I have seen some mouth watering cookies, cakes, and bars popping up on blogs all week.  Although I love drooling over the pictures, I’m not one who is super motivated to turn on my oven mid summer when my air conditioning is kicking in over time to keep me cool.  For this reason, I found two no bake recipes from the way back of my recipe binder to compliment this weekend’s Mediterranean Feast.

 

 

Both are really light and easy and have sugar free options.  I received both recipes from people, but I can’t remember who (because I’ve had them for SO long), so I can’t give proper credit.  The first is a Pistachio Salad, which I have never made before.  It only takes three tasty ingredients and can be made up to a day in advance.

 

 

Although we served this for desert, it could also make a sweet summer BBQ side.

 

 

So don’t let it get lost in the back of your recipe binder!

The Sugar Free No Bake Strawberry Pie can be made with or without the pie crust.  I’ve made it one or two times years ago and found that the shortbread pie crust tastes the best.  For ease, I bought the crust, but you know you can get creative with any homemade cookie crust that you want.

 

 

This is an awesome recipe for fresh strawberries, but you can get crazy with different jello and fruit combinations.

 

 

It’s kind of an odd process making pudding without milk and adding in jello, but somehow it all works!

 

 

 

Like the Pistachio Salad, this pie can be made a day in advance.

 

 

Prior to serving, you can cover your pie with thawed cool whip or let your guests add their own whipped topping!

 

 

It tastes just like a Strawberry Shortcake!

 

 

Note: this pie is just as good leftover!  Sitting down with a slice right now : )

 

 

Pistachio Salad

 

Ingredients

1 can (14oz) crushed pineapple in natural juice

1 package (4 oz) sugar free or regular pistachio instant pudding

1 small container Cool Whip Free

 

Directions

Mix together the pineapple and pudding in a medium sized bowl.

Stir in unthawed Cool Whip until well mixed.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or over night.

 

 

Sugar Free No Bake Strawberry Pie

 

Ingredients

1 premade shortbread pie crust

1 (4 oz) package of sugar free cook and serve vanilla pudding

2 cups of water

1 (4 oz) package sugar free strawberry jello

2 1/2-3 cups sliced strawberries

 

Directions

Place sliced strawberries in pie crust.

Using a microwave safe bowl, make the cook and serve pudding per package directions using water instead of milk.  Then stir in the jello powder.  Pour jello mixture over the strawberries in the pie crust.

Refrigerate for ~3 hours or over night.

Serve with whipped topping.