
Pretzel and Strawberry Short Cake
I got this recipe from a low carb cook book I use called Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cooking. It is a great low sugar, low carb way to give your family something sweet as a treat after dinner.
Ingredients:
2 cups thin pretzels, crushed
2 tablespoons margarine melted
½ cup of sugar, or sugar substitute
Plus 1 tablespoon sugar for crust
1 8 ounce package of light cream cheese, softened
1 8 ounce container of lite whip topping thawed to room temp
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 0.6 ounce package of sugar free strawberry Jell-O mix
3 cups of fresh strawberries chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a zip top bag add the pretzels and crush into small pieces to make the crust. Mix up crushed pretzels with margarine and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Put mixture in a 9X13 glass baking dish and press into the bottom with your hands. Bake for 8-10 minutes, and then remove and let cool completely.
In a medium bowl beat up ½ cup of sugar or sugar substitute with the soften cream cheese until smooth, add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until fully combined. Gently fold in whip topping, and then pour mixture over the cool pretzel crust. Make sure to cover all the way to the edge of the dish with the cheese mixture. Spread evenly out with a spatula and place into refrigerator for 15 minutes. Meanwhile mix jell mix with 2 cups of boiling water very carefully and stir for 2 minutes or until Jell-O is fully dissolved. Then add one more cup of cold water to Jell-O and put the bowl into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. While that is cooling chop up the fresh strawberries, after the Jell-O has cooled for 30 minutes mix in the chopped strawberries and refrigerate again for 30 more minutes. Remove Jell-O from the refrigerator and stir to loosen, pour over the cream cheese mixture and refrigerate for at least 2-3 more hours. Serve after dinner or for any special occasion.
ENJOY!
Danielle
Connecting in the Kitchen:
- This recipe should allow your child to get really hands on
- Have them smash the pretzels, stir the Jell-O and mix the cheese spread together
- Try adding differently flavor Jell-O mixes and fruit to fit each family members favorite flavors
Spending quality time with your kids can be not only fun, but also educational and productive. We at Gyro Psychology Services, Inc (www.GyroPsychology.com) are proud to introduce “Kids in the Kitchen”, our latest series that will give you and your kid’s and opportunity to share in a special and meaningful activities that benefit you, the child and your family. Each week we will share a new “child friendly” recipe with you that you and your child can create and share with your family at your regular mealtimes.
Cooking is a creative way to teach your kids valuable math skills as you weigh and measure out ingredients; it’s a way to introduce new and exciting textures and flavors to them; expose them to new foods and tastes; build your child’s self- esteem as they create something that is both nutritious and shared by members of your family. Cooking together will also strengthen and deepen the bond you share with your all while creating healthy and delicious meals that your entire family can share and enjoy.
Having children participate in making meals or giving them a role in meal preparation or even preparing the table for mealtime is a great way to encourage your family to sit down together and share dinner as a whole family. Setting aside a specific time in your day for family mealtimes helps establish structure for your child’s afternoon and evening schedule and, if done consistently, will give them something to look forward to. Having your child play a valuable role in this special event makes shared mealtimes just that much more special and exciting. You may even find that you have helped awaken a lifelong passion for cooking in your child, just by having fun together in the kitchen now.
So let’s get in the kitchen together and find our inner Paula Dean’s and Emeril Lagasse’s and create something fabulous. We hope you enjoy our latest series “Kids in the Kitchen” as much as we enjoy putting it together.
ENJOY!