[luvmyfam]

Okay, everyone. Thursday afternoon we will be heading out to the other end of the state for the weekend of dh's family reunion (his dad's side). Some of us gals are trying to do some planning on the food and I'm trying to come up with contingency plans in case there's something I shouldn't have, but I want...so I'll need alternatives.

Dh's sister said that she's thinking all kinds of grilled foods for Sunday (reunion day). That's fine. She mentioned chicken, steaks, brats/Italian sausages, and hamburgers or hotdogs for the kids.

The chicken & steak aren't so bad, but I want to stay away from the sausages. But if I get a taste for one, I'm thinking of getting the chicken sausages I've seen at Wal-Mart, with peppers & onions right in them. Definitely lower cal & lower fat than Johnsonvilles! Probably a package of Hebrew Nat'l 97% fat free dogs, and maybe I'll pre-make and freeze some lean hamburgers or turkey burgers. I'm going to try this 2 point potato salad recipe here at home, and I hope it's good enough to make for the reunion as well. I LOVE potato salad, and there is this "family recipe" one that one of Rich's aunts always brings over. The stuff is like a dessert to me. Might as well be...there's quite a bit of sugar, and evaporated milk, and TONS of eggs. I'd like to be able to take just a taste of it, but have a nice, hearty one that I can have a full serving of without killing my points.

Another one of dh's sisters is very health-conscious and is going to do a fruit salad, so that will be great. I should bring along whole wheat rolls or Weight Watchers rolls. I was thinking of doing fresh veggies and some dip made with light sour cream (Hidden Valley Ranch w/ light s.c. is pretty low in points).

And then a dessert, if I choose to volunteer for that as well (we'll see). Maybe some No-Pudge brownies? They're just kind of pricey and dh's family is huge (even just his parents, sibs, any spouses and kids). Might not work out the best in this situation. In one of my WW magazines there was a shortcake recipe that looked kind of good. Or the Snickers pie recipes I've seen. Not sure what, if anything, I'll do. I just want to come well-prepared because not having alternatives is one of my downfalls when everyone gets to making/bringing food and eating.

How do my ideas sound so far?

[kahnfv]

What you've planned so far sounds good. How about the Diet Soda cake for a dessert? Just a cake mix and dt. soda. Have light cool whip to go on top.

[kahnfv]

Here is a link for pop cake

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19323

[luvmyfam]

I've never made a diet soda cake. What do you substitute the soda for in the recipe? The oil, the eggs? How many points does it work out to be? Could be an easy one so I don't have to go to too much trouble. The shortcake recipe looks awesome, but requires you to bake the shortcake over a grill in a cast iron skillet, and then you grill some of the fruit. Could be too time-consuming.

Thanks for your help!

[luvmyfam]

LOL...You answered my question about the recipe before I was able to send it. Thanks!!

[wendymeows]

What you have sounds great but you caught me at Hidden Valley Ranch w/ light s.c. .... what are the points on that? I love fresh veggies but have not found anything to dip them in! Does the ranch mix count or do you go by the sour cream as the points?

[kahnfv]

I made a strawberry cake mix with dt. 7up. I topped it off with some pureed (no sugar added) frozen strawberries and light cool whip. It reminded me of strawberry shortcake.

[luvmyfam]

Wendymeows,

I calculated it combining the original dip mix and Great Value (Wal-Mart brand) light sour cream. The sour cream is 40 calories for 2 Tbsp, and 2.5 g. fat. No fiber. The HVR Dips original mix is only 5 calories per serving, no fat. So it comes to 1 point/2 Tbsp, by my calculations, and 2 pts/1/4 cup if you want a lot. I think that's pretty good, considering it tastes great. I honestly hate fat-free salad dressings, so would rather use a point for some real flavor. I was thinking of trying mixing it with a little salsa sometime for a salsa-ranch dip. Would spread it out further with hardly adding anything to the points, if anything at all (would depend upon the salsa & how much, I guess).

[luvmyfam]

Originally Posted by kahnfv

I made a strawberry cake mix with dt. 7up. I topped it off with some pureed (no sugar added) frozen strawberries and light cool whip. It reminded me of strawberry shortcake.

Ooh, that sounds good, too!!

[wendymeows]

Thanks!! I am REAL excited now!! I was on my way to the grocery store anyways so I will have to make some tonight!