Indulge your temptations this Valentine's Day

Want to set the mood this Valentine's Day without over indulging? Try these great recipes from the L A Lite Cookbook for you and your Valentine to enjoy.

Chocolate Truffles

3 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
2 packets sugar substitute
1 tsp rum extract
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, divided

Combine cream cheese, sugar substitute, rum extract, and 1 Tbsp cocoa powder.

Mix well until all ingredients are blended.

Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Roll mixture into small balls (approximately 6).

Roll balls in remaining 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder.

This tasty treat will count as one diary on the L A Weight Loss plan.

Indulge: pair truffles with a glass of Cabernet (129 calories/5 fl. oz)

Chocolate Covered Cherries

1 packet L A Lite Chocolate Shake Mix
1/2 cup water
9 medium cherries, pitted

Mix L A Lite Chocolate Shake Mix with 1/2 cup water.

Dip cherries into chocolate mixture and place on waxed paper.

Chill for one hour before serving.

This will count as one fruit and one L A Lite on the L A Weight Loss plan.

Indulge: pair this dessert with a glass of Chablis (120 calories/ 5 fl. oz)

If chocolate doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, try this:

Baked Custard

1 egg
1 cup skim milk
1 Tbsp sugar substitute
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp low-sodium salt
1-2 Tbsp orange or lemon zest
nutmeg for garnish, optional.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Break egg into small mixing bowl and beat slightly.

Add milk, sugar substitute, vanilla, zest, and salt; beat well.

Pour into damp custard cups and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Place cups in a shallow pan of water and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

A serving size of 1/2 cup will count as 1/2 dairy and one fat.

Indulge: pair this with a glass of Medium/Rose style wine (82 calories/4.1 fl. oz)

Sweet Valentine's Day recipes for your sweetie

Looking for something sweet to make for your sweetie this Valentine's Day, but want to avoid the heavy cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, and crème bruele? We've got just the ticket!

Below are two delicious desserts from the L A Lite cookbook that you can serve to make this Valentine's Day a memorable one, without packing on the pounds.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

1 packet LA Lite Chocolate Shake mix
1/2 cup water
9 medium strawberries

Mix L A Lite Chocolate Shake Mix with 1/2 cup water. Dip strawberries into chocolate mixture and place on waxed paper. Chill for one hour before serving.



Sugarless Heart Cookies

3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 package mixed fruit sugar-free gelatin
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

In a mixing bowl, cream together the margarine and gelatin. Beat in the egg substitute and vanilla. Mix together the flour and baking powder and add to the egg mixture, mixing well. Chill for one hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll the dough mixture out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.

Cut out cookies with heart-shaped cookie cutter (or any shape you desire). Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 6-7 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned and the cookies are set. Cool on wire racks.

For some more low-fat, low-calorie desserts, be sure to check out our sweets section of the L A Lite cookbook, available at your local center.

Healthy recipes for a sweet holiday season

With the holiday season kicking into full gear, it's often hard to resist those annual sweet treats. The good news is that you don't have to. By substituting a few ingredients, you can still indulge in your favorite holidays desserts--minus the guilt and weight gain.

Here are two of my favorite recipes (pulled from the L A Lite Cookbook, which you can pick up at your local center when you stop in for your weigh in):

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin, no salt added
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated skim milk
1/2 cup egg substitute
2 egg whites
3/4 cup artificial sweetener
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs
nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 325.

In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, egg whites, and sweetner. Beat until smooth.

Add the spices and salt and beat until well combined. Stir in graham cracker crumbs.

Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie plate coated with nonfat cooking spray. Bake at 325 for 50 to 55 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before slicing.



Egg Nog (a great source of calcium!)

2 eggs, well beaten
3 packets artificial sweetener
dash of vanilla extract
2 cups cold skim milk
dash of nutmeg, to taste

Combine eggs and artificial sweetener. Add vanilla and cold milk. Beat well. Pour into festive glasses or mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.



Enjoy!