This is one of my favorite desserts for the holidays. Simple and sweet. Always a big hit. A tropical delight. Looks beautiful displayed on magnolia leaves and spilling out of two whole coconut halves.  

Coconut Rolled Bananas

• 4 or 5 bananas 
• 1 lemon (fresh squeezed)
• 1/2 pint sour cream 
• coconut flakes

Cut bananas into small bite-size chunks, about 1' cubes. Roll banans in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Next, roll bananas in sour cream and then in the coconut flakes. Chill and serve.

It's that easy. Enjoy! 

I love fall. One of the best things besides cool, crisp weather, are the taste of cool, crisp apples. Right up there with the smell of that warm baked goodness.

One of the things I look forward to each year are getting to eat new varieties of apples that aren't available the rest of the year. This fall, I found a new variety that won my heart. The SweeTango. It really lives up to it's name. Released in 2009, it is a cross between a Zestar and one of my top favorites, Honeycrisp—giving it that great balance between sweet and tart. Really juicy and great for baking and snacking.

Hurry they will soon be gone! But before the season ends, mine may also find their way into a salad with walnuts and blue cheese crumbles drizzled with a homemade citrus dressing. Add a few ounces of chicken and you have a complete and easy meal. 

Citrus Dressing

• 1 TBsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 TBsp fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBsp Bragg's liquid aminos 
• dash of cinnamon (optional)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Stevia to taste

Makes 1 single serving.

Enjoy! Yes, you can. You have many more miles to go!

This bright and cheery strawberry, chicken and salad is a quick and easy lunch. But the best part is that this simple salad is drizzled with a homemade strawberry vinaigrette that has no fat and no added sugar. Nevertheless—it's big on flavor.

I served this homemade vinaigrette with a 3.5 ounces of baby mixed greens. I added in a little watercress and extra spinach and topped it off with 3.5 ounces of rotisserie chicken and 4 sliced strawberries. This recipe makes 1 single serving. 

Strawberry Vinaigrette

• 2 Strawberries
• 1 TBsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Dash of salt
• Dash of Cayenne
• Fresh black pepper
• Stevia to taste

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or Magic Bullet. Pour over salad. Add sliced strawberries and chicken. Enjoy! 

Cool’n Creamy Chocolate Pudding

1 pkg. (12.3 oz.) light silken tofu

1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) instant sugar-free chocolate pudding

2/3 cup dry powdered milk

1 cup prepared coffee (cold)

1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 tsp. coconut extract (optional)

1 tab. Finely chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

Place tofu in blender and process until smooth.

Add pudding mix, powdered milk, coffee and coconut extract (if using).  Blend until smooth, scraping down sides of container as necessary.

Transfer to bowl; fold in ¾ cup whipped topping.

Divide into 6 dishes.  Chill 30 minutes.  Garnish w/pecans (if desired), and top with remaining whipped topping. 

Yields:  3 cups

Per serving:

100 calories

1.6 g fat 

14 g carbs

.1 g fiber

6.9 g protein

(from Prevention Magazine, submitted by Claudia )

I've been adding more veggies to my diet and last night I made this wonderful spaghetti using julienne zucchini. It was fast, easy and really delicious.

• raw julienne zucchini
• lean (90/10) hamburger
• onion
• tomato paste (no sugar added)
• oregano
• garlic powder
• salt 
• pepper

In a skillet, cook the hamburger on medium heat with enough water to moisten it and keep it from burning. Add in the onion. Stir in about a teaspoon of tomato paste. Add more water if needed. Sprinkle in a little oregano, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Serve on a bed of raw zucchini.

The great thing about this recipe is that not only is it really delicious, it is easy and fool-proof. You can measure out the amount of each ingredient to taste or to meet your individual need. (I started with 3 oz of raw hamburger.) 

Enjoy! Yes you can, you have many more "meals" to go!