Heart Healthy Desserts: 2

This is our second group of heart healthy desserts. If you are watching your heart's health in your diet you can still enjoy desserts if you are careful in what you choose. If you haven't done so already, don't forget to read part one of the recipes; you will find the link inside.






Here are the other 2 recipes; enjoy: (you can find part one by clicking here)

3- Cinnamon Streusel Crisps

Profile: low cholesterol, low saturated fat, low sodium
Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 28-32 cookies

Ingredients:

- 1 (16.5-ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Method:

1- Preheat oven to 350°; place rack in center of oven. 

2- Freeze sugar cookie dough 1 hour. 

3- Remove from freezer, and place on cutting board. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices (about 28–32 slices); arrange 2 inches apart on 2 parchment paper–lined baking sheets. 

4- Combine brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, and, if desired, nutmeg in a small mixing bowl. 

5- Top cookies with 3/4 teaspoon streusel. Bake 12 minutes or until edges are crisp and browned. Let cool on baking sheet 3 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutritional value:

4- Quick Baked Pears:

Profile: low cholesterol, low fat, low saturated fat, low sodium
Time: 16 minutes
Servings: 4 (each serving is half a pear, 1 tablespoon vanilla frozen yogurt, 1 1/2 tablespoon juice)

Ingredients:

- 2 large Bosc pears
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried mixed fruit (such as Sun-Maid Fruit Bits)
- 1/4 cup low-fat granola
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup vanilla low-fat frozen yogurt, divided into 4 small scoops

Method:

1- Peel pears; cut in half lengthwise. Use a melon baller or grapefruit spoon to remove core and seeds, creating a hollow.

2- Place pear halves, with cut sides up, in a glass pie plate. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over pears.

3- Combine cranberries and granola; mound into hollows of the pear halves. Pour the apple juice in and around pear halves. Cover dish loosely with wax paper.

4- Cook in microwave on HIGH 6-8 minutes or until the pears are tender when pierced with a knife. Let stand in the dish 5 minutes. Use a large slotted spoon to transfer the pears to serving plates.

5- Drizzle juices from pie plate over pears and serve with frozen yogurt. 

Nutritional value:

Source:
Health: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20463963,00.html