Day 13: Nacho Ordinary Mac n Cheese and Peanutty Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

No real explanation here except it is all about my boys. Austin requests "orange noodles" on a daily basis, and we know how Paul feels about tacos. The muffins have all their fav ingredients:bananas, chocolate and PB. We actually make pancake stacks with bananas, PB , and chocolate chips because the boys love the combo so much.

We did not get home from a fabulous day at the zoo with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Ray until 5pm, so this was the perfect meal to make. Fast, easy, fun.

Both are from the WW: Annual Recipes for Success(2000) cookbook. I think this cookbook is quickly becoming my new BFF.

Calories: 150 (2/3 cup) WW: 3 points

Nacho Ordinary Mac n Cheese
8oz uncooked macaroni noodles
5oz Velveeta light, cubed
1 teaspoon taco seasoning
1/2 cup salsagreen onion(optional)

Step 1: Boil noodles; drain

Step 2: Add Velveeta and taco seasoning until well mixed and all cheese is melted

Step 3: Stir in salsa. Top with chopped green onion if desired

Kitchen Play by Play: Bella, our dog, could make this recipe; it's that simple. This is a great recipe to make with tiny helpers. Austin helped...by eating like 10 pieces of my already cubed Velveeta :). A few changes: I used 8 oz of cheese because we like it, but given Austin's thievery it may have ended up being more like 5 oz. I also used only 1/4 cup of salsa because I only had Picante sauce, and it is runnier than salsa. The mac n cheese was prepped and ready in about 15 minutes. Just as easy as opening up a box of good ol Kraft. We had watermelon and the Black Bean Fiesta mix again.

The finished product: It doesn't look like much, but it was super creamy and had flecks of salsa running through it.
The Verdict:
Nicole: Dear Kraft Mac n Cheese, Check ya later. You've been replaced. I will forever be a Velveeta mac n cheese girl from now on. I may not bedazzle it every time with salsa and taco seasoning, but Velveeta and I will become VERY close. This particular recipe was like Velveeta and salsa poured over noodles. Done and done. Without question, it gets a 5.

Paul- took one bite and said, "5. This is pretty solid. Velveeta, salsa, taco seasoning...what's not to like?"

Austin-had two helpings and said, "Mmm. Thanks for the noodles, Mom."

Peanutty Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins(16 servings)
1 14 oz pkg of Pillsbury Banana Quick Bread Mix
1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup mashed banana
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup reduced fat chunky PB
3 large egg whites

Step 1: Combine bread mix and chocolate chips and leave a well in center of mixture

Step 2: Combine next 4 ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk together

Step 3: Pour wet mixture into well of dry mixture and stir until moist.

Step 4: Line muffin pan with paper cups or coat with cooking spray. Fill each 2/3 high.

Step 5: Bake for 18-20 minutes at 400 degrees

Calories: 155 WW: 3 points

Kitchen Play by Play: Austin helped with this too. No eating this time, just banging the spoon on the counter. I had a mental fart and just mashed 1 banana without measuring, so I am sure I was short banana. My other mishap was that I used way too small of a bowl for the wet ingredients, and I sloshed some of the mixture onto the counter. Ooops. Everything else went smoothly. I actually made 17 muffins. so a few are a little smaller than the rest. Mine were in for 19 minutes. We ate our first muffins while they were still warm and the chocolate was melted.

The Finished product
The Verdict:
Nicole: I do not love PB, but I thought these were pretty damn tasty. I could get used to having these around the house. I give the muffins a strong 4.

Paul- gives them a 4. " Not much to complain about."

Austin-enjoyed his thoroughly. He'll be excited to see them at breakfast time in the morning.