ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995           TAG: 9512130079
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES FOOD EDITOR 

SPECIAL SWEETS DELICIOUS HOLIDAY DESSERTS RANGE FROM LADEN TO LIGHT IN CALORIES

Sometimes a cake or a pie is so delicious and beautiful, it's reserved for only the most special of occasions. Such is the case with this collection of recipes - time- and preparation- intensive, but guaranteed to garner admiration and appreciation from satisfied samplers.

Foods eaten during the holiday season often are fat- and calorie-laden. But that doesn't have to be the case, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, which offers these suggestions to help cut fat from festive baked desserts:

Try substituting applesauce for half of the oil or other fat called for, or use prune puree in chocolate recipes.

For an alternative to heavy whipping cream, pour 1/3 cup skim milk into a stainless steel or copper bowl and set it in the freezer until ice crystals just begin to form (about 15-20 minutes). Using an electric mixer, thicken the mixture by beating in 1/3 cup of instant nonfat dry milk. Continue to beat until soft peaks form. To sweeten, pour in 1 Tbsp. honey and continue beating until peaks hold. Makes about 2 cups.

Reduce fat by using 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute for each whole egg.

Use 2 Tbsp. of dry cocoa for each square or ounce of chocolate called for. Add a little chocolate extract for extra flavor. Try the new reduced-fat chocolate baking chips, or halve the amount of regular chips called for.

Melt your favorite flavor of fruit jelly or marmalade in a saucepan over low heat, add a dash of cinnamon and brush the top and sides of cakes and other baked goods and let cool to a glaze. For a nice finishing touch, dust lightly with confectioners sugar tapped through a sieve.

Make pie crusts of nonfat fruit-flavored cookies, pulverized into crumbs in a blender then pressed into a lightly oiled pie pan.

For a booklet of party recipes, send a self-addressed envelope, stamped with 55 cents postage, to the American Institute for Cancer Research, Dept. GH, Washington, D.C. 20069.

CARAMEL WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

WINTERFRUIT PIE WITH BUTTER PECAN-SPICE CRUST

CLASSIC WHITE CAKE

CHOCOLATE MINT ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

see microfilm for recipes.

LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Buttery toasted pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg combine to 
          create a tasty crust for Winterfruit Pie.  color