Desserts

After a failed adventure into blog template switching, I've lost my poll. But before I lost it, desserts were the top pick. I feel that today is a great day for me to think about low sugar, healthy desserts, for many reasons. First, I just made an impossible huge cake that is anything but healthy, and could use a reminder that I have other options. Next, summer makes me crave sweets. Finally, today is my one year anniversary of having gastric by-pass, which is the reason that I control my sugar intake.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN MUFFINS
You will need...
15 ounce can of pumpkin pie filling (check that the only ingredient is pumpkin)
1 box devil's food cake mix

Mix together until a sturdy dough forms. Scoop into a regular or mini muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20 min at 400 degrees.

I prefer the mini muffin tin - bite size is fun, and is the perfect size for a little snack when you're craving chocolate. Don't like pumpkin? No worries, because you can barely taste the pumpkin in these muffins. Eat as is, or top with a bit of Reddi Whip (only 15 calories per 2 tablespoons!). I like these frozen, as well.

With 12 servings...181 cal, 3.5g fat, 2g protein, 37g carb, 2g fiber. Adapted from hungry-girl.com



TIRAMISU
You will need...
1 prepared angel food cake cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup instant sugar-free cappuccino mix
2 cups skim milk
1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 package (1 ounce) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups low-fat whipped cream
1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa

Evenly distribute cake cubes in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch dish. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup cappuccino mix and 1/2 cup milk, mix. Pour over cake cubes.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese. In another bowl, combine pudding mix and remaining cappuccino mix and milk; whisk until smooth and tickened. Add to the cream cheese; mix well. Fold in the whipped topping; spoon over cake mixture. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with cocoa just before serving.

This is fun to serve in individual bowls, perhaps some ice cream bowls. Decorate with small wafer cookies

Serving size: 1 cup. 351 calories, 6g fat, 797 sodium, 62 carbs, 11g protein.



More recipes to come! However, dessert is the perfect meal to skip the recipe and embrace some pure ingredients. Mix together whatever fresh fruit you can get your hands on, and dress with some sugar substitute mixed with lime juice and mint. Fruit, granola, and yogurt (try Greek yogurt!) make a healthy and refreshing end to any meal.

Recipe books are great to collect. Make sure your collection has at least one diabetic cookbook in it! Not diabetic? Me either. Diabetics have taste buds, too, and they want their food to taste just as good as if they didn't have dietary restrictions. Diabetic cook books are full of creative, healthy recipes.

Keep on keeping on, my fearsome friends!