Back from vacation, a banana crumble and a guest column!

PARA LER EM PORTUGUÊS POR FAVOR, CLIQUE AQUI.

I'm back from vacation! And after all the goodies that I ate on Holidays all I need now is go on a diet!

Carolyn from Food on The Table has tips to enjoy your dessert without feeling guilty!

"Eating healthy desserts on a 1500 calorie meal plan.

So, you’re trying to stay healthy but you love dessert. Maybe you’re even on a 1500 calorie meal plan, but you’re having issues finding low-calorie sweets that still taste delectable. Read on to find out how you can satisfy your sweet tooth without packing on the pounds.

Fresh is best.

If you keep one thing in mind when thinking about desserts on a diet it should be this: Keep it fresh. Fresh fruit can be made into some amazing dishes, and it doesn’t have all the extra calories that can come from other pastries or desserts. It’s not bad to have a more substantial dessert every once in a while, but if you stick to lighter desserts, you can splurge in other areas like the main course. Plus, if you start making more desserts that feature fresh fruit as the main element, you’ll have a reason to get some gourmet paring knives.

Mix sweet and savory.

You could also leave dessert out altogether. It might sound blasphemous to suggest cutting out dessert, but hear this one out before you discount it. Many a chef has relied on savory dishes with a sweet kick to wow diners. You can do the same at home or for your entertaining dinners. Pick out a recipe that has a sweet and savory side, like a sweet potato casserole or a rice pudding that’s more on the savory side. If you can make your main course sweet, you won’t be craving it after the meal. Obviously, this is a strategy that’s only going to work for a few meals a month (unless you really like sweet savory dishes), but if you use it wisely, you’ll be able to get your dessert and main course all in one dish.
It’s easier to stay on your diet if you stick to lower-calorie desserts like fresh fruit, and if you can skip the dessert every once in a while by making your savory main courses sweet."

A good recipe to enjoy your dessert with fruits is this banana crumble!

2 big bananas
½ cup (70g) whole wheat flour

2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
2 ½ tablespoons (35g) unsalted butter, room temperature, chopped
2-3 tablespoons flax seeds

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Cut the bananas in small pieces and divide on two small ramekins or cups.
In a medium bowl, place flour, sugar and butter and, using your fingertips, rub the ingredients together until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the flax seeds and mix. Sprinkle over the bananas and bake for 15-20 minutes or until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling.