Bite-size desserts

Make Love All Night and Talk to Him in the Morning:
Bite-Size Tips for Sex and Relationships

Valentine's Day is usually a day where we exchange decadent candies and enjoy elaborate desserts with our sweetheart. But we don't have to indulge in these rather unhealthy treats; there are quite a few healthy alternatives that are just as tasteful and romantic. In addition, you show how much you care about that special person in your life by being concerned about their health. Here are healthy Valentine's Day treats you can whip up in no time at all. They are sure to impress and of course taste and look fabulous.

Dipped Strawberries

Start with some large strawberries. Next melt some dark chocolate in the microwave and dip each strawberry in it. Lay the berries on a piece of wax paper to allow the chocolate to cool. For a fun finishing touch, melt some white chocolate as well and pour it into a pastry bag with a small tip. If you don't have a pastry bag, pour the melted white chocolate into a zip lock bag. Cut one corner of the bag, making sure the opening is very small. Use this to drizzle a little bit of white chocolate in swirls back and forth over the chocolate dipped strawberry.
Serve them on a platter, or layer some tissue paper in a box and fill it with the hand-dipped strawberries. Of course the two of you should enjoy this healthy, yet chocolaty treat together. Not only are the berries healthy, but also using dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate gives you additional health benefits.

Desserts for Dummies

Angle Food Cake and Berry Parfait
If you need a light dessert that looks impressive, how about making a angle food cake and berry parfait? Star with a low sugar angle food cake that you can purchase at your local grocery store. Even the regular version of angle food cake isn't that bad for you if you can't find a low sugar version. Cut it up into bite-size chunks. Wash a variety of fresh berries including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Any combination will work. If you can't find fresh berries, pick up a bag of frozen berries and let them thaw out in your fridge for a day or two.
Next grab some pretty dessert glasses and add a few cake chunks to the bottom. Add a layer of berries, and then top them off with a layer of low-fat whipped topping. Continue to layer cake, berries and whipped topping until the glass is full. Top it off with some more whipped topping and a pretty berry.

A Cozy Book of Tea Time Treats:
40 Bite-Size Desserts to Sweeten Your Day

In Sweet Miniatures Flo Braker proves that it is a small world after all. But don't think of this IACP Award-winning cookbook as tiny. Rather, it's a comprehensive introduction to creating fabulous and impressive miniature desserts. Braker, a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle and author of the much-loved Simple Art of Perfect Baking, offers step-by-step recipe directions, a complete list of baking needs, and helpful recommendations based on her own bakery and catering experience. Careful consideration is given to the basic art and science of baking, including sage advice on how to stock a kitchen with the necessary tools and ingredients.

Novice and advanced bakers alike will find educational tips such as how to temper chocolate, how to use a pastry bag with tips and a coronet, and how to make simple yet elegant decorations. Braker's focus here, however, is the miniature presentation, and she brings together more than 125 recipes of sought-after minicakes, pastries, cookies, candies, and tarts. Popular favorites include Individual Lemon Meringue Tarts as well as traditional European favorites such as Shortbread Cameos, Viennese Triangles, Krumkake, Pistachio Petit Fours, Neapolitan Wedges, and the holiday favorite, Lebkuchen.

Mrs. Fields Bite-Size Bounty Basket

Take a look at the bakery counter. Cookies, cakes and pies are shrinking. Along with its generous brownies and caloric-packed pecan tarts, Whole Foods is offering two-bite versions. The supermarket freezer case is stocked with mini desserts. And the classic multi-tiered wedding cake is shrinking to a mere cupcake.
Desserts are being downsized for a number of reasons including health, portability, economy and changing demographics. For the weight-conscious consumer who wants his cake and diet, too, the shift couldn't come at a better time.