It's no secret that eating well during the holidays isn't exactly easy. In the last edition of HealthyU, we talked about how to have a reduced-fat Thanksgiving. This week, here are two recipes to share with your family and friends in order to ensure a festive (but healthier) holiday, courtesy of eatingwell.com.
Pecan-Cranberry Tart
This dessert is the perfect way to round out a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. With only 276 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving (one-tenth of the total pie), it goes perfectly with a cup of coffee next to the tree. And although 276 calories may seem like a lot, simply compare this to an average slice of cheesecake, which ranks at about 580 calories. Feeling better about yourself already?
Ingredients
Crust:
- One pre-made pie crust.
Filling
- 1 cup pecan halves, divided
- 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs and 2 large egg whites
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread half of the pecans onto a baking sheet and bake until fragrant.
Then whisk together brown sugar, egg whites, eggs, vinegar, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt in a bowl until smooth. Stir in pecans and dried cranberries. Then, spoon the filling into the crust and sprinkle the remaining half cup of pecans on top of tart.
Bake the tart until the crust is a golden brown and the filling is set, which should take anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes.
Hamantashen
Haman-what? The hamantashen is traditionally consumed during the Jewish holiday Purim. The meaning behind the cookies lies within the story of Haman, a wicked Persian prince who wanted to destroy all of the Jews, according to the Web site. These cookies are delicious to enjoy with friends, and the perfect thing to bring to a holiday party. At only 59 calories per serving with 2 grams of fat, these tasty treats are a no-brainer.
Ingredients:
Filling
3/4 cup pitted prunes
1/3 cup raisins
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup coarsely chopped apple
1/4 cup walnut pieces
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
Cookie Dough
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
Directions: In order to make the filling, combine water, raisins and prunes in a small saucepan. Simmer this combination over low heat until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
Combine this mixture with walnuts, sugar, apples, lemon zest and juice in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Put this into a small bowl; Set aside.
To make the cookie dough, combe the sugar, oil and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla into the bowl, and then beat until smooth.
Take the baking power, flour and salt and sift into another medium bowl. Spoon this mixture into the opposite bowl, and combine ingredients.
This is where the waiting comes in. After making the dough, let it sit for at least two to three hours, if not overnight, in a refrigerator.
After the wait, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then spray two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Roll out the dough to about a one-eighth inch thickness, and cut the dough into two-and-one-half inch circles. Place one-half teaspoon of filling onto each circle, and pinch the dough into a triangular formation - similar to a three-cornered hat.
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops should of the cookies are golden. Last but not least, enjoy!
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