HungryGirl's Hot Tamale Pie

PER SERVING (1/6th of pie): 220 calories, 2.75g fat, 630mg sodium, 37g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 8g sugars, 16g protein -- POINTS® value 4*

This tamale pie is AWESOME. Make it NOW. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

Ingredients:

For Topping
1 pouch Betty Crocker Authentic Cornbread & Muffin Mix
1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
3 tbsp. no-sugar-added applesauce

For Pie
One 12-oz. package frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Grillers Recipe Crumbles or Boca Meatless Ground Burger**)
1/2 cup canned sweet corn kernels, drained
1/2 cup canned black beans
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp. taco sauce
1 tbsp. taco seasoning
1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cornbread mix, egg substitute and applesauce. Set aside.

In a large pan sprayed lightly with nonstick spray, begin to cook onions and soy crumbles over medium heat. Once crumbles have thawed, add in taco seasoning, cumin, and 1/4 cup of water. Stirring occasionally, continue to cook until the water has absorbed. Then add the taco sauce, corn, and black beans, and mix well.

Pour mixture into a large round casserole dish sprayed lightly with nonstick spray, and then evenly cover with the cornbread topping mixture.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until top is golden brown and firm.

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Cheesy Muffins from HungryGirl

Cheesy-Good Cornbread Muffins

PER SERVING (1 muffin): 85 calories, 1.5g fat, 240mg sodium, 14g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g sugars, 4g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Cheesy cornbread muffins for only 85 calories each?! How can it be???

Ingredients:
1 cup canned cream-style corn
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped scallions
2 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Optional: 1/4 tsp. hot sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, cornmeal, Splenda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, mix together all other ingredients -- then add the contents of the small bowl to the large one, and stir until well mixed.

Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or line it with baking cups. Evenly distribute muffin batter among the cups. Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes (until muffins are firm and a light golden brown). Allow to cool and then enjoy!

MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Skinny Latte's are coming..

Starbucks lattes will be going on a diet beginning in ’08. The “skinny latte” will be fat-free and made with sugar-free syrup. A 12oz (tall) will register only 90 calories compared to 260 in a comparable white chocolate mocha - non-fat (no whip).

I think this could work for them - IF it tastes comparable to its more caloric counterpart. Being sugar-free, they are using one or more artificial sweeteners, which doesn't always jibe with peoples’ taste buds or their apprehensions over the health concerns of artificial sweetener (whether rational or not).

Whether this new offering will be helpful to the weight-conscious consumer is a matter of circumstance. For instance…

• If your new year’s resolution is to shed pounds, it is best to eliminate or drastically reduce calorie-containing drinks. Grab a tall Sumatra - black.
• If your new year’s resolution is to shed pounds AND you are a latte junkie accustomed to a daily indulgence of the 260 cal variety – this may be an option of compromise. If you do the math, assuming a 5-latte/week pace, you save about 850 calories per week, which equates to about 1 pound of fat per month. This is of course assuming the law of thermodynamics is an exact science (which it isn’t) and also assuming you aren’t grabbing a 370 calorie apple Danish with a mocha swirl as well (you know, because you’re saving sooo many calories with your skinny latte). But I digress…
• If your new year’s resolution is to remain healthy and you like the original mochas – keep drinking them. Just be sure the rest of your dietary choices are pretty good and you exercise regularly
• If your new year’s resolution is to save money… what the heck are you doing at Starbucks?

Source: The Diet Blog