By Kelly Bogard
This week, I had the chance to attend the “Dinner Tonight” Healthy Cooking School, hosted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The event focused on healthy solutions to cooking for families—right up my alley. The Extension Service, along with DairyMAX, gave all of us cookbooks of 10 dinner menus, each with a main course, side and dessert. These menus give Texans healthy options to help cut back on calories and sodium and encourage more fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat dairy products.
I have to tell you, I was so inspired when I left that evening, I went straight to the grocery store to get everything I needed to make a full meal. On the menu: Slow-Cooked Sicilian Pot Roast, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Cocoa-Berry Tarts. Since next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share the tart recipe. It would be the perfect end to a special dinner at home.
For Cocoa-Berry Tarts, you will need…
1-1/2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
1-1/2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa powder, unsweetened
6 graham cracker tart shells
3/4 cup strawberries, sliced (raspberries or blueberries also can be used)
This recipe takes five minutes to make and is guilt-free to eat. My daughter, who is two, really enjoyed helping me mix this up and serving as my official taster, of course. I was amazed to see these few ingredients come together to make something so yummy.
First, combine the yogurt, ricotta, sugar and cocoa with a whisk in a large mixing bowl.
Next, slice your strawberries to create a fan for the top of the tarts. I did this by cutting them from top to bottom while they were laying on their side. Just make sure to leave it attached at the top so it holds together.
Now take the cocoa yogurt mixture and spoon into six pre-made graham cracker tart shells.
Top with the sliced strawberry and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Thanks again to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and DairyMAX for showing me how to make delicious meals that are good for my family. If you have the opportunity to attend one of these classes, I highly recommend it. You know I love getting recipes and trying new things, so if you have a healthy recipe you’d like to share, please send it in.
From all of us at Texas Table Top, happy Valentine’s Day and enjoy!
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Recipe: Cocoa-Berry Tarts
Summary: Sweet goodness that is good for you
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1-1/2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 6 graham cracker tart shells
- 3/4 cup strawberries, sliced (raspberries or blueberries also can be used)
Instructions
- Mix yogurt, ricotta, sugar and cocoa powder with a whisk until creamy.
- Spoon 1/6 mixture into each tart shell and top with sliced straberries.
- Refrigerate before serving.
Prep time (duration): 5 minutes
Number of servings (yield): 6
Calories: 251
Fat: 9 grams
Protein: 8 grams
Recipe courtesy of Dinner Tonight Cookbook, http://healthyliving.tamu.edu and http://www.dairymax.org.
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Thanks so much for coming to our Dinner Tonight Cooking School!
Susan Thank you again for the opportunity. This is an amazing program and I wish you the best with the rest of the programs you will be holding for Dinner Tonight!
I felt the same way! I actually decided to cook things I never would have because it not only smelled good, but having the tips on how to cook it the right way made me want to try it. I’m looking forward to having other chances to come and will be watching the Dinner Tonight website for more ideas.
Amy, I am so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. My Husband liked the Sicilian Pot Roast so much that he ate it two nights in a row. And my daughter thinks we need to make the Cocoa-Berry Tarts every day now.
I’m thinking that I need to try the apples and Brussels sprouts with my kids. Plus, the brownies for sure! I wanted to sample those right there.
[…] of you may remember that last fall I attended the Dinner Tonight Healthy Cooking School, presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in McLennan County. I had an amazing […]