Sunday, January 27, 2013

Lower Fat Brownies

One resolution that I've made and am sticking to this new year is to bring lunches to work rather than spend money.  A simple lunch at work can easily cost $7 to $8, and that adds up day after day.  There have been periods of time when I've been good about brown-bagging, but those have been short-lived.  Like anything else, this effort takes planning and commitment  So I've been packing up sandwiches, or left-overs from the night before, and add some crackers and a drink, and carry it off in a pretty thermal lunch bag.  Sure, it still costs money to put these lunches together, but much less than the price tag for the daily special or a cup of soup and the salad bar at work.  I like to realize that this effort is making a difference, and after three weeks, I do believe it is.

Most days, I like to have a little sweet something after lunch, but I am also trying to take it easy on those sweets.  Tonight, to include in lunches this coming week, I decided to make a batch of brownies.  I had a brownie mix in the pantry, and to make them a bit healthier, my daughter Katie suggested substituting yogurt for oil and egg whites for whole eggs. I chopped a bunch of walnuts for their goodness, as well as a half a cup of dark chocolate morsels.  The batch will make make more than enough desserts for this week (and to share), so I'll wrap up the rest individually and freeze them for future lunches.  These brownies are by no means health food, but I could do a lot more damage with something from the candy rack!  And yes, I can take an orange or an apple now and then, but sometimes, only chocolate will do!

Lower Fat Brownies
Oven 350 degrees F
spray bottom only of baking pan

One brownie mix for 13x9 pan
Low fat vanilla yogurt as substitute for vegetable oil (I used Cabot Greek Vanilla)
egg whites as substitute for whole eggs
water as package directs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels

Mix according to package directions, using substitutions.  Bake according to time suggested on package.





17 comments:

  1. I also have a lowfat brownie recipe to make from scratch if you want it.

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  2. They look good have to test them out . Thanx

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    1. The yogurt gives these brownies a bit of a tangy taste, and the texture is kind of springy, but if you want a brownie and don't want to feel guilty about it, they'll do!

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  3. Oh my ..I do try to make things low fat but....somethings are just hard to stick to! My biggest weakness is avoiding Chocolate!.......CKJ

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  4. Yum, yum, I always need a reason why my favorite sweet is really not too bad for me. These sound delicious and will give the recipe a try when I make them for our nightly treat while away visiting Frank:) And, if I pre-cut them and then freeze them into mini portions I can justify the treat even more. Sue

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    1. These taste pretty good for being not-so-bad for you! And I've wrapped mine for the freezer too. I bet they'll defrost beautifully overnight. Thanks Sue-z-q!

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  5. Now you got me craving these delicious looking brownies, Jeannie!!! Especially since you've convinced me that they're not bad for you! :)

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    1. Carol, they are a nice consolation when you want a little something sweet but don't want to wreck your day! There's always room for chocolate, right? Thanks for your comment!

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  6. Jeanie- You inspired me! I am going to make these for Superbowl to help offset all those other high calorie foods that seem to go with Superbowl Fare. Thanks so much for this great idea- can't wait to try!

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    1. Hi Carol! Thanks so much for your comment! I'm glad you're going to give these a try. They are a little bit firmer than a traditional brownie, and the yogurt gives them a little bit of a tang, which goes very well with chocolate chips and walnuts. Hope you enjoy them!

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  7. I was about to say, "I'll bring in a banana to have along with those brownies" and there... at the bottom of the blog... where I click on "messages"... I see a banana with a message about it being one of the foods you should never eat! Oh, no! My plan is foiled!

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    1. Kyle, that's an ad placed by Google for an advertiser. Bananas are OK by me!

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  8. Love the changes you made to this recipe, Jeannie! Definitely a healthier, "feel good" option to satisfy that sweet tooth. I love sweet treats without the guilt! ;)

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    1. Me too, Colleen, and I'll be focusing more on less-guilty treats in posts coming up. I love good food too much to go without, so I'll be researching good alternatives for all those favorites!

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  9. Jeannie, I am not a fan of yogurt - could I use something like applesauce in place of the yogurt/oil?

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