| Goodbye sweet days of chocolate cake, | | | | guilt and high on flavor. Go ahead... |
| sayonara my beautiful banana split, farewell | | | | indulge!Apple Cider-Caramel CakeCider "syrup" |
| my flavorful flan and hasta la vista my | | | | is folded into this cake for a rich |
| scrumptious apple pie. I know we've shared | | | | caramelized flavor.2-1/4 cups apple cider, |
| some savory mouthwatering memories together | | | | divided |
| but there's just no room for you in my new | | | | |
| balanced healthy diet. It's time for me to | | | | 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided |
| buckle down and ignore my sweet tooth from | | | | |
| sending me back your way.Did you know that | | | | 1 Tbsp. stick margarine or butter |
| the word desserts spelled backwards spells | | | | |
| stressed? For many of you out there that's | | | | 3 cups sliced peeled cooking apple (such as |
| exactly what it brings. Trying to stop | | | | Braeburn, Rome or McIntosh) |
| yourself from your favorite temptations can | | | | |
| trigger a terrible amount of tension. It's no | | | | Cooking spray |
| wonder that something as delicious as treats | | | | |
| can turn into a dieter's worst nightmare.Put | | | | 2-1/2 Tbsp. dry breadcrumbs |
| away your handkerchief because it's time to | | | | |
| kiss and eat up! You don't have to reach for | | | | 1/2 cup stick margarine or butter, softened |
| the sky to get to your pie. It is possible | | | | |
| to dig into delicious desserts without | | | | 1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind |
| damaging your diet. You shouldn't feel | | | | |
| restricted from eating foods you enjoy. | | | | 1 (8-oz.) block fat-free cream cheese |
| Depriving yourself will most likely just lead | | | | |
| you on the road to dieting disaster when | | | | 3 large eggs |
| willpower runs out. Instead of giving up your | | | | |
| favorite treats, think about what goes in | | | | 6 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided |
| them and use some imagination.The most common | | | | |
| diet destroyers in desserts are dairy and | | | | 3 cups all-purpose flour |
| fats. Other nutritional factors to consider | | | | |
| may include how much sugar, cholesterol and | | | | 1/2 tsp. baking soda |
| sodium the product contains. It's important | | | | |
| to always check the nutritional facts on the | | | | 1/4 tsp. salt |
| sides of packages. Don't let the words low | | | | |
| fat or low carb fool you. It's always good | | | | 1 cup low-fat buttermilk |
| to compare items and read the labels | | | | |
| carefully. Make sure you know what you are | | | | 1 tsp. vanilla extract |
| buying. Simple substitutions can make a world | | | | |
| of difference.An average ice cream bar can | | | | 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar1. Bring 2 cups cider |
| contain 180 calories and 12 grams of fat -- | | | | to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan over |
| not exactly a dieter's friend. And some of | | | | high heat. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup |
| the best-known brands are significantly | | | | (about 20 minutes). Reduce heat to |
| higher than that. A Dove Bar has 350 calories | | | | medium-high; stir in 1/2 cup granulated |
| and 22 grams of fat, while the new Breyer's | | | | sugar. Cook five minutes or until sugar |
| Magnum Bars pack 14 grams of saturated fat | | | | dissolves and cider is thick and |
| (20 grams total fat) each!What's the | | | | dark-colored, stirring occasionally. Remove |
| alternative, you ask? How about a rich, | | | | from heat; cool one minute. Stir in 1 |
| smooth pudding pop? The store-bought versions | | | | tablespoon margarine. Stir in apples; cook 15 |
| average 100 calories and 2 to 3 grams of fat, | | | | minutes over medium-high heat or until the |
| but you can cut the fat even further and add | | | | liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. |
| a little nutrition by making your own.Susan | | | | Remove from heat; cool. (If apple mixture |
| Burke, eDiets VP of Nutrition Services, says: | | | | hardens, place it over low heat until |
| "You can modify any recipe, especially | | | | softened).2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.3. |
| desserts, to make it healthy. The recipe | | | | Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; |
| section on our site can give you great ideas. | | | | dust with breadcrumbs.4. Combine 1-1/2 cups |
| It can be as simple as using egg whites | | | | granulated sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, lemon |
| instead of a whole egg or reducing the amount | | | | rind and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat |
| of sugar in a recipe. If the recipe calls for | | | | at medium speed of a mixer until well blended |
| a cup of sugar, use only one-third cup | | | | (about five minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, |
| instead. There are even fat-free chocolate | | | | beating well after each addition. Beat in 2 |
| chips so you can replace the full-fat | | | | tablespoons lemon juice. Lightly spoon flour |
| ones."However, some desserts are easier to | | | | into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. |
| modify then others. For example, it's hard to | | | | Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add |
| modify angel food cake because of its high | | | | flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately |
| sugar content. But there are sugar | | | | with buttermilk, beginning and ending with |
| substitutes, such as Splenda, that are great | | | | flour mixture. Fold in apple mixture. Pour |
| for baking. The key to staying healthy is | | | | into prepared pan; bake at 325 degrees for |
| making healthy choices wherever you go. The | | | | 1-1/2 hours or until a wooden pick inserted |
| best thing to do is EXPERIMENT, EXPERIMENT, | | | | in center comes out clean.5. Combine 1/4 cup |
| EXPERIMENT!"There is nothing wrong with | | | | cider, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup |
| digging into your favorite delights. But even | | | | lemon juice and vanilla; let stand until |
| diet-friendly desserts can become hazardous | | | | sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Cool |
| to your waistline. Moderation is the key to | | | | cake in pan five minutes, and pierce with a |
| enjoying treats every now and then. Remember | | | | wooden skewer in several places. Pour cider |
| to always check the serving size. What you | | | | mixture over cake in pan, and let stand 10 |
| eat is important. But understanding how much | | | | minutes. Remove from pan, and cool completely |
| you're eating is crucial. Creativity is also | | | | on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar over top |
| essential. Try new recipes and satisfy your | | | | of cake.Makes 18 servings. Nutritional values |
| sweet tooth using sensible substitutions. | | | | per serving: 286 calories (22 percent from |
| After all, as Forest Gump once said, "Life is | | | | fat), 7.1g fat (1.6g sat, 3g mono and 2g |
| like a box of chocolates, you never know what | | | | poly), 5.8g protein, 50.1g carbohydrate, 1.2g |
| you're going to get."Here are five | | | | fiber, 39mg cholesterol, 1.4mg iron, 253mg |
| deliciously divine desserts that are low in | | | | sodium and 94mg calcium. |