Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix

This is my riff on a recipe I got from Susan Maria Leach at http://bariatriceating.com. Susan Maria (SM to most of us) and her company also sponsor forums at http://beforeandafterhelp.com.  Both are great resources for pre and post bariatric patients.

This is a thick, rich cocoa with a full mouth feel that won't leave you craving those little mini-marshmallows! It's also REALLY economical compared to those packages with the little Swiss girl on the front.

2 cups Splenda Granular (or your equivalent favorite powdered sweetener)

1 cup Dutch cocoa

3 1/2 cups powdered lowfat milk

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons cornstarch

4 1.4oz pkg Jell-0 Sugar Free Chocolate (or Chocolate Fudge) Pudding Mix

To make  single serving:

Heat 1 1/2 cups milk (any kind, skim, soy, almond, goat, elk, whatever...)

Put 2 HEAPING teaspoons of the mix in your mug (amount may vary by mug size and your personal taste - experiment!)

Slowly add the heated milk while mixing thoroughly

Cook's Notes: 

You can add a teaspoon of decaf instant coffee if you'd like a great cup of mocha!

Makes a great gift!

Sweet Potato Apple Napoleon

Sorry I didn't get around to posting Thanksgiving recipes earlier, but I actually work for a living - and "occasionally" it gets in the way...

I do have a nice dish to contribute though to replace that awful marshmallow crusted sweet potato casserole  that haunts holiday meals.

Sweet Potato Apple Napoleon

2 sweet potatoes 

2 cored apples

1/8 cup lemon juice

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of choice)

1 tsp molasses (for the brown sugar taste)

2 Tbls butter

Heat oven to 350 F

Slice sweet potatoes and apples "potato chip thin"

Arrange a layer of potatoes, then apples in an 8X8 casserole 

Heat/microwave remaining ingredients to melt butter - stir well

Drizzle over layer

Repeat, finishing with sweet potatoes

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours

Allow to cool and "set" for at least 15 minutes

Slice into portions

Excellent served warm or at room temperature