Coming up with the Best Guilt-Free Dessert

Through time, some of the best-loved desserts have remained the same: chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, pumpkin pie and a host of other favorites. Because of this, the search for the best guilt-free dessert does not necessarily lead to new creations; it can take us to new versions of classic sweets.

Today there is greater awareness of the connection between what people eat and the condition of their bodies. There is a significant push to encourage people to develop better eating habits and this effort has spread to the area of desserts. The two recipes made available here are products of the effort to have healthier desserts without sacrificing taste. Do try them and see which one will help you come up with the best guilt-free dessert for you.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

If a popularity contest were held among sweets and cookies, chocolate chip cookies would probably be on top of the list. Here is a recipe you can try and enhance so you can arrive at your own best guilt-free dessert.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup butter-flavored margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup artificial sweetener mixed well with 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup artificial sweetener
• 1 package instant fat free and sugar free vanilla pudding
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sift together flour and baking soda, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, the sweetener and maple syrup mix, and the artificial sweetener.
4. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended then stir in the eggs and vanilla.
5. Blend in the flour mixture.
6. Mix the chocolate chips and nuts.
7. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto sheets line with parchment paper.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes till edges are golden brown.

Banana Cream Pie

Banana cream pie is usually sinfully rich but this version is a lighter and healthier alternative. This is certainly good news for those who love this dessert. Do try this recipe and add your own personal touches. See if it is too sweet or not sweet enough and try adding a dash of cinnamon or nuts in the crust. You may want to use a low calorie Graham cracker crust instead of the regular pie crust. You can make a lot of changes to make sure the dessert is enjoyed to the fullest in your table.

Ingredients:

• 1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust, baked and cooled
• 1/3 cup artificial sweetener
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups low fat milk
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 3 tablespoons butter flavored margarine
• 1 large banana, sliced
• 4 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch and salt then stir in milk and egg yolks. Whisk all these ingredients together until thoroughly combined.
3. Cook over medium heat while stirring constantly until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter flavored margarine and vanilla.
4. Pour half of custard into baked pie shell. Arrange sliced banana over the custard then spread remaining custard over banana layer.
5. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add white sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, making sure the edges are covered.
6. Bake in at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool completely before serving.

What Kind of Cakes Are in Mexico

Mexico has their share of sweets. You can find sweet drinks, to candies and chocolates, and of course cakes. One cake that is popular and simple to make is the Mexican Chocolate Pound cake. What makes this cake a classic is the addition of Mexican chocolate and cinnamon. It is simple to make and very tasty!

If you crave for something lighter, Tres leches cake is perfect. Translated into English it means "cake of three milks". It is a butter cake that is soaked with three different types of milk; condensed, evaporated, and whole milk. Because the cake doesn't usually include butter in the milk, it contains a lot of air bubbles. The top of the cake can have fruit such as raspberries to add extra flavor. This cake is common many parts of Latin America. The origin is not surely known, but is thought to be between Nicaragua and Mexico, where the cakes were found the earliest. Tres leches cakes are great at parties and other special celebrations.

As you know, Mexico loves its spices. Chili and jalapenos are sometimes added to chocolate cakes. You might think it would taste weird, but it adds a unique flavor. The Mayas used chili with cocoa for many years. One particular cake that has a touch of spice in it is Chocolate Jalapeno cake. Every ingredient is typical to what you would see in other chocolate cake recipes but this particular cake calls for finely chopped jalapenos.

Another popular cake that is made in Mexico is called Rosca. You will have to wait until the holiday season to find it though because it is a cake that is made around December until February. It is made into a circle shape that represents the crown of the three kings. The cake is flavored with lemon and orange zest and contains almonds. The top of the cake usually is colorful with fruits. Inside of the cake is one of two miniature statues of the baby Jesus. A party that is held on the three kings day includes this cake. Everyone will cut the cake hoping they are not the one who finds the doll, because it they do, they have to make foods for another celebration that is held in February. The cake can be bought at local bakeries, or made from home, with the baker putting the dolls in themselves.

If you have a love with crepes, why not try them Mexican-style? The crepes are topped with Cajeta, which is Mexico's version of caramel sauce. The crepes are also topped with toasted pecans. Other toppings can be added if desired.

If ever having a fiesta, try baking a cake. Some cakes have tropical fruits in them, while others are richer and contain cinnamon. Whatever you enjoy in other cakes, you will find in Mexican style ones. To make sure the cake is authentic, purchase actual Mexican cocoa and follow the recipe accordingly. It is sure to be a big hit at your next celebration!

All About Risotto in Italian Food

There is really no definitive answer as to how rice arrived in Italy.  However, as soon as it made its way to Italy in the fourteenth century, most likely from Spain, it became a hit in Italian food.  Areas of the country outside of Milan have the perfect blend of flat land, water, and humidity to make rice cultivation a very successful endeavor.  The intensive rice cultivation that began in the fourteenth century has continued and has made rice a staple in regional Italian food.

Perhaps the most popular example of rice in Italian food is in risotto.  Although risotto is considered a very serious dish in Italian food, it actually started out as a joke.  As the legend goes a young apprentice was staining the glass used in the Duomo di Milano, a magnificent gothic cathedral, in 1574.  He was relentlessly teased because it looked as if he had added saffron to pigments in order to obtain more vibrant and brilliant colors.  When it came time for his master's wedding, he decided to play a little joke to show how tired he was of the teasing.  So, he added saffron to the rice that was to be served at the wedding.  The plan backfired and the rice was so popular amongst the wedding guests that it became the staple of Italian food that we know today.

There are four main components to the risotto we know in Italian food today.  The first is the soffritto.  Sometimes this can be special ingredients specific to the type of risotto being made.  However, it is typically a mixture of vegetables, butter, oil, and onions.  This mixture is sautéed in the same skillet where the rice will later be cooked.  The next component is the broth.  The broth can be homemade or canned and can be beef, chicken, vegetable, or fish.  The third component is the flavoring ingredient.  This is the component that will give the risotto its specific flavor.  This can range from vegetables to meat, truffles, or the ingredient that started it all, saffron.  Now of course, the final component is Italian rice.  The rice that is used in Italian food is made up of large grains with lots of starch.  This rice is perfect for risotto because it can absorb large amounts of liquid and still remain firm.

Risotto is a very popular Italian food dish, but it is also one of the most botched Italian food dishes because of the precise way in which the rice is prepared.  Some tips to making it successfully at home include not washing the rice.  If you were to wash the rice beforehand it would eliminate much of the starch that is needed to make good Italian food.  There are also different types of Italian food rice and you will want to pick the rice that is most appropriate for your recipe.  All rice is not created equal so check your recipe and cookbooks to decide which rice is best to use.  You'll also want to use a double-bottom sauté pan.

This will keep the heat uniform to make sure the rice cooks evenly.  It is important to sauté the rice until it is toasted before adding the broth.  However, don't cook it too long or it will harden.  This is the most important part of making an authentic Italian food risotto, make sure the rice is toasted.  After that it is all downhill.  Just follow these tips and pretty soon you'll be cooking like a professional Italian food chef.