Chocolate Pecan Brownies

1/3 plus 1 tbsp. butter
Liquid sugar substitute to equal 1 cup sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
2 tbsp. cocoa
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix butter, sugar substitute, vanilla and eggs together, then add flour, salt, baking powder, cocoa and pecans.  Mix well and pour into a non-stick 8" pan.  Bake @ 325 for 20 minutes.

Diet Coke Chicken

4 chicken breast, boneless & skinless
1 cup ketchup
1 can diet coke

Mix ketchup & coke in a bowl
Arrange chicken in a non-stick skillet, pour ketchup & coke mixture over the
top, making sure to cover the chicken in the mixture. 
Cover with lid, and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove lid, cook 10-15 minutes more until chicken is done and sauce sticks
to the chicken.

Cinnamon Banana Bread (reduced sugar)

for the bread:
3 over ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons Splenda Sugar Blend
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Cinnamon/Sugar Blend Mix:
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Splenda Sugar Blend
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Mix well

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray
Mix the bananas, butter, egg, vanilla and sugar, then add baking soda, salt and flour
Mix until combined but don't overmix. 
Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan, top with half of cinnamon/sugar mix, pour remaining batter on top, then add remaining cinnamon/sugar. 
Bake for 50-60 minutes.   Let cool completely before removing from pan.

Brownie in a Mug

2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
2 tbsp. cocoa
2 tbsp. Splenda sugar blend
4 tbsp. flour
mini chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or nuts for topping (optional)

In a 12 oz. mug, add water, oil and vanilla and whisk well.
Add cocoa, salt, sugar and flour and mix all up. 
Microwave for 60 seconds, do not over cook.  Center should
be slightly molten.  Add your favorite toppings or eat as is. 

Yummy!  This recipe is for an individual serving

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Wow, where did the last year go?

Hello bloggers, and thanks to those of you who stuck with me and my blog even in my absence.  I assure you being absent from blogging wasn't intentional, but the past year, my personal life was way more than I could handle, therefore my hobbies had to take a back seat.  Just so you know, I went through a divorce after being married 25 years.  I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, and let me just say that it was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, and I'm still recovering today. 

I'm almost 46 (in November) and I have many health issues, including the dreadful diabetes, and going from being a married, stay at home wife/mom to single with a 9 year old son, has proven to be challenging for me.  Thankfully, I have a 20 yr old son who has been my rock through everything, both of my boys have been, and without them, I don't know where I would be today.  I've been depressed more in the past year than I ever have been before, but gradually, my faith in God, my boys, my friends and family have helped to pull me through.  Life still isn't easy, but it's much better now, and I'm finally feeling the desire to blog again and do the things I love so much. 

Fall is my favorite season, and with Thanksgiving fast approaching I want to say that I am very thankful for what I do have.  Ok, with all that being said, let's get blogging...be sure and check back.  I'm planning to change my blog background, I'm looking for a diabetic theme, and I will be adding links, recipes, etc 

Thanks, Debbie

Sugar Free Chocolate Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper Cupcakes

mmmmmm, these are so good and you can't even tell they're sugar free.

1 box sugar free devil's food cake mix

1 can diet cherry vanilla dr pepper

1 tablespoon cherry juice (optional)

2 tablespoons chopped cherries (optional)

1 can sugar free chocolate frosting

1/2 tub sugar free cool whip

marachino cherries to garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in muffin tins. In a large bowl, add cake mix, diet dr pepper, cherry juice and chopped cherries. Mix together until well blended. Pour 3/4 of the batter in the cupcake liners. Bake 10-12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For frosting, mix 1 can sugar free chocolate frosting with 1/2 tub sugar free cool whip. Mix together until well blended and you get a milk chocolate creamy consistency. Frost cupcakes and garnish with a cherry. Enjoy!