Baking in the Box

I discovered a couple of recipes this week and decided to test them out this weekend.  I was so tired of the shakes this week that at least 2 of the days I didn't make any.  I just couldn't do anymore.  After all, I've been eating the same foods over and over for 6 weeks.  So, any addition is a nice addition.  In fact, I tried vanilla puddings for the first time and WOW!  They were excellent.  It's not that I like vanilla puddings.  Actually, I don't.  But, I like being able to incorporate other flavors in as puddings -- cheesecake, banana, lemon, etc...  (and if you use PB2 powder, you can pretty much make peanut butter!).  The vanilla puddings definitely had an impact on my intake, as I noticed I ate a lot more this week.  They keep saying "More is Better" so let's hope the scale agrees.

The first recipe I tested was for pancakes.  Or, should I say for pancake, since it only made one.  A big one.  But, ONE nonetheless.  See below. You use one vanilla pudding pack, a smidge of maple flavoring, and a few ounces of diet ginger ale.  It turned out okay.  Not bad.  The only problem is that it is pancakes with no butter or syrup.  So, what's the point?  Right?  It was a bit bland, but different from the norm. 

After I finished the pancake experiment, I went onto to another project.

I made a big batch of chocolate chip oatmeal muffins next.  They were really pretty good!  I used 3 vanilla puddings, 3 cereal mixes (minus the fruit), and 1 chocolate bar.  The recipe made 36 mini muffins.  So, it ends up being about 6 per serving... and that equates to 1 shake and 1/6 bar.  Not too bad. And, it's a nice change. 

Incorporating a bar into the recipe was my idea... and it was great.  Today when I tried them, the chocolate really added a lot to the taste and felt more like real food! 

I put aside 20 of them for class tomorrow night.  It will be like Show and Tell!