Devine Dessert

One of my biggest flaws when it comes to dessert is that I can never pick just one. The temptation to pick up another dessert, after already eating two cupcakes,is too hard to withstand. Instead of limiting myself and swearing off buffets in fear that they might have a dessert table, I have decided to start baking with low-calorie baking ingredients. There are substitutions for almost every ingredient. The sugar used to make cookies can always be substituted by using Splenda; the cream cheese used to make cheesecakes can be substituted by fat-free cream cheese. There are hundreds of ways to get the pound cake with out gaining a pound. This is a much better substitute than to give up desserts altogether. In fact, my favorite dessert always includes chocolate. From chocolate cake to a chocolate ice cream, I can not get enough of this sweet treat. The great part about chocolate is that it can go with nearly anything. Some of my favorite low-calorie chocolate desserts actually include healthy fruit in them. Chocolate-covered strawberries are healthy, yet can provide that chocolate fix for the chocolate lover. Here is a simple recipe for chocolate covered strawberries from About.com:Low Fat Cooking:

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Strawberries and chocolate: what a glorious combination. Surprise your sweetheart with a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries after your Valentine's meal or serve some as a light summertime dessert.
Ingredients:

* 1 pound of medium-sized whole strawberries
* 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

Preparation:
Microwave chocolate in a glass bowl, stopping after 30 seconds, then every 10 seconds until almost melted. Stir until smooth and glossy. Wash strawberries and pat them dry (any moisture from the fruit will spoil the texture of the melted chocolate).

Dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate, covering the lower half of the strawberry. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Per Strawberry: Calories 48, Calories from Fat 18, Calories from Fat 2g (sat 1.1g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 0mg. Carbohydrate 6.8g, Fiber 1.1g, Protein 0.5

The possibilities are endless. Do your own experimenting. Try bananas with chocolate or any other fruit imaginable. The world is now your chocolate-covered oyster.

Eating healthy desserts does not have to stop there. One of my favorite desserts growing up was strawberry shortcake. This dessert is easy and anyone can do it. All you have to do is either bake or buy a low-fat pound cake, cut it into pieces and then slice strawberries and serve the cake with strawberries on top. It can be topped with whipped cream or even sugar. Another healthy dessert is jello or yogurt with fruit in it. It tastes great and is a healthier option than probably anything else on the dessert market.

Again, experiment with your baking and your dessert eating. You can eat anything you want as long as you monitor the contents of of your desserts. Any piece of fruit has the potential to become a new dessert favorite. Have a wonderful day and remember to keep baking.