No-Bake Desserts

by Ted Goldberg

If you're grilling, skewer some fresh fruit and marinate them in grapefruit juice and honey while you're cooking and eating the rest of your meal. When you're ready, pop the skewers on the grill for about five minutes, turning occasionally to prevent burning.

You'll find pre-made angel food cake at most grocery stores. Some are now offering a sugar-free version. You can make easy no-bake desserts at home, if you plan ahead, and no one will know that you didn't slave in the kitchen all day.

All it takes is a store-bought angel food cake, a pint of sliced strawberries, a can of pineapple slices (not in syrup) and a container of light cool whip. Spread the thawed cool whip first, and then arrange the fruit slices on top"voila! You have a dessert that looks good and tastes good, too. It's light and low in calories. You can really use any kind of fruits that you like, except bananas -- the slices will turn brown.

If you want bananas, try making popsicles out of them. Skewer a half banana. Roll it in honey, then in a plate of crushed nuts. Wrap them in plastic and pop them in the freezer. If you have kids, they'll love making these themselves. The bananas make a tasty, cool treat on a hot summer day.

If you want elegant no-bake desserts that are also sugar- and flour-free, why not let someone else do the work for you? How does chocolate truffle cake sound? Or a crustless cheesecake? I'm a good cook, but I can't do either of them myself.

For parties and special occasions, I always serve two selections for the dessert menu. One is for those of us who are trying to watch our waistlines. The other is for those that are less concerned. I found that my guests liked the flourless sugar free cheesecake, just as much as the regular.