Cheese Tortellini with Pepperoni Sauce

Awhile back there were a bunch of tortellini recipes all over the place because of the Barilla contest. I took the opportunity to bookmark a ton, but realized many of them were loaded with fat. I found one recipe that sounded delicious here, but instead of adding extra cheese (though I am sure that would be delicious) and baking it twice, I did a much simpler and healthier version and it was still really yummy! 

Cheese Tortellini with Pepperoni Sauce

Ingredients 

1 bag of cheese tortellini (I got mine at Trader Joe's) 

1 jar of spaghetti sauce 

1 bag Hormel Turkey Pepperoni (cut into halves) 

Directions 

1. Spray a pan with non-stick spray and toss in the pepperoni. Cook and stir until edges of pepperonis are crisp. 

2. Add sauce and allow to heat through. 

3. Meanwhile, boil water and cook tortellini as directed. 

4. Dump it all together, sprinkle with parmesan, and serve with a green salad. 

The pepperoni was a nice alternative to adding 

ground turkey and also added a little spice to our meal! 

Popeye Smoothies

This was a great addition to our breakfasts last week. They were originally named "Green Monster Smoothies" after a book about monsters, but we don't have the book and monsters are a bit too scary for us these days, so we went with calling them "Popeye Smoothies." 

Popeye Smoothies 

Ingredients 

1 banana, cut into chunks 

1 cup frozen pineapple 

1 pear, chopped 

1 1/2 cups orange juice 

2 cups baby spinach 

2 tbsp honey 

Directions 

Dump everything into your blender and blend until smooth. 

Pour into 2-3 glasses and drink up! 

I'm linking up here...

Make a Food-e-Friend Monday 

Melt in Your Mouth Monday 

Mangia Mondays 

Friday Night Dessert Night #13: Low Calorie Brownies

This low calorie brownie recipe is so quick, easy, and delicious! 

Trader Joe's no longer carries No Pudge Fudge (it was only $2.50 there but at the grocery store it is $4.50!). I was heart broken at first, but then I saw this recipe on TV.  I was watching the Hungry Girl's show and this is what I saw! 

Low Calorie Brownies

Ingredients 

8 oz. canned pumpkin 

1 box devil's food cake mix 

Directions

1.  Mix the pumpkin and cake mix together. 

2. Using a large cookie scoop, place mix in prepared muffin tins (I filled 18, but you could make 24 smaller brownies). 

3. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.

They taste like both a cupcake and a brownie and are around 180 calories each! Not too bad!

By the way, my husband hates anything pumpkin, ate these, had no idea there was pumpkin in them and I am NEVER telling him! :)

I'm linking up to...

Sweet Tooth Friday

Feasting in Fellowship Fridays