Three Healthy Desserts

Gillian McKeith is a British healthy-eating guru that I first learned of during my many visits to the UK.  I love her wholesome, vitamin and nutrient filled recipes and the knowledge that every recipe serves a purpose, beyond just good taste!  Below are some delicious, healthy dessert treats, some courtesy of Gillian.    I have made a few adjustments, based on trial and error.  Enjoy - without the guilt!

Vanilla and Cinnamon Rice Pudding (1 serving;  double / triple as needed)

350 ml water or vanilla almond milk
100 gm short grain brown rice
1 cinnamon stick (feel free to break in half if you are not a huge cinnamon lover)
1/4 pod vanilla (or a few drops vanilla extract if you cannot find pod)
zest and juice of half an orange
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Place the water or almond milk in a small pot, add the rice, cinnamon, vanilla, orange zest and juice and maple syrup.  Bring to boil, cover and simmer 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is soft.  Garnish with chopped nuts / cinnamon sticks if desired.

Strawberry Ice

500 gm hulled strawberries (plus extra for garnish)
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
500 ml plain almond milk
mint leaves to garnish

This is best made with an ice cream maker but alternatively,  place the mix into  a shallow plastic container, pop it into the freezer and whisk every 30 minutes with a fork until frozen.  This is great with raspberries too and a fantastically healthy alternative to fat-laden ice cream!

Place the strawberries in the food processor or blender and blend until smooth.  Add the honey and almond milk and blend for 30 more seconds.  Pour into the ice cream maker / shallow plastic container and leave to churn in ice cream maker for 20 - 30 minutes (or in plastic container as detailed above).  Spoon into a glass dish (or martini glass if it's for the adults!) and garnish with fresh fruit and mint leaves.

Baked apples

This was a favorite dessert growing up as my mom used to serve it to us as a special treat after supper.  Use your imagination and dress the apple to suit your taste...here's the way we serve it in our house:

6 apples, peels left on, cored and seeded.  Remove the top and bottom of the apple so that it will stand up in the baking dish.
Maple Syrup
Any combination of chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries, shredded coconut, chopped dates, the list goes on!!!

After coring the apples, generously coat the inside of the apple (which should be standing up inside a long baking dish like a Pyrex) with maple syrup.  Fill the centre of the apple with chopped nuts, dried fruit, etc (our favorite is chopped walnuts and cranberries).  Drizzle some maple syrup on top.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven until apples and quite soft, approximately 20 -30 minutes (check frequently)