Lucious treat for
die-hard chocoholics

Imagine an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of chocolate delights. That's what you'll find at "Fantasies in Chocolate," a benefit for the Hawaiian Humane Society at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Nov. 7.

Two hours of sampling Hawaii's best chocolate delicacies is a chocoholic's wish come true. But, of course, even a chocolate afficionado can't indulge like this every day.

A rich chocolate dessert is usually excessively high in fat and calories. Although we can't provide you with a dessert that is calorie-free, we can provide a lowfat recipe that will satisfy your strongest chocolate cravings.

All you need is a chocolate fudge cake mix, a little water and a microwave oven. In less than five minutes, you can produce a dessert with the dense texture of a chocolate souffle. Cake mixes with pudding already in the mix will provide an even richer dessert. Toppings can be as simple as a dab of nonfat vanilla yogurt, a splash of liqueur, or a drizzle of thawed frozen fruit juice concentrate.

Don't be fooled by the small serving size of this dessert. It is indeed rich and satisfying.

Decadent (But Lowfat)
Chocolate Dessert

1/4 cup powdered chocolate fudge cake mix
1 tablespoon water

Lightly spoon cake mix into measuring cup and transfer into a microwavable dish that will be used to serve the dessert. (A small custard cup or ramekin works great.)

Stir the water into the mix until it is thoroughly mixed.

Place bowl in microwave and heat on high for 30 to 60 seconds. The top should look dry with small holes. Be careful not to cook it too long or it can burn. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 130 calories, 3 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 290 mg sodium.*

In place of an after-dinner liqueur, try this spirited variation.

Orange-Chocolate Mock Souffle
with Apricot Sauce

Prepare Decadent (But Lowfat) Chocolate Dessert as described above.

Immediately after removing from the microwave, dribble 1 tablespoon Drambuie or Triple Sec liqueur over the souffle. Top with 1 tablespoon of apricot preserves or jam. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 230 calories, 3 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 300 mg sodium.*

Chocolate and raspberries were made for each other. Mango, when in season, gives the dessert a tropical flair.

Mango-Raspberry Chocolate
Mock Souffle

Prepare Decadent (But Lowfat) Chocolate Dessert as described above.

Immediately after removing from the microwave, dribble 1/2 tablespoon thawed frozen fruit juice concentrate over the souffle. Top with 1/8 cup thinly sliced mango and 3 fresh (or thawed frozen) raspberries. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 175 calories, 3 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 290 mg sodium.*

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For more information about "Fantasies in Chocolate," call 946-2187, ext. 213.

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Barbara Burke is a Hawaii-Pacific University instructor who has been teaching
and writing about food and nutrition since 1975.

Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S., is a food and nutrition consultant
and owner of Exploring New Concepts, a nutritional consulting firm.
She is also responsible for the nutritional analyses
indicated by an asterisk in this section.

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