1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Prepare and set aside one 9-inch unbaked pie pastry shell.
3. Pare, core, and quarter apples. Halve each quarter crosswise to make chunks. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice.
4. Add 6 tablespoons Splenda, flour, and cinnamon and toss to coat well. Spoon coated apples into shell.
5. Prepare topping: Combine 1/2 cup Splenda, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
6. Sprinkle over the apples, covering entire top of pie. Lay open paper bag onto the counter and slide pie inside. Fold ends to close bag and staple shut. (Large paper clips also work well)
7. Carefully lift the pie and place it on a cookie sheet and place in oven. Bake for one hour minutes. Tear open a small hole to check for doneness. When opened the apples should be bubbly and top nicely browned.
8. Carefully rip open the rest of the bag and remove pie.

Calories 210
Fat 9g (2.5 saturated)
Carbohydrate 30g
Fiber 2g
Protein 2g
Sodium 140mg

Diabetic exchange = 1 Fruit, 1 Carbohydrate, 2 Fat
WW point comparison = 5 points

½ cup Splenda granulated sweetener
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons margarine

1 large grocery size paper bag

When I was growing up, we used to go to "apple country" every fall. The area produced a cookbook, and one of the most treasured recipes in it was Apple Pie in a Paper Bag. It consisted of a one-crust apple pie with a crumb topping that you actually cooked inside a paper grocery bag. The bag helps to recirculate the steam and imparts a wonderful texture to the apples.

Fit Tip: Many "no sugar" apple pies use other forms of sugar such as concentrated apple juice
to sweeten their pies and yet still make the claims no "sugar" has been added. Be sure to read the label to see the total amount of carbohydrate and sugars before buying any no-sugar or reduced-sugar products.

1. Wash and dry apple. Core apple and use a peeler to strip away the peel on the top third of the apple (this is easy to do by peeling in a circle, starting from the top).
2. Place the apple in a small microwaveable dish.
3. Sprinkle sweetener and cinnamon over top and into core of apple.
4. Cover the dish tightly with Saran Wrap and microwave for about 7 minutes on high or until apple is soft.
5. Remove from microwave, remove wrap, and spoon the collected "syrup" back onto top of apple.
6. Serve with a couple of tablespoons of your favorite no-sugar added vanilla ice cream or yogurt if desired.

Calories 80
Fat 0g (0g saturated)
Carbohydrate 22g
Fiber 3g
Protein 0g
Sodium 20mg

Diabetic exchange = 1 Fruit
WW point comparison = 1 point

This is so simple but so good. We all know an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but most of us just don't consider a fresh apple a real dessert. This quick and easy recipe turns an ordinary apple into a taste treat even your doctor would endorse.

1. Place cherries in a medium saucepan. Add Splenda, water, and cornstarch, and stir.
2. On medium heat, cook slowly for 5 minutes or until cherries are warm. Turn heat up and bring to a low boil; cook, stirring just until mixture clears and sauce is thickened.
3. Stir in liqueur and cook 1 minute.
4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, almond extract, and orange peel. Cool slightly and spoon into container.

Calories 50
Fat 0g (0 saturated)
Carbohydrate 9g (sugar 8g)
Fiber 1g
Protein 1g
Sodium 0mg

Diabetic exchange = ½ Fruit

Food gifts are a delight to give, and of course to receive, during the holidays. This fantastic topping makes it easy. Made with healthy frozen dark cherries and no-added sugar it, it’s a beautiful and thoughtful gift for anyone watching their health (even you!). Spoon it over your favorite reduced-sugar ice cream or frozen yogurt, on top of pancakes or waffles, or over a plain cake to dress it up holiday style. (This will keep well for up to two weeks if stored in the refrigerator.)

1. Combine yogurt, banana, Equal® and lemon juice in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth.
2. Add half of frozen fruit. Blend until smooth. Repeat with remaining frozen fruit.
3. Serve immediately in tall glasses.

Calories 142
Protein 8g
Carbohydrate 24g
Fat 2g
Cholesterol 7mg
Sodium 90mg

Food Exchanges: 1 milk, 1 fruit

Recipe provided courtesy of Merisant Corporation® and the NutraSweet Company, makers of Equal®.

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender in the order listed; process mixture until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides.

Calories: 140
Calories from Fat: 50
Total Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carbs: 23g
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 18g
Protein: 1g

Exchanges Per Serving: 1 Starch, 1 Fruit, 1 Fat

Cook's Note: Look for unsweetened coconut milk in the Asian food section of your supermarket.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics.

1. Place banana in freezer for 10 minutes or until slightly firm.
2. Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Serve immediately.

Calories: 120
Calories from Fat: 10
Total Fat: 1g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 35mg
Total Carbs: 26g
Dietary Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 19g
Protein: 4g

Exchanges Per Serving: 1 Fruit, ½ Low-Fat Milk

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics.

1. Put first three ingredients into a blender. Add blueberries a few at a time and whirl after each addition until thick and creamy.

Calories 189
Carbohydrates 35g
Protein 12g
Fat 1g
Trace Saturated Fat
Cholesterol 5mg
Fiber 4g
Sodium 156mg
Potassium 553mg
Calcium 379mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 ½ fruit, 1 skim milk

To make it "frosty" use frozen blueberries.

1. Add all ingredients together. Pour into a chilled champagne or wine glass. Serve immediately.

Calories 38
Carbohydrate 10g
Trace Protein
Trace Fat
Trace Saturated Fat
Cholesterol 0mg
Trace Fiber
Sodium 22mg
Potassium 103mg
Calcium 9mg

Diabetic Exchanges: ½ fruit

1. Pour boiling water over tea bags, steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags, let cool. Stir in cranberry juice. Serve over ice.

Calories 25
Carbohydrates 6g
Protein 0
Fat 0
Saturated fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Trace Fiber
Sodium 11mg
Potassium 115mg
Calcium 11mg

Diabetic Exchanges: ½ fruit

1. Mix together shortly before serving.

Calories 15
Carbohydrate 4g
Protein 0
Fat 0
Saturated Fat 0
Cholesterol 0mg
Fiber 0
Sodium 15mg
Potassium 19mg
Calcium 10mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 serving is free