Soo Good You Won't Believe It's Low Fat!

I am in a deceivingly healthy mood today and these are two recipes I've made, one for a dessert, one for a wee "healthy" splurge, at one time or other...


I made this Cherry Chocolate Dessert courtesy of Company's Coming; for a gathering I went to in which there were a few diabetic ladies and I thought they should be able to enjoy too. It is split into 2 parts. First the brownie bottom, then the cherry topping:

Brownies:

• 1/4 c1/2 cup frozen egg product
• cup canola oil
• 4 1/2 oz. jar of strained prunes
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 baking power
• 1/8 salt

Glaze (optional if making not in cherry dessert)

• 1 tbsp. cocoa
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1 tbsp. hot water

Beat egg product, oil, prunes and vanilla until smooth. Beat in both sugars and cocoa. Beat in flour, baking powder and salt until smooth.

Bake brownies in a greased 9 inch springform pan. Cool in pan. Do not glaze. do not remove from sides of pan.

(Typically one would pour into a greased 8x8 baking pan and bake in 325 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes just until center is set. And for the glaze combine all three ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm brownies. cool. cut into squares.)

Cherry Chocolate Dessert:

• brownies (see above)
  
• 1/4 oz. Envelope of unflavoured gelatin
• Reserved cherry syrup
• 1/3 oz Package of sugar-free cherry-flavoured gelatin
• 14 oz. can of pitted cherries in syrup, drained, syrup reserved, chopped
• 8 oz. package non-fat spreadable cream cheese
• 1 cup Light liquid topping (such as Nutriwhip)
• Chocolate curls, for garnish

In a small saucepan sprinkle gelatin over reserved syrup. Let stand for 5 minutes. Heat and stir on medium until boiling. Pour into large bowl.

Stir in package of cherry-flavoured gelatin until dessolved. Stir in cherries. Whisk in cream cheese until well-blended. Chill for about 15 minutes, stirring 3 to 4 times, until syrupy and cherries stay suspended.

Beat nutriwhip in large bowl till peaks form. Fold into cherry mixture. Spread over brownies to edge of pan. Chill 4 to 5 hours until set. Remove sides from pan.

Garnish with chocolate curls. Cuts into 12 pieces.

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And secondly I am really enjoying these microwavable recipes and received this one with a Heart and Stroke Foundation "Heart Healthy Snacking Tips for Kids" flier and thought they'd be tasty and easy:

• 1/2 cup soft non-hydrogenated margarine
• 1/2 tsp almond or vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups rolled oats

In an 8 inch/2 L square glass or microwave-safe dish, microwave margarine at high power for 40 - 60 seconds or until melted. Stir in extract and sugar; mix well. Stir in rolled oats; mix well. Firmly press mixture into pan. Microwave at high power for 5 minutes. Let cool. Makes about 25 squares.