2 Ingredient Mousse (with a bazillion alternatives)

I almost always have a container of my zero fat, plain Greek yogurt in the fridge because I tend to use it for pretty much everything. I go through a lot of it. 

Anyways.... why I bring this up is because our sister, Orra, recently told me about another way to use Greek yogurt which is beyond super genius level. (But don't tell her I said that!)

Basically you mix equal parts of the yogurt with Light Cool Whip and it turns into the most amazing mousse ever.

*Boom* 

Mind blown.

You would think this would have been something I stumbled across seeing as how I pretty much survive on Greek yogurt.

Nope.

Never tried it before, never saw it before, never heard of the combo before Orra let me in on the secret. It's equal amounts of Greek yogurt (or regular yogurt works too!) and Light Cool Whip.

That's it.

Seriously.

*Tah-dah* Here's your mousse.

But that's not where the recipe has to stop. Oh heck no. It gets better.

Mix in some peanut butter - you get peanut butter mousse,

mix in some baking cocoa - you get chocolate mousse,

mix in some stewed fruit - you get fruit mousse,

you see where I'm going with this....

All you have to do is stir the Greek yogurt and your add in until well mixed. Then gently stir in the Cool Whip until just mixed.

You can eat it right away or let is sit, up to overnight, and enjoy it later.

So... here is the base recipe that you will need to make 1 cup of mousse -- 

Mouse Base Recipe:

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 147 calories, 14 carbs, 5 fat, 12 protein, 0 fiber) 

Now, on to some of the combinations I have tried so far.....

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Mousse

Ingredients

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/3 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

Directions

Stir together the Greek yogurt, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Fold in the Cool Whip until just combined.

Nutritional count for pumpkin mousse: (entire amount) - 182 calories, 21 carbs, 5 fat, 13 protein, 2 fiber.

Peanut Butter Cup Greek Yogurt Mousse

Ingredients

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt (divided)

1/2 Tbsp peanut butter

1/2 tsp baking cocoa

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip (divided)

1 tsp mini chocolate chips

Directions

Divide the Greek yogurt into 2 bowls - 1/4 cup each. 

In one bowl, stir in the peanut butter. In the other bowl, stir in the cocoa powder.

Gently stir 1/4 cup of the Cool Whip into each bowl. 

Layer the mousse on top of one another and top with the chocolate chips. 

Nutritional count for peanut butter cup mousse: (entire amount) - 217 calories, 19 carbs, 10 fat, 14 protein, 1 fiber.

Almond Joy Greek Yogurt Mousse

Ingredients

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/2 tsp baking cocoa

1/2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips

1 Tbsp chopped, toasted almonds

1 Tbsp unsweetened, shredded coconut, toasted

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

Directions

Stir the Greek yogurt, cocoa, mini chocolate chips, and coconut together. Gently stir in the Cool Whip. (you can save a pinch of chocolate chips, almonds, and coconut to sprinkle on top to make it look fancy if you want!)

Nutritional count for the almond joy mousse: (entire amount) - 250 calories, 23 carbs, 14 fat, 15 protein, 2 fiber. 

Rhubarb Greek Yogurt Mousse

Ingredients

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup rhubarb puree

(I did 1 cup of chopped rhubarb + 1 pkg Stevia + 1 Tbsp water. Boil until rhubarb is soft and mixture is thickened. It should yield approx 1/4 of a cup. I used it all in the mousse.)

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

Directions

Stir together the Greek yogurt and rhubarb puree. Gently stir in the Cool Whip.

So fluffy and pretty, am I right?

Look at all that mousse-iness. 

Nutritional count for the rhubarb mousse: (entire amount) - 173 calories, 14 carbs, 5 fat, 13 protein, 2 fiber.

Funfetti Greek Yogurt Mousse

Ingredients

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp almond extract

2 tsp sprinkles

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

Directions

Stir together the Greek yogurt, vanilla & almond extracts, and 1 1/2 tsp of the sprinkles.

Gently stir in the Cool Whip. Sprinkle with the remaining sprinkles.

It's just so pretty..... and tasty....

Nutritional count for the funfetti mousse: (entire amount) - 200 calories, 25 carbs, 6 fat, 12 protein, 0 fiber.

And here are some other versions that I haven't had a chance to photograph yet but were delicious, nonetheless....

Apple Pie Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 188 calories, 23 carbs, 5 fat, 12 protein, 1 fiber)

Peanut Butter Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp smooth peanut butter

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 237 calories, 18 carbs, 13 fat, 15 protein, 1 fiber)

Chocolate Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp baking cocoa

1/2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips

(Nutritional count - 186 calories, 20 carbs, 7 fat, 13 protein, 1 fiber)

Peach Pie Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup peach puree (I used baby food peaches)

1 tsp graham cracker crumbs

(Nutritional count - 204 calories, 27 carbs, 5 fat, 13 protein, 1 fiber)

Salted Caramel Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

2 Tbsp Smuckers Fat Free Ice Cream Topping

generous pinch sea salt

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 267 calories, 43 carbs, 5 fat, 12 protein, 0 fiber)

Banana Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup mashed, ripe banana (approx 1 small banana)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 209 calories, 28 carbs, 5 fat, 13 protein, 1 fiber)

Nutella Mousse

1/2 cup 0 fat, plain Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp Nutella

1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

(Nutritional count - 247 calories, 25 carbs, 11 fat, 13 protein, 1 fiber)

NOTE - If you want it a bit sweeter to take away some of the tartness of the Greek yogurt, add in 1 package of Stevia and it won't influence your nutritional counts. (You can, of course, use sugar or maple syrup, etc... but those will change the nutritional counts.)

There you have it.

The next big thing. 

Try it. Seriously. I'm pretty sure you will be as addicted to it as I am.

I will leave you with some more pretty picture of the mousse....

 

Looking for tons of fun, crafty, and tasty links?

Check out these fab linky parties -- Dizzy Busy & Hungry, Nap Time Is My Time, Adventures of Mel, Cookin and Craftin, Feeding Big, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, My Turn (for us),

Italian Love Cake

I've seen this recipe posted on a billion different sites so I am not sure who to credit it to.

I'll just say that we didn't come up with it BUT we sure will be making it again. 

It is sooooo easy and was a super big hit at our mom's senior's center Valentine's party. 

The combination of flavors and textures are out of this world - making for a very chocolaty, very smooth, very moist cake.

Want to know something cool about this cake?

The layers change places while it bakes. 

Not even lying. It's very neat.

As for the Italian part of it...... I'm guessing it is because you use Ricotta cheese. Kind of a weird ingredient but whomever decided to use it to create this was a super genius. 

Italian Love Cake

Ingredients

Cake Layer

1 pkg Chocolate Cake Mix 

PLUS THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE IT AS PER THE PACKAGE DIRECTIONS!

Ricotta Layer

2 X 500 gr containers Ricotta Cheese

4 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Mousse Frosting

1 pkg Chocolate Pudding (4 serving size)

1 cup milk

1/2 tub (1 lt container) Cool Whip

Directions

Prepare cake layer - Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the chocolate cake as per package instructions. Pour into prepared 9 X 13 pan.

Prepare ricotta layer - Using an electric mixer, beat the Ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.

Pour the Ricotta layer as evenly as you can over the cake layer. (Do NOT pour it all in the center! Try to pour it evenly over the entire surface.)

Bake at 350 for approx an hour. (Toothpick inserted near center should come out clean.)

Let cool on wire rack until completely cool.

Prepare mousse frosting - In a medium mixing bowl, slowly whisk the milk into the pudding powder. (Add about 1/4 cup of milk at a time so there are no lumps!)

Once smooth, whisk in the Cool Whip until well combined.

Spread on top of cake.

Cover and chill until ready to serve (at least 5 - 6 hours but overnight is fine too).

Best served slightly chilled.

See how the layers switched? Pretty cool, right? Mine looks a little marbled in places because that's where I didn't pour the batter evenly. Don't worry if your doesn't completely switch around, it should still taste fabulous. 

Oh, yeah, a quick note - When you pour the batter in it almost completely fills the pan. I was a little panicked about it overflowing so I placed a cookie sheet beneath the cake just in case. 

It didn't overflow. 

I would recommend placing a cookie sheet underneath if you are worried it might overflow. 

 

 

Be sure to visit these fun blogs for tons of great links - Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, My Turn (for us), Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Memories By The Mile, Barnabas Lane,

 

Top 10 Healthy Desserts/Treats

Even when I am trying to eat healthier and lose a few pounds I can't give up my sweets.

Plus, I shouldn't have to.

So...there!

Over the past year or so Sue and I have posted lots of healthier treats to help when the gotta-have-sugar cravings hit. This list is the top 10 treats I have had the most requests for. These include lower calorie or gluten free or vegan or lower sugar or higher in fibre type goodies.

All very tasty. In fact, if you ask your tasters - I bet they will never know they are eating "healthified" treats.

 

1. Banana Ice Cream

 

 

Nutritional count: 105 calories, 0 fat, 27 carbs, 1 protein.

The most simple of all the recipes. Only 1 ingredient. It's true. Crazy.....but true.

 

2. Double Chocolate Muffins

 

 

Nutritional count: 48 calories, 0.8 fat, 7.8 carbs, 2.6 protein.

These are so chocolaty and fudgy and rich that any possible chocolate craving you have will be satisfied. If one doesn't do the trick...well...have 2! You will still be under 100 calories.

 

3. Pumpkin Mousse

 

 

Nutritional count: 76 calories, 2.1 fat, 12.5 carbs, 2.5 protein.

Better than pumpkin pie? Decide for yourself. This is light and fluffy and sooooooo good. A nice, large serving for under 100 calories. Seriously.

 

4. Banana Coconut Cashew Cream Tart

 

 

Nutritional count: 288 calories, 16.7 fat, 36.2 carbs, 4 protein.

The nutritional count is for 1/12th of the tart. Trust me when I tell you - that is a lot of this tart. It is very rich. A little bit goes a long way. This is a vegan recipe that is full of vitamin B6, fibre, protein, magnesium, zinc and lots of other good stuff!

 

5. Zucchini Brownies

 

 

Nutritional count: 118 calories, 2.5 fat, 23 carbs, 2.2 protein.

Another chocolate treat. I love chocolate. Yes, I would marry it if I could.

The kids will never know they are getting veggies in their dessert with this moist, fudgy, chewy brownie.

 

6. Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies

 

 

Nutritional count: 107 calories, 4.4 fat, 14.6 carbs, 3.4 protein.

A cookie with no eggs and no flour? Whaaaaaaaaaat?

It's true. But you would never know!

 

7. Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicle Mini Bites

 

 

Nutritional count: 10 calories, 0.4 fat, 1.9 carbs, 0.13 protein.

Perfect for hot summer days or when you just need a cheesecake-y treat without all the calories and fat. Make them in regular Popsicle holders or, for a mini-treat, make them in ice cube trays!

 

8. Angel Food Dessert

 

 

Nutritional count: 202 calories, 3.6 fat, 46 carbs, 3.2 protein.

You get to have 1/12th of a 9 X 13 pan for this nutritional count. I love being able to have a HUGE piece of dessert, especially when it tastes as good as this one.

 

9. Creamsicle Pudding

 

 

Nutritional count: 64 calories. (I'm sorry I wasn't able to figure out the rest of the nutritional count as I got rid of the boxes! Eeep - when I make it again I will make sure to keep track) The 64 calories count is for 1/12th of the recipe. 

 

10. Raspberry Pie

 

 

Nutritional count: 200 calories. (Once again, I didn't figure out the total nutritional values here. Sorry!)

For 1/8th of the pie it is 200 calories. That is a HUGE piece of deliciousness. This was originally our aunt's recipe from back in her Weight Watcher's days.  It is amazing. High in fibre, Vitamin C, protein, all that good stuff.

 

Sue and I have tons of other healthy desserts and treats under the "Healthier Choices" page at the top of the blog.

It is important to remember that just because you are trying to eat healthier it doesn't mean you have to give up on enjoying desserts. You can make healthy treats that are just as good, if not better, than a lot of regular, less healthy goodies.

 

Check out Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons and Six Sister's Stuff and My Turn (for us) for some fun links.