Make Healthy Meals

* this crumble has a greater amount of fruit and only a small amount of topping.  This is a great way to get that extra sweet fix while keep calories low.

4 plums, stoned and cut into quarters
4 apricots, stoned and cut into quarters
¼ cup brown sugar
½ cup whole oats
¼ cup whole wheat flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ cup unsalted real butter, soft

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place the plums and apricots in a non-stick baking dish (or crumble baking dish).  Pour over 2 tablespoons of water.

In a separate bowl mix the oats, flour, sugar, spices and butter.  Sprinkle this mixture over the fruit.  Now sprinkle a little brown sugar over mixture.  Place in a hot oven and back for approximately 40 minutes or until fruit is tender.

Serve with a side of natural vanilla ice cream, low-fat natural yogurt or on its own!

1 tbsp butter
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
vanilla ice cream

Melt butter in a large skillet. Add the strawberries, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook over medium heat until strawberries are completely heated.

Serve over ice cream.

Editor’s Note:

Also very good over other desserts where you might use strawberries.

I don’t do much of this, but it’s fun to get a little special, a little indulgent, for Valentine’s Day. Besides, chocolate covered strawberries are mostly healthy. There are a few options for how you make the chocolate look its best; that is, nice and glossy.

Shortening or wax are common ingredients, but others say that milk can do the job too. Milk is, of course, much better for you than shortening. Or you can skip it entirely and just melt the chocolate.

Strawberries need to be washed first, of course, but give them time to dry after, as water can interfere with the look of the chocolate. Read the rest of this entry »

2 Tbs. raisins
2 Tbs. crunchy or creamy peanut butter
1 apple
Peanuts, for garnish (omit if making for small child) Read the rest of this entry »