Light Coconut Cream Cake

This is relatively low in fat and calories considering it's a CAKE! But the flavor and texture does not taste or appear "low fat". Goes great with a cup of coffee!


1/4 cup light butter, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup Splenda*

1/2 cup lowfat milk

3 tbsp. half and half cream

1 egg

2 tsp. coconut extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1-1/3 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. light butter

3 tbsp. packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. water

2/3 cup shredded sweetened coconut, divided

1/2 carton fat free or light Cool Whip

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Spread 1/3 cup coconut on a baking sheet and lightly toast in the preheated oven for a few minutes, until lightly browned.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat together 1/4 cup light butter, 1/3 cup sugar and Splenda until light and fluffy. Beat in milk, cream, egg, coconut extract and vanilla extract.

3. In another bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until well blended, about one minute. Stir in remaining coconut.

4. Melt butter in a nonstick 9-inch round cake pan. Stir in brown sugar and 1 tablespoon water. Sprinkle toasted coconut over top of sugar mixture. Pour cake batter into pan.

5. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Loosen sides; invert onto a plate. Let cool completely. Carefully slice cake in half horizontally to make two thin halves. Spread Cool Whip over bottom half; replace top half and lightly press onto whipped topping. Yield: 8 servings.

*Useful Tip: If you choose to not use the Splenda use sugar instead.

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

This spin off from Quaker is absolutely delicious! For an equally delicious and special treat, use dried cherries instead of cranberries.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups oats

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1. Heat oven to 350º.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Stir in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add oats, chocolate and cranberries; stir well.

3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to counter top to cool completely. Store tightly covered. Yield: about 4 dozen.

Frozen Lime Mint Dessert

This recipe brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. My Grandma made these every Christmas, and though the ingredients list doesn't do the recipe the justice it truly deserves, they really are fabulous. I'm going to make them this Christmas, will post a picture after I make them.

1 can (8-1/4 ounces) crushed pineapple

1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple

1 box (3 ounces) lime jello

3-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 cup butter mints, crushed

1 carton (8ounces) whipped topping

1. In large bowl, combine both cans of pineapple, undrained, dry lime jello, marshmallows and mints. Cover and refrigerate several hours or until marshmallows begin to dissolve. Fold in whipped topping.

2. Spoon into paper-lined muffin cups. Cover and freeze 6 hours. Yield: about 2 dozen.

Apple Crisp Pizza

This Taste of Home recipe reminds me of the perfect fall dessert with its bounty of apples and beautiful fall-brown color. This is a terrific hand-held crisp, or good warmed with vanilla bean ice cream.

PASTRY

2 cups flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces and chilled

1/4 cup shortening, cut into pieces and chilled

4 to 5 tbsp. cold water

FILLING

2/3 cup sugar

3 tbsp. flour

1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

4 medium baking apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices

TOPPING

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

1. For pastry, mix flour and salt in bowl. With pastry blender or fingertips, combine butter and shortening into flour mixture until texture of coarse meal. Gradually add water, tossing with fork, until mixture begins to mass together. Shape dough into a ball, then flatten slightly to a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 45 minutes.

2. Roll pastry to fit a 12-inch pizza pan, between 1/8 and 1/2-inch thick; trim and flute edges.

3. Combine sugar, 3 tbsp. flour and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl. Add apples and toss. Arrange apples in a single layer in a circular pattern to completely cover pastry.

4. Combine the first 5 topping ingredients with the leftover cinnamon-sugar mixture from the apples. Sprinkle over apples.

5. Bake at 350º for 40 minutes or until apples are tender. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with caramel topping. Yield: 12 servings.

Hazelnut Espresso Shortbread

Also delicious without the espresso, and/or with mini chocolate chips added to the dough. Think of these in a pretty box or neatly wrapped in decorative cellophane for a delightful food gift, and not just for Christmas. =)


2 cups flour

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. instant coffee or espresso powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup (2 sticks) chilled salted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350º.

2. Blend flour, sugars, 1 tbsp. espresso powder and salt in food processor. Add butter, vanilla and 2/3 cup hazelnuts. Using pulse button, process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer dough to lightly floured work surface. Knead just until dough comes together. Divide dough in half.

3. Press each half into 9-inch tart (or cake) pans that have been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Prick dough with fork several times. Bake until deep golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer shortbread to rack; cool 5 minutes. Remove shortbread from pan by inverting shortbread onto plates slightly smaller than pan and re-inverting onto cutting board. Cut into 24 wedges; cool completely.

4. Mix 2 tbsp. hot water and remaining 1 tsp. espresso powder in small saucepan. Add chocolate. Stir over low heat until chocolate is smooth. Remove from heat. Drizzle melted chocolate over shortbread wedges; sprinkle with remaining hazelnuts. Let stand until chocolate sets. Store in airtight container. Freezes well. Yield: 2 dozen.

Strawberry Filled Crepes

For an extra special breakfast treat, forgo the Cool Whip for real fresh whipped cream. It's hard to resist the strawberry fresh whipped cream combo! (Makes a great dessert, too)!

CREPES

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tbsp. powdered sugar

2 eggs

2/3 cup lowfat milk

1/3 cup water

1/4 tsp. vanilla

STRAWBERRY SAUCE

1/4 cup sugar

1 pint strawberries, sliced

1-1/2 tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water

Light Cool Whip

Powdered sugar

1. Make the strawberry sauce first. Place sugar and strawberries in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened and bubbly. Cool to room temperature.

2. For the crepes, sift together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Beat eggs and stir in milk, water and vanilla. Make a well in the sifted ingredients. Pour in the liquid and stir quickly to combine. A few small lumps are fine.

3. Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Add a small quantity of batter. Tip the skillet and let the batter spread over the bottom. Cook the crepe over moderate heat. When it is brown underneath, reverse it and brown the other side. Repeat process, spraying pan with nonstick cooking spray as needed

4. Serve crepes with strawberry sauce and Cool Whip. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Yield: 1 dozen crepes.

White Chocolate Mousse Berry Parfaits

Summer is drawing to an end, so hurry up and make these melt in your mouth parfaits while fresh berries are still available!



1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp. sugar

1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened

3 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate, melted

3 cups berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and/or blackberries)


1. In a mixing bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form; set aside.

2. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add chocolate and beat until smooth. Fold in whipped cream.

3. Alternate layers of mousse and berries in parfait glasses, ending with mousse. Garnish with additional berries if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 hours. Yield: 4 servings.