Cream Cheese Brownie Batter Dip

I love raw cookie dough, cake batter, and brownie batter.

When Melanie (from Mel's Kitchen Cafe) posted a brownie batter dip I could eat without getting sick, I knew I had to make it for my best friends at our annual Christmas party!

I think this ended up being super popular because you could eat with relatively healthy foods (strawberries, apple slices, pretzels, marshmallows, graham crackers).  I served mine with all 5, but I noticed people loved the fruit and the marshmallow+graham combo  the very best.

You'll Need:
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
2 cups of powdered sugar
5 tablespoons of flour
5 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons of milk
Chocolate Chip for garnishments
(Your favorite items to dip!)


Step-by-step:
1.  In a stand mixer, whip cream cheese and butter until soft and fluffy.
2.  Add in powdered sugar.  Mix well until smooth.
3.  Add in flour, cocoa, brown sugar, vanilla and milk.  Mix until fluffy and smooth.  If you prefer a thicker consistency add more milk or powdered sugar. 
4.  Garnish with chocolate chips

-DD

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

I love my buffalo chicken calzone - so this similar version was great to make for our annual Christmas party!  I actually didn't even get a chance to eat one because they were GONE so soon.  I guess I'll just have to make them again :)

You'll need:
2 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of Tony's or Lawry's (or any cajun seasoning)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 bag of mozzarella cheese (2 cups)
4 ounces of cream cheese (softened)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of hot sauce (I love Frank's!)
1/3 cup of milk

4 cups of chicken, cooked and shredded (for me, this was about 7 frozen chicken breasts)

16 flour tortillas (small size)

2 teaspoons of olive oil


Step-by-step:
1.  Preheat oven to 425
2.  In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
3.  Add in salt, Tony's, and garlic powder.  Stir for 1 minute.
4.  Add softened cream cheese and stir until melted and completely combine with butter
5.  Whisk hot sauce and milk and simmer for 5-8 minutes.
6.  Combine chicken, sauce, and mozzarella cheese using stand mixer.
7.  Lay our tortilla, fill with about 1/4 cup of mix and roll up tightly.
8.  Place on greased baking sheet until chicken is gone.
9.  Brush taquitos with olive oil
10.  Bake for 15 minutes


-DD

Skinny Funfetti Dip

Obviously, I like have a major sweet tooth.  In fact, I have a mouth full of them!  However, if I can find a dessert that is skinny, and still hits the flavor my sweet tooth is craving - then I am in heaven.

Skinny funfetti dip with organic, fat-free
animal crackers (thanks, Costco)!

This week my girl friends and I had our weekly girls night, but instead of grabbing a glass of wine, dinner, or a movie - we decided to have a holiday night at a friends house!  We watched a Christmas movie (The Holiday - one of my favorites, especially since I love Cameron Diaz).  I decided to bring a dessert along!

Anyway, the funfetti dip was really popular. I can't believe how much six ladies ate!  Do you remember Dunkaroo's?  The flavor reminds me of these - my childhood favorite treat!

They also had a flavor with sprinkles
in the frosting - yum!!

You'll need:
1 box of funfetti cake mix (dry - do not make the mix)
1 light cool whip container (8 oz) - keep this in the fridge, not freezer
2 cups of fat free, plain yogurt

Step-by-step:
1. Pour yogurt and cool whip into stand mixer.  Start blending.
2. Slowly add the entire dry funfetti mix. 
3. Whip until completely smooth.  I had to put mine on high for a few minutes to fully get it blended and with no bumps.  If you taste yogurt in it, it's not mixed well enough.
4. Put in fridge for 3 hours (or overnight)
5. Serve with fruit, animal crackers, or whatever your favorite thing to "dunk" is

Calorie Breakdown:
1/2 cup (24 servings)

• Lite Cool Whip: 500 calories
• Funfetti Cake Mix: 2160
• Yogurt: 260 calories
• Total = 2920 divided by 24 servings

120 calories for 1/2 cup serving!


During Christmas, I realize I am so blessed to have such a great group of girlfriends - some are really far (NYC, Denver, Pittsburgh), others around the state, and so blessed to have many great women within the Houston city limits.  Merry Christmas to my best girls and to you and yours!

THANK YOU: Kelly at Eat Yourself Skinny for this amazing recipe! 

-DD