Chocolate Almond Butter Shake

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp. almond butter
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 1 tbsp. granular sugar substitute

Makes 1 Serving

1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.

WW POINTS VALUE: ? 

Note: This recipe appears on www.palm.southbeachdiet.com/recipes.  You can enjoy a chocolate shake in a new way.  The combination of avocado, spinach, cocoa powder and almond butter is quite delicious. Don't be intimidated by the combination of these ingredients. They actually taste delicious together. This easy plant-based beverage is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while you stick to your low carb diet. 

Air fryer churros with chocolate sauce

 Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 3/4 tsp. Vanilla extract, divided
• 2 1/2 tbsp. granular sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup milk
• 4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp.cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp. light butter, melted

Makes 6 Servings (1 churro & 1 tbsp. sauce per serving)

1. In a small bowl, place flour, yogurt, and ½ tsp vanilla; stir well with a wooden spoon until just combined and then keep mixing dough in bowl with your hands until smooth (about 1 minute of kneading).
2. Place a large piece of parchment or wax paper on a work surface and sprinkle lightly with a little flour. Place dough on paper. Use a knife to cut dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 5-inch long rope.
3. Preheat air fryer, if necessary, to 375°F. Coat air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange dough ropes in air fryer, leaving some space between them. Lightly coat dough with nonstick cooking spray. Air-fry until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes.
4. While churros cook, combine 2 tbsp sugar and cinnamon in a pie plate or other shallow dish. In a glass measuring cup, whisk milk, cocoa, cornstarch, pepper, and remaining 1½ tsp sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla. Microwave on High until bubbly and thick, about 1 minute, whisking every 20 seconds.
5. When churros are done, brush all over with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with sauce.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwachers.com. Churros are the official comfort food of Mexico. They are also a delicious take on doughnuts. I think these doughnuts are better than the doughnuts in America. The dough gets a flavor boost with vanilla extract, and is then rolled into ropes and air-fried until crisp and light. To create the churros effect, the cooked dough gets brushed with a little butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. The accompanying microwave sauce gets a gentle chile kick that amps up the goodness (you can omit it if you’d like). If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the dough at 375°F for about 8 minutes; these churros will just be a little denser than air-fried ones.

Glazed strawberry hand pies

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped Strawberries
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1½ tsp. cornstarch
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1½ cups plain fat free Greek yogurt
• 1 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. Low-fat milk
• pinch of ground cardamom

Makes 8 Servings (1 pastry per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, toss berries, granulated sugar, and cornstarch. Microwave on High until bubbly and thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool until ready to use.
2. In a medium bowl, place flour, yogurt, and 1 tsp vanilla; stir well with a wooden spoon until just combined and then keep mixing dough in bowl with your hands until smooth (about 1 minute of kneading).
3. Place a large piece of parchment or wax paper on a work surface and sprinkle lightly with a little flour. Divide dough in half. Roll 1 piece of dough into a 12 x 8–inch rectangle; cut into 8 (4 x 3–inch) rectangles. Arrange rectangles about 1 inch apart on prepared sheet pan. Roll other piece of dough into a 12 x 8–inch rectangle; cut into 8 (4 x 3–inch) rectangles. Spoon about 1 tablespoon strawberry filling down the center of each dough rectangle on sheet pan. Top each with 1 dough rectangle. Press edges with tines of a fork to seal; pierce top of each pastry with fork to allow steam to escape. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, about 20 minutes.
4. Cool pastries on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir powdered sugar, milk, remaining ⅛ tsp vanilla, and cardamom. Drizzle glaze evenly over warm pastries.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. When strawberries are at their seasonal peak—supremely fragrant, sweet, and juicy—they don’t need much adornment to taste great. Here, we barely sweeten them for a lightning-fast microwave jam that fills these pastries. The dough is a firm version of our two-ingredient filling.  A pinch of ground cardamom in the glaze pairs perfectly with the berries. These are best enjoyed warm; if you have leftovers, reheat at 350°F for about 5 minutes.

Chocolate-Berry Pavlova

 Ingredients:

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/4 tsp. Cream of tartar 
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1/4 cupsuperfine sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup mascarpone
• 4 oz. softened low-fat cream cheese
• 1½ Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. low-fat milk
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ pound(s), fresh strawberries hulled and sliced (or raspberries)
• 1 oz. bittersweet chocolate

Makes 12 Servings (1 wedger per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. To make meringue, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in large bowl until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Add superfine sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
3. Sift cocoa over beaten whites in three additions, gently folding with rubber spatula just until cocoa is incorporated, being careful not to deflate the meringue. Spoon meringue onto prepared baking sheet and spread to form 9-inch nest with 1-inch- high edge.
4. Bake meringue 1 1/2 hours. Turn oven off and let meringue cool in oven 2 hours. Remove from oven and slide meringue with parchment onto wire rack and let cool completely.
5. To make filling, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat together mascarpone, cream cheese, milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl until smooth.
6. To serve, transfer meringue to serving plate. Spoon mascarpone mixture into center of meringue and top with strawberries. Using vegetable peeler, shave chocolate over berries. Using serrated knife, cut pavlova into 12 wedges and serve immediately.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. This beautiful pavlova will make the sweet finale to any spring party. A chocolatey-crunchy meringue is topped with a mascarpone mixture and topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate shavings for a refreshing and irresistible dessert. In the summertime, you could use fresh raspberries, blueberries or blackberries instead. The delicate meringue base is slowly baked to achieve a crispy exterior and soft, marshmallow-like interior. You can make the components a few days in advance and keep them separate until ready to serve. Store the meringues in airtight container at room temperature and the mascarpone mixture in the refrigerator. For best results, we recommend enjoying it immediately after it’s assembled.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• 2/3 cup low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar
• 1 large egg white
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tbsp. milk
• 6 oz. mini chocolate chips

Makes 24 Servings (1 cookie per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray or cover with parchment paper.
2. Beat cream cheese and both sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer until sugar is fully incorporated (should not have granules); add egg and vanilla and blend again.
3. Combine both flours, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
4. Add half the flour mixture to the cream cheese mixture; beat until well incorporated. Add milk and remaining flour mixture; beat until fully blended and then fold in chips.
5. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough onto prepared cookie sheet and press dough down with dampened fingers to form 1-inch cookies. Make sure to leave at least an inch between each cookie. Bake cookies until slightly golden on top, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for 1 to 2 minutes; remove to a wire rack and cool completely. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. Here’s your new go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. In this version of a classic American dessert, cream cheese is used to give the cookies a soft, chewy texture and whole-grain flour and brown sugar to add a flavor-boost. Store the baked treats at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to a week.

Orange-Almond Ricotta Cheesecake

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup slivered almonds 
• 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 3/4 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup granular sugar substitute
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 1 (32 oz.) container part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• orange twists, for garnish (optional)

Makes 12 Servings

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 275 F. Lightly coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes, or until light golden. Let cool.
2. In a food processor, pulse the cooled almonds until finely ground. Add the graham cracker crumbs and  pulse to combine. Increase the oven temperature to 325 F. 
3. In a large metal bowl, with an electric mixer at high speed, beat the egg whites until frothy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes longer. 
4. In a separate large bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar substitute, vanilla, and almond extracts for 1 minute. Add the ricotta, orange zest, and orange juice. Beat on high until smooth. Gently fold one-third of the whites into the yolk mixture, then add the rest of the whites and gently fold until well combined. Spread the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan. Pour the batter into the pan and place the pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until cake is golden and mostly set. Cool completely. 
5. Run a knife around the edge and release the cake from pan. Chill, loosely covered, for 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled, garnished with orange twists if you like. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Super-Quick Cookbook. This is a new and  flavorful take on traditional cheesecake. This is a lighter version of cheesecake to enjoy on later phases and it's a wonderful dessert for get-togethers. The crust is made from ground graham crackers, ground almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg which give the crust a nice flavor. The vanilla and almond extracts and orange zests add a nice tough of zing to this cheesecake. If you want to add more flavor to this cheese cake, I highly recommend adding lemon juice and zest to the cheesecake for a more authentic Amalfi Coast flare. I also highly recommend adding a touch of berries of your choice for a more fruity flavor. 

Frozen Hot Chocolate

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 (6 oz.) container fresh raspberries

Makes 4 Servings

1. Combine sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Cook over medium-high  heat stirring, until mixture simmers, about 8 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour cocoa mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan; let cool. 
2. Place cocoa mixture in freezer 30 minutes. Remove pan from freezer; with fork, stir cocoa mixture, breaking up any ice crystals on bottom or along sides of pan. Return to freezer, stirring every 20-30 minutes, until mixture is completely frozen. about 2 hours. 
3. To serve, fluff cocoa mixture with fork; spoon evenly into 4 goblets or dessert dishes and top with raspberries. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. The dessert is an oxymoron itself but it is quite tasty. The combination of raspberries and chocolate is quite decadent. Frozen hot chocolate is not that bad and you can enjoy it as a snack during the day. You can use any kind of berries in this dessert and the dessert will still be tasty. 

Grilled Spanish Mackerel with Quick Pickled Onions

 Ingredients:

• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsp. granular sugar substitute
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (6 oz.) Spanish mackerel fillets, with skin
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest 
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Makes 4 Servings 

1. In a small saucepan, combine onion, vinegar, garlic, sugar substitute, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until onions are softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Transfer onions to a serving bowl. 
2. Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. Drizzle flesh side of fish evenly with lemon juice and sprinkle with lemon zest and oregano. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Grill fish, skin side down, for 5 minutes; turn and grill 5-7 minutes more, or until fish is cooked through and tender. 
3. Divide fish among 4 plates and serve hot with pickled onions on top or on the side. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. Grilled fish in the summer is flavorful and delicious when it's done right. The tangy onions go very well with this fish adding a touch of zing to the dish. If you don't have Spanish mackerel on hand, use Alaskan cod or halibut and the dish be be just as elegant and delicious. Don't forget to serve your choice of grilled vegetables to make this meal complete. 

Berry-Topped Cake with Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 (6 oz.) containers raspberries
• 2 (6 oz.) containers blackberries
• 2 tbsp. thinly sliced fresh mint
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp. + 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled
• 1 (9 oz.) store-bought angel food cake, cut into 6 wedges

Makes 6 Servings (1 wedge per serving)

1. Gently toss together the raspberries, blackberries, mint, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and 2 teaspoons of the lime juice in a large bowl; set aside. 
2. Combine the strawberries and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lime juice in a blender or food processor and puree. 
3. Place a wedge of cake on each of 6 plates. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the strawberry sauce around each wedge and top with about 2/3 cup of the berry mixture. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. This is a wonderful sweet ending after a filling meal. The combination of angel food cake and mixed berries is quite refreshing. The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup of granulated sugar but you can cut the sugar in half and the berry mixture and sauce still tastes just as delicious. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cashew butter 
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. sugar-free chocolate chips

Makes 12 Balls (1 ball bite per serving)

1.  Stir together the cashew butter, coconut oil, granular sugar, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. 
2. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill for 15-20 minutes, or until firm. 
3. Using a heaping tablespoon, portion the cookie dough into 12 balls.
4. Place the balls in a container with a lid and store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Chocolate chip cookie dough is a guilty pleasure for a lot of people but this keto-friendly version is good for you and it tastes just as delicious as regular cookie dough. These cookie dough bites are packed with flavor and they are delicious when they are eaten cold. This recipe calls for cashew butter but you can use almond or peanut butter and the cookie dough bites will be just as delectable. You can also use almond extract in this recipe in place of the vanilla extract. 

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bliss Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp. erythritol-based sweetener (granulated)
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries

Makes 8 Servings (1 bliss ball per serving)

1. Pulse cashews, coconut oil, vanilla extract, erythritol and salt in a food processor until a dough forms.
2. Add berries and pulse again until just combined.
3. Divide dough into 8 pieces, then roll between the palms of your hands to form balls. 
4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears on www.southbeachdiet.com/recipes. Who knew vegan cheesecake balls could be tasty? These little bliss balls are not cheesecake but they taste like cheesecake and they're packed with flavor. The combination of nuts and dried fruit is always delicious. You can also taste the coconut and the vanilla in these treats as well. You can use any kind of nut, dried fruit, almond extract or coconut extract in this recipe and the vegan cheesecake balls will still be delicious. 

Warm Raspberry Crisp

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh raspberries 
• 1/3 cup granular sugar substitute
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Topping:

• 2/3 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 4 tbsp. melted butter or coconut oil

Makes 8 Servings (1 square per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Mix the raspberries, granular sugar, and vanilla in an 8-inch square baking dish. Spread evenly in the dish.
3. To make the topping, stir together all remaining ingredients in a bowl and then use your hands to crumble it over the berries. 
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Allow the crisp to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Cut into 8 squares and serve. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 13 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Cooked fruit for dessert is quite delicious and flavorful. The original recipe calls for 1/3 cup of granular sugar substitute but you can cut the sugar in half or substitute honey in place of the sugar with the raspberries and the filling will be just as good. I also cut the sugar substitute in half for the topping and added a touch of ground nutmeg with the ground cinnamon for a healthier and more flavorful topping. This dessert is gluten-free and make a wonderful, filling dessert. 

Keto-Friendly Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup granular sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, measured solid and then melted
• 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries

Makes 6 Servings (2 muffins per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12 count muffin pan cooking spray or line with baking cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients - almond flour, Stevia, baking powder and salt.
3. Mix in the wet ingredient - coconut oil, almond milk, eggs and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Gently fold in the frozen blueberries.
5. Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
6. Remove muffins from tray and place on cooling rack.

WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears on www.southbeachdiet.com in the Recipes section. According to the people at South Beach Diet, you can have muffins for breakfast and be satisfied. These muffins swap the regular and whole wheat flour for almond flour and uses coconut oil and almond milk in place of milk or buttermilk. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of granular sugar but you can use 2 tablespoons of sugar and the muffins will be tasty. 

Blueberry Waffles with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

Waffles:

• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 1/2 cup unflavored whey protein powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries

Frosting:

• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 3 tbsp. cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. lemon zest
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1-2 tbsp. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Makes 2 large waffles (half a waffle per serving)

1. Preheat the waffle iron to medium-high heat. 
2. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and place in separate bowls. Add the egg yolks to one bowl with the milk, butter and vanilla. Whisk until combined. Set the mixture aside. 
3.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, whey protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, and sugar substitute. 
4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring just enough to combine them. 
5. Beat the reserved egg whites with a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Fold the egg whites into the batter.
6. Gently stir in the blueberries. 
7. Use a 1/4 cup measure to pour the batter into the center of the waffle iron. Bake according  to your waffle iron's instructions. Repeat with the remaining batter. 
8. While the waffles are cooking, make the frosting by combining the butter and cream cheese in a bowl and beating them with a handheld mixer for 1 minute, or until smooth. Add the vanilla, lemon juice and zest and beat until combined, about 20 seconds. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until incorporated. 
9. Beat in the almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches for the desired consistency. 
10. Spread the frosting evenly over the waffles. Serve them immeadiately. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 19 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Homemade waffles are delicious for breakfast, lunch or dinner. These waffles are delicious. Don't be intimidated by the ingredients. These waffles are just as easy to make as regular waffles. The cream cheese frosting is VERY sweet so you don't have to put it on your waffles. The blueberries or any other berries will make the waffles just as sweet and tasty. I also recommend adding a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and/or ground ginger to make these waffles more flavorful. 

Chocolate Freezer Fudge

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond butter
• 5 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp. salt (optional)

Makes 16 Squares (1 square per serving)

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside. 
2. Whisk together all the ingredients and pour in the mixture into the prepared pan. Place the pan in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, or until set. 
3. Use the parchment paper to lift the fudge out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares. Store the fudge in a freezer for a firm texture, or the refrigerator for a softer texture. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto Friendly South Beach Diet book. Chocolate fudge is a decadent guilty pleasure but it's got so much sugar in it and it can be expensive. You can make your fudge and eat it too. This fudge is super creamy, chocolatey and can be made with 6 basic ingredients. You can use any kind of nut butter and/or another extract (such as almond or maple instead of vanilla) for different kind of varieties of fudge and the sweet treat will still be decadent. 

Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 6 tbsp. natural peanut butter, unsweetened
• coarse sea salt, for topping (optional)

Makes 6 Servings (1 cup per serving)

1. Line a 6-count muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
2. Whisk together the cocoa, coconut oil, granular sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
3. Scoop 1 rounded tablespoon of the cocoa mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup.
4. Place the muffin tin in the freezer and leave it for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to solidify. 
5. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter into each muffin cup, spreading it into an even layer.
6. Top the peanut butter with another tablespoon of the cocoa mixture. 
7. Freeze the peanut butter cups for another 5 minutes. 
8. Top each peanut butter cup with a pinch of coarse sea salt if desired.
9. Serve immediately or transfer to a container in the refrigerator to store for up to 1 week. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Who doesn't love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? You can have your peanut butter cups and eat them too in this recipe. These sweet treats contain natural ingredients and A LOT less sugar than the ones you would buy at the store. I added a touch of almond extract to enhance the nutty flavors. You can also completely eliminate the sugar in these cups and the cups will still taste delicious. If you don't like peanut butter, feel free to substitute any other nut butter of your choice and the cups will still be delicious. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup erythritol-based sweetener (granulated)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup erythritol-sweetened chocolate chips

Makes 16 Cookies (1 cookie per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Whisk together coconut oil, eggs, erythritol and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Add the almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips. Stir well to fully combine.
3. Scoop the cookies by the heaping tablespoon onto the prepared pan, leaving at least 1-inch of space between each cookie. 
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are just barely cooked through. Allow to cool for up to 20 minutes on the pan before serving. 

WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. The people behind South Beach Diet have done it again this time with Keto and with a classic comfort food dessert. You can have your cookie(s) and eat it (them) too. The coconut oil works just as well as butter. These cookies are made with almond flour and they are just as chewy and flavorful as regular chocolate chip cookies. If you can't find sugar-free chocolate chips, bittersweet or dark chocolate chips will work just as well. Don't forget to have a glass of milk on hand. 

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond flour, finely ground
• ¾ cup stevia or erythritol
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup dark chocolate cocoa powder, unsweetened
• ¼ cup avocado oil (or other vegetable oil)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ cup powdered or confectioners erythritol/stevia (optional)

Makes 20 Servings (1 cookie per serving)

1. In a large bowl, combine the cocoa powder, vanilla, sweetener and oil. Mix well.
2. Add one egg at a time to the large bowl and use a blender or whisk to combine. Blend until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl. Knead until it becomes smooth.
5. Form dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
7. Form 1" dough balls with your hands and place them on a baking sheet. Press down in the middle to flatten them.
8. Baking for about 12 minutes.
9. When cookies are slightly cooled (but still warm), cover them in the powdered sweetener (optional).
10. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

WW POINTS VALUE:

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Keto Cookbook. If you can't decide between brownies or cookies, these chocolate treats are for you. These treats are a combination of brownies and cookies and they are so delicious. They are also gluten-free because they are made from ground almonds. These brownie cookies are so chocolately and delicious you will be satisfied after only two.

Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 scallions, chopped
• 3 tbsp. mirin
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar or honey
• 2 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp. Asian (dark) sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 4 (1/4-lb.) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

Makes 4 Servings (1 chicken thigh per serving)

1. Combine the scallions, mirin, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the oil, and the pepper flakes in a zip-close plastic bag; add the chicken. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag; turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, for at lest 2 hours or up to overnight. 
2. Lift the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Discard the marinade. Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Add the broth; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is syrupy, about 10 minutes. Turn the chicken to coat with the liquid. Cut the chicken into slices to serve. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Ultimate Chicken Cookbook. Sweet and spicy chicken is quite delicious. Marinating the chicken takes a long process but the end result is delicious. The chicken is succulent and juicy. I highly recommend substituting honey in place of the sugar for a sweeter taste and a little lime juice and minced garlic to kick the flavor up a notch. I also highly recommend serving this chicken on a salad made of savoy cabbage, sliced carrots, thinly sliced radishes and a matchstick-cut Gala apple for a very filling dish. 

Watermelon 'Cake' with Summer Fruit & Raspberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 seedless watermelon (crosswise section) rind removed
• 1 small cantaloupe, halved, peeled, and seeded
• 3 kiwifruits, peeled and sliced
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 (12 oz.) bag frozen unsweetened raspberries
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 3 tbsp. granular sugar

Makes 16 Servings 

1. Cut watermelon into 1 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Stack rounds on a serving plate so they resemble a cake. 
2. With a melon baller, scoop out balls from cantaloupe. Decorate top of watermelon and plate with cantaloupe, kiwifruits, blueberries, and strawberries. 
3. Combine raspberries, orange juice and sugar in a blender; pulse until smooth. Pour mixture through fine sieve set over a small bowl. With spoon, press on solids to extract all juice; discard seeds. 
4. To serve, cut watermelon 'cake' into 16 wedges and serve with raspberry sauce. 

WW POINTS VALUE 1 pt.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. You can have your cake and eat it too and it can be good for you. This colorful cake is cold, refreshing, tasty and filling. You get your daily servings of fruit in this cake and it will leave you satisfied. If you don't have cantaloupe on hand, substitute pineapple and the cake will be just as delicious. If you don't want to use granular sugar in the sauce, substitute honey and the sauce will be just as sweet.