World Of Christmas
Want to eat mouth-watering recipes without adding on those extra pounds? Find some great low fat Christmas recipes in the article.

Low-Fat Christmas Recipes

Chocolates, puddings, desserts… yummy treats. But if you have to crawfish out from all these only because you are afraid of ruining your much appreciated shapely figure. It is hard for anyone to go to the office after a long vacation, out of shape. But for Christmas there are no excuses when you are supposed to enjoy the special occasion with your friends and family. It is near to impossible to resist the offers from your near and dear ones. Here you might be more than worried about the amount of those extra pounds that you are going to put on after holidays get over. But you should know that what make Christmas so special are the Christmas delicacies itself and it is not that you don't get it at any other time of the year, but it is that glorious richness of a seasonal food. It is that freshness that makes a mere Christmas get together to a truly beautiful special occasion. Here you can find some really delicious dishes that anyone can gorge on without doing any harm to their curves.

Low Fat Recipes For Christmas

Fruit Ring Cake

Ingredients:
  • 85 g chopped dried pears
  • 85 g Dried cranberries
  • 85 g chopped stoned dried dates
  • 85 g chopped dried figs
  • 85 g chopped stoned prunes
  • 85 g sultanas
  • 250ml apple juice
  • 50 g chopped pecan nuts
  • 50 g chopped candied ginger
  • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 5 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1egg
  • 75 g molasses sugar
  • 115 g self-raising white flour
  • 115 g self-raising whole meal flour
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 4 tbsp semi-skimmed milk
Method:
  • In a saucepan add all the dried fruits and apple juice. Cover and simmer until the whole of the juice is absorbed by the fruits.
  • After removing the pan from the heat, leave it covered until completely cold. Stir in the pecan nuts, ginger, and lemon zest and juice.
  • Preheat the oven to 150ºC. Brush a 23 cm (9 “) ring tin with a little oil.
  • In a bowl, beat together the sunflower oil, egg and sugar until smooth.
  • Sift the white and whole meal flours, baking powder, and mixed spice into a large bowl. Add the soaked fruit and the egg mixture, and stir well to combine thoroughly. Stir in enough milk to make a fairly soft mixture.
  • Mix the mixture with a wooden spoon and pour it into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 1¼–1½ hours or until risen.
  • Leave the cake to cool in the tin for at least 1 hour before running a knife around the edge and turning it out. You can wrap them in a greaseproof paper and foil, and store for 2–3 weeks before serving, allowing the flavors to mature.
  • To decorate the cake, heat the jam with 1 tsp water and brush the top of the cake with the jam. Arrange the cherries, nuts and candied ginger on top, pressing them gently into the jam. Finally, dust with icing sugar.
Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
  • 125g ready-to-eat stoned prunes
  • 150g roughly chopped dark chocolate
  • 125g butter
  • 500g castor sugar
  • 100ml brandy
  • 375g plain white flour
  • 60g self-raising white flour
  • 75g cocoa powder
  • 1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
  • To decorate: icing sugar or cocoa powder
  • To serve: low-fat berry yoghurt, low-fat iced dessert or low-fat cream, optional
Method:
  • Put a kettle on to boil. Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Grease a 23 cm (9 “) square cake tin and line it with baking paper.
  • Purée the prunes, adding 1 tablespoon of hot water if necessary to get a smooth consistency. Pour it down to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the brandy, butter, chocolate, sugar, and 250 ml of boiling water from the kettle. Place the bowl in the hot water and simmer it for a while to melt the chocolate.
  • Stir the mixture frequently until it forms a smooth sauce. Leave the mixture to cool for 2-3 minutes until it is lukewarm after taking it away from the fire.
  • Sift the flours and the cocoa powder into a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in the chocolate mixture, beating it add the whole egg and egg whites and finally beat to a smooth batter. Remember not to overdo the mixing as it can affect the texture of the cake.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the knife inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
  • Leave the cake to stand in the tin on a wire rack for I5 minutes, and then turn it out onto the wire rack to cool completely.
  • Dust the cake with sifted icing sugar or cocoa powder and cut it into squares. Serve plain or with low-fat yoghurt, iced dessert or cream.
Tip: This cake will keep well if wrapped in foil.