Healthy Banana Cookies

No sugar and no added fats (unless you add nuts)! AND amazingly good. I consider these an especially great treat for little kids. They are especially fun for a toddler/preschooler to help you cook because the measurements don't really matter so much. I let my 2-year-old measure EVERYTHING by herself (which she thought was wonderful) and they still turned out. Enjoy!

3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried fruit such as chopped dates, cranberries, raisens, chopped apricots
1/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
Optional add-ins:
flaked coconut
honey
wheat germ
chopped nuts
chopped apples

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in oats, dried fruit, applesauce, spices, and vanilla. Mix well, and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.
3.Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown.

Grapefruit Clementine Fool

This dessert is one of those healthy-because-it's-low-sugar-but-not-healthy-because-it-is-high-fat desserts; it just depends on how you personally define "healthy." I worry more about refined sugars than I do about fats, so I don't think this one is too bad. The texture is wonderfully fluffy and smooth and it tastes very fresh--it was an instant success at our house. Make good use of all the delicious citrus fruits available now and whip it up!

1 1/2 c. orange juice

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1 1/4 c. heavy cream (you could probably use low-fat Cool Whip instead)

scant 1/4 c. sugar (or OJ concentrate)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 pink grapefruits, peel removed, sectioned and cut into thirds

2 clementines, peeled, sectioned and cut into thirds

1. Place 1/2 c. orange juice in a saucepan; stir in gelatin and allow to stand for 1 minute. Stir over low heat for a few minutes until the gelatin dissolves. Cool to room temperature. Stir in remaining 1 c. of juice and pour into a large bowl. Refrigerate until partially set.

2. Remove juice mixture from the fridge. Beat for 2 minutes until frothy.

3. In another large bowl, beat the cream, sugar and vanilla on medium-high until soft peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into the gelatin mixture. Fold in the grapefruit and clementine pieces.

4. Spoon mixture into 6 dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. To serve, you can garnish with more citrus sections or a sprig of mint.

Note: I originally got this recipe from the Family Circle magazine.