Light makes it right for banana mud pie
By Elaine Magee
Q: I had a dessert at a nearby restaurant and I would like a light recipe of it that I can make at home. It's called bananas Foster mud pie and it's a graham cracker crust pie with banana and vanilla ice cream, candied pecans, slices of banana and caramel sauce.
A: I'm not a banana lover, but I think I can manage to try this delectable sounding dessert! Nowhere could I find banana ice cream, let alone light banana ice cream. So I went with Dreyer's Light Caramel Delight ice cream and stirred in banana slices and candied pecans to get the flavors of bananas Foster. The graham-cracker crust was made with cinnamon graham cracker crumbs moistened with a few tablespoons of melted less-fat margarine and a tablespoon of fat-free half-and-half.
This recipe made with regular fat ingredients (and your typical graham cracker crust) contains 454 calories, 28 g fat, 14 g saturated fat, and 95 milligrams cholesterol per serving.
LIGHT BANANAS FOSTER MUD PIE
For the crust:
For the filling:
Garnish (optional): Fat-free or light Cool Whip, sliced bananas, caramel syrup
Place graham cracker crumbs in medium to large bowl. Stir in the sugar and then the melted margarine and half-and-half with a fork until well blended.
Press mixture into the bottom and about an inch up the sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate; reserve bowl. Place crust in freezer while you complete the next step.
Let the ice cream defrost for about 10 minutes. Mix the ice cream, banana slices and pecans in the same bowl you used for the graham cracker crust; gently blend these together.
Spoon into the prepared crust, cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer for at least an hour. Serve each slice with a dab of fat-free or light Cool Whip, a slice of banana and a small drizzle of caramel syrup if desired.
Makes 8 servings.
Elaine Magee, a registered dietitian, is the author of 25 books including her most recent, "Fry Light, Fry Right" and "Tell Me What To Eat If I Have Head-aches and Migraines." You can find out more and submit recipes at www.recipedoctor.com. Personal responses cannot be provided. This column is distributed by the Knight Ridder News Service.
