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Spiced Strawberries

Strawberries are an elegant ending. Spice them up with a little vinegar and black pepper and you won’t regret it.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Chilling time: 15 minutes

2 cups halved strawberries

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoon sherry vinegar

¼ teaspoon finely milled black pepper

Toss the berries with the sugar, vinegar, and pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and chill for at least 15 minutes. Serve in footed dessert dishes.

Nutritional Analysis: 34 calories, FAT .2 g, PROTEIN .5 g, CARB 8 g, FIBER 2 g, CHOL 0 mg, IRON .3 mg, SODIUM 1 mg, CALC 11 mg

Blackberry Fool

Eat this English dessert once, and you’ll see why it’s called a “fool.” You’ll be a fool for it yourself. Can’t buy crème fraîche? Start a day ahead and whip up your own. It’s easy.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Chilling time: 30 minutes

1 cup crème fraîche, or 1 tablespoon sour cream plus 1 cup heavy cream

1 cup blackberries

1 tablespoon sugar

1 packet aspartame sweetener, or to taste

⅛ teaspoon crème de cassis

If you can’t buy crème fraîche, simply blend the sour cream and heavy cream. Cover and let it stand at room temperature 6 to 8 hours. Refrigerate, covered, 24 hours before using.

Set aside 6 gorgeous blackberries. Combine the remaining berries with sugar, sweetener, crème de cassis, and crème fraîche. Gently mix, then spoon into footed dessert dishes. Cover and chill until serving time. Garnish with the reserved berries.

Nutritional Analysis: 244 calories, FAT 23 g, PROTEIN 2 g, CARB 10 g, FIBER 2 g, CHOL 83 mg, IRON 0 mg, CALC 54 mg

Zabaglione

Come home to Italy for a sweet finish.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

6 large egg yolks

2 packets aspartame sweetener

¼ cup Marsala

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

3 tablespoons Grand Marnier

1 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks

Beat the egg yolks and sweetener in the top of a double boiler, set over simmering water, until pale yellow and thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the Marsala and orange zest and continue cooking, whisking vigorously, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the Grand Marnier.

Divide among four dessert dishes. Serve warm or chilled. Top each serving with ¼ cup of whipped cream. Alternatively, chill the zabaglione and fold in the whipped cream, then divide among the dessert dishes.

Nutritional Analysis: 343 calories, FAT 30 g, PROTEIN 6 g, CARB 4 g, FIBER .1 g, CHOL 400 mg, IRON 1 mg, SODIUM 35 mg, CALC 76 mg

Raspberries and Cream

Two hits of tart raspberries make this especially flavorful.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Chilling time: 30 minutes

½ cup heavy cream

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon sugar

½ packet aspartame sweetener

1 pint fresh raspberries

Whip the cream with the vanilla, sugar, and aspartame until it forms soft peaks. Crush half the raspberries with a spoon and fold into the cream. Divide the remaining berries among four dessert bowls and top with the raspberry cream. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Nutritional Analysis: 145 calories, FAT 11 g, PROTEIN 1 g, CARB 11 g, FIBER 4 g, CHOL 41 g, IRON .3 g, SODIUM 11 g, CALC .33 mg

Strawberries and Melon Balls in Bourbon

Nothing like a little inebriation to perk up all those berries and melon balls.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Chilling time: 20 minutes

½ cup melon balls (cantaloupe, crenshaw, or a mixture)

½ cup halved strawberries

1 tablespoon bourbon

1 tablespoon sugar

½ packet aspartame sweetener, or to taste

Sprigs of fresh mint for garnish

Combine the melon balls and strawberries in a glass dish. Toss with the bourbon, sugar, and aspartame. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Spoon the fruit into dessert dishes and decorate with mint leaves.

Nutritional Analysis: 68 calories, FAT .2 g, PROTEIN .6 g, CARB 13 g, FIBER 2.2 g, CHOL 0 g, IRON .2 mg, SODIUM 14 mg, and CALC 10 mg

Indian-Style