I have a few addictions: chocolate; coffee; shoes; and cookbooks.
Considering the number I have, I really should cook from them more often. I have cooking cookbooks and baking cookbooks, and two cookbooks with nothing but chocolate recipes. I have a cookie cookbook and several bread cookbooks.
I recently received another as part of my membership in Cooking Light's Blogger Connection. It's called "Lighten Up, America!" and it just recently released to the public.
I love the premise: author Allison Fishman Task collected recipes for regional specialties from all over the country, from New Orleans gumbo to Georgia peach pie to the Philly cheesesteak, and revamped them to cut calories, fat and sugar.
Among the more than 150 recipes included in the book is a lightened-up pumpkin pie, which is very timely with the approaching holidays. Task replaces the regular evaporated milk with fat-free evaporated milk, and the results are indistinguishable from the traditional recipe. The lightened-up pie contains 255 calories per slice and 10.7 grams of fat, down from 280 calories and 11 grams of fat. Not a huge difference, but when you're trying to watch your weight, you save calories wherever you can, right?
And guess what? Cooking Light sent me a second copy for me to giveaway to one of my readers! Here's how to enter: replay to this post by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, November 10th, 2013, telling me what regional dish (your region, or any region in the U.S.) you'd like to see lightened up.
Want to increase your chances? Like The Redhead Baker on Facebook (leave a separate comment telling me you did so or that you're already a fan), and/or like Cooking Light on Facebook (leaving a separate comment telling me you did so or that you're already a fan).
See the end of this post for full contest rules and disclosures.
Recipe: Lighter Pumpkin Pie
Recipe from "Lighten Up, America!"
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoon sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 large eggs
- 1 (15-oz) can pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup evaporated fat-free milk
- 1 store-bought or homemade 9-inch pie crust
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray, and fit pie crust into the plate. Gently prick all over with a fork. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the sugar, the cinnamon, kosher salt, ginger and cloves until evenly distributed.
- Add the eggs and pumpkin and whisk thoroughly. Gradually add in the evaporated milk as you continue whisking.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pie plate, and finish the edges of the pie crust as desired (crimp, pleat, etc.).
- Place the pie plate on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 and continue baking for another 45 minutes. If the edges of the crust brown before the filling is set, cover them with a foil ring or pie shield. The pie is done when the filling still jiggles slightly in the middle.
- Move the pie to a wire rack to cool for at least 90 minutes. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Beat the chilled whipping cream with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Gradually add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoon sugar, continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Slice pie into 10 wedges, topping each with some of the whipped cream.
Preparation time:
Cooking time:
Diet tags: Reduced fat
Number of servings (yield): 12
Calories: 255
Fat: 10.7 grams
Disclosure: Cooking Light provided me with one copy of "Lighten Up, America!" to review and keep, and another copy to give away. I was not compensated financially. All opinions contained in this post are my own.
Giveaway Terms & Conditions
* Odds of winning depend on total number of entries received
* Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, November 10, 2013
* Winner will be selected at random by the random number generator on Random.org
* Winners will receive one (1) hardcover copy of “Lighten Up, America!” by Allison Fishman Task (valued at $29.95)
* Prize must be claimed within 7 days or it will be forfeited
* Prize can only be shipped to a US address
* Official giveaway rules can be found here
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
I'd like to see New England clam chowder lightened up (and still taste good). It's my favorite soup, but it's oh so heavy and calorie-laden.
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
I am a Facebook fan.
Stacey says
I'd love to see cornbread lightened up and still taste rich.
Stacey says
I am a facebook fan.
The Home Cook says
I'd love to see a Philly cheesesteak lightened up.
The Home Cook says
I'm a Facebook fan.
Jey says
I'd love to see a lightened up version of Chicago deep dish pizza.
Jey says
I'm a RHB Facebook fan!
Jey says
I'm a Cooking Light Facebook fan!
Laura P says
I would love to see stuffing for thanksgiving lightened up!
Laura P says
I'm a cooking light fb fan!
Hezzi-D says
I'd love to see pierogies lightened up!
Odette Bradshaw-Sheeley says
I would love to have a really rich yummy chicken and dumplings, lightened up
Cee says
Fried green tomatoes. I have tried a few baked versions, but I would love to find THE perfect recipe! Thanks for this lovely giveaway!
Cee says
I liked The Redhead Baker on Facebook!
Cee says
I liked Cooking Light on Facebook.
Alexis says
I'd love to see a GOOD lightened up southern style potato salad.
Alexis says
I like Cooking Light on facebook
~kim says
Would love a good Chicken Corn Chowder recipe lightened up!
~kim says
Already a FB fan of The Redhead Baker~!
~kim says
A Cooking Light fan on FB too~!
Joanne says
Don't enter me in the giveaway because i already have this cookbook, but I'm loving the lighter version of pumpkin pie!! Yum!
Tammy Northrup {Yours and Mine ARE Ours} says
Commonly they are called crack potatoes! Love love love them but when you put all those carbs and dairy together.. yikes!
Tammy Northrup {Yours and Mine ARE Ours} says
I am a fan of The Redhead Baker on Facebook 🙂
Tammy Northrup {Yours and Mine ARE Ours} says
I am a fan of Cooking Light on Facebook 🙂
Suzanne says
I make a sweet potato casserole that is loaded with butter and sugar, but it is soooo good. Can you rework this so I can continue to enjoy it??
Suzanne says
I am already a fan of yours and Cooking Light. Love your posts.
Meghan V says
I would love to see any recipes that I call my comfort foods lightened up. Mac n' Cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken pot pie, maybe even some deserts??
Alice says
I'm a FB fan!
Alice says
I'm a cooking light fan!
Alice says
I wish there was a way to lighten up anything that uses a significant amount of cream while retaining all the creamy goodness that comes with the use of cream... its so hard to just pick one thing! 🙂
Susan @ Love in the Ktchen says
I'd love to see a great light version of Fettucine Alfredo. Most of the recipes I've tried have not been very satisfying. Thanks for the fun!
Susan @ Love in the Ktchen says
I like The Redhead Baker on Facebook!
Susan @ Love in the Ktchen says
I like Cooking Light on Facebook!
Amanda S says
I would like to see the Philly cheesesteak lightened up!
Amanda S says
I follow you on Facebook.
Amanda S says
I follow Cooking Light on Facebook.