater and then gently stir in 1 c Cool Whip. Spoon preserves on bottom of crust and cover with the pudding mix. Top with the rest of the Cool Whip and the raspberries. Refrigerate 4 hours. Garnish each slice with extra berries.

The good folks at PlentifulPantry sent me a couple of their dessert mixes to try and here is the first installment….Chidester Farms Key Lime Cheesecake Bars.

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars

The big box comes with enough ingredients to make 2 batches – 2 batches would fit in a 9×13 baking dish while 1 fits nicely in an 8×8 baking dish. These are amazingly easy to put together and the results are outstanding – the bars definitely taste completely homemade. I had doubts about a chocolate crust with a citrus dessert, but it was a perfect accompaniment.

As well as the mix, you will need a few ingredients:
1 c hot water
2 8 oz. blocks of cream cheese
6 T butter

1 batch yields 16 servings
120 calories per serving

Just follow the package instructions and in an hour you will have delightfully rich cheesecake bars with just the right amount of lime flavoring.

Be sure to visit PlentifulPantry and check out their products – they have a whole bunch of ‘partially prepped’ products that get you out of the kitchen faster without skimping on quality.

The chicken pot pie lover in the house called this one a keeper Using a predone crust makes this so very easy to do and the cream cheese mixed in with the gravy makes for a very tasty meal.

Chicken Pot Pie

6 servings
330 calories per serving

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
¼ c Kraft light zesty Italian dressing
1 oz. low fat cream cheese, cubed
2 T flour
½ c chicken broth
10 oz. mixed frozen vegetables, thawed
1 refrigerated pie crust

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and in a skillet cook the chicken and dressing 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and cook and stir until melted. Add flour and mix well then add broth and vegetables and simmer 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into a deep dish pie plate and place a 10 inch pie crust on top. Flute the edges and cut 4 slits in the crust for venting. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

This is basically a super easy recipe for a superb spinach quiche. The crust is light, the filling perfect, and this makes a great appetizer or lunch.

Spinach and Cheese Squares

8 servings
79 calories per serving

1 ½ c Egg Beaters
¾ c skim milk
1 T dried onion flakes
1 T grated parmesan cheese
¼ t garlic powder
1/8 t pepper
¼ c bread crumbs
¾ c fat free shredded cheddar cheese, divided
10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
Pam

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine eggs, milk, onion, parmesan, garlic powder and pepper. Spray an 8×8 pan with Pam and press bread crumbs evenly into the bottom. Place ½ c of cheddar on top of the bread crumbs then add the spinach. Pour the egg mix on top of the spinach and then add the rest of the cheese. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.