I Have a Secret to Share!

One, sorry for the long absence. With the holidays, everyone coming up with this never ending cold and my oldest son's birthday....He's 6 now!! I just can't believe how fast the time has gone!

Anyway, onto my secret. Thanksgiving was a hit, well my treats were a hit! People are still begging me for the recipe and I have yet to give it to them. Instead, opting to give it to strangers over the internet! Somehow this will save my reputation as a cooking genius, at least in my mind!

Before I share the one thing that has everyone begging at my feet for more. I must share with you a little about Hungry Girl. I was perusing the book shelves at the local superstore waiting on my mother to finish up her shopping so I could take her back to her apartment. When I ran across this book, 200 Under 200. I was still in the gym then and this seemed right up my alley. Though once home, I hurriedly stuffed it in my bookcase and promptly forgot about it. Though I became an instant fan of Hungry Girl!

While going through my books and then acquiring more cookbooks, another thing I am horribly addicted to, I found the book. I began flipping through the pages and I have to tell you was salivating at some of the recipes! So, for this holiday meal, I decided to try some recipes out. A silly thing to do RIGHT before a holiday but, I was inspired. None of the ingredients were expensive really and for the most part, things I already had on hand. Which is a huge plus in my book, with two boys and one income, any way that I can save money is good!!

So, I whipped up these little ditties for part of my desert treats. 3 of the 5 things here are from her recipes!

The ones I've gotten permission to share though, are the ones right in front here!

 

Those are the Pina Colada Cupcakes that every single person at our family Thanksgiving is begging me for! I cannot tell you how much people where loving them! My little sis even came up to me in the kitchen and said, that though the whole meal was good and she was not saying that anything there was the least bit bad. She was very clear that the whole meal was good but, said that those cupcakes made the whole meal! She said they were worth the hour drive to mom's just for the cupcakes! 

So, I am going to secretly share with you as I kid you not, they will be one of THE best things you will ever have made! Keep in mind though that this recipe is only for 1 doz cupcakes, so if you want to make more (and you WILL want to make more) you need to double the measurements. 

Ingredients:

For Cupcakes:

2 cps of moist-style yellow cake mix (1/2 of an 18.25 oz box)

1 1/2 - 8 oz. cans of crushed pineapple in juice (not drained)

1/2 tsp coconut extract

For Frosting: 

4 oz. of canned, crushed pineapple in juice (drained)

1 Jello-O Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Snack
1 1/2 tbs of fat-free cream cheese, room temp
1/8 tsp coconut extract
1 no calorie sweetener packet




Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 


In medium mixing bowl. You combing all the frosting ingredients, mixing until blended and then refrigerate until you're ready to use it. 


In a large bowl, combine cake mix and undrained pineapple. Add coconut extract and mix until blended. 


Line your muffin pan with either baking cups or spray with non stick spray. I used a baking one, that uses flour and a non stick spray. Then evenly distribute the mix amongst the cups. 


Bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely. Then use your refrigerated frosting mix to frost. 


Refrigerate until you're ready to serve them! 



The are fantastically yummy and I swear you will "awww" your friends and family with this very simple recipe. I will have to break down and tell them where it came from but, I plan on drawing it out a bit more! ; )

If you try it, let me know how you like it!