Banana pudding poke cake!

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix (& ingredients to make cake)
• 2 box (small) instant banana pudding
• 4 c milk
• 8 oz whipped topping
• 20 vanilla wafers, crushed
• sliced bananas - use your own judgment

Directions

• 1. Prepare cake in 9 x 13 pan according to directions on box. When golden, remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes.
• 2. When just slightly cooled, use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke holes into the baked cake. Don't be shy; make the holes big enough for the pudding to seep into and go deep enough with the spoon that you hit the bottom of the pan.
• 3. Next, prepare pudding mixture. Combine 4 cups of milk and pudding mix; whisk until fully combined and there are no lumps.
• 4. Pour pudding mixture over entire cake. Spread evenly, filling all holes.
• 5. Refrigerate for two hours or until set.
• 6. Top with sliced banana, whipped topping, and crushed vanilla wafers! Serve and enjoy. (Refrigerate any leftovers.)

Pear spice upside down cake

I love pear! I am obsessed with pears. They've been my favorite fruit since I was a child. I also love upside down cakes. I love how moist they are and the brown sugar and butter topping is always amazing. I tend to make apple spice upside down cakes fairly often. Especially in the fall. They're tasty, everyone enjoys them, they go great with a cup of coffee, and when made in a bundt pan, they look pretty. :) what's not to like, right? Well, the other night I wanted a slice of apple spice upside down cake with a nice cup of coffee, but I had no apples on hand. I did, however, have pears. Hence this delicious creation. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. 

Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

• 1/4 cup butter 
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 pears, peeled
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 package (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup softened butter
• 3 eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 9" round cake pan or bundt pan and heat in oven until butter is melted. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Cut peeled pears in half lengthwise and remove cores. Cut pears again lengthwise in 1/4" thick slices and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle pears with pumpkin pie spice and gently toss to coat. Arrange pear slices over the butter mixture in pan, slightly overlapping. Prepare cake batter as directed on package using water, butter, and eggs. Carefully spoon cake batter over the pears. Bake cake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for 5 minutes on a wire rack, then carefully invert cake onto a serving plate. 

Healthy apple cinnamon oatmeal muffins

The time has come again for another low calorie, healthy baked good. :) One thing I do love about fall is the food. I love apples, spices and most of all, pumpkin. I've really been in the mood for some sort of fall inspired flavorful breakfast item. I ended up deciding on apple cinnamon and oatmeal muffins. These muffins are very moist, low calorie, and hearty. They go great with a cup of coffee or maybe even a pumpkin spice latte. :) These muffins clock in at about 170 calories per muffin. 

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 6 oz. container light vanilla yogurt. (i used tillamook light/non fat in vanilla bean.)
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp Kosher salt
• 1 cup light brown sugar or 1/2 cup splenda brown sugar blend for baking. you choice. (splenda has fewer calories, obviously.)
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 cup peeled and diced Granny Smith apple (roughly 1 large apple)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together the egg, yogurt, milk, melted butter, vanilla, salt and sugar.
3. Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly.
4. Add the oats and apples, mix until evenly distributed. Allow to rest a couple minutes, then spoon into muffin cups. Fill almost full.
5. Bake for 20-22 minutes until top is golden brown.