How to Make Yummy Desserts Featuring Fruits and a Recipe for Lemon Pineapple Party Punch

Fruits are not only delicious, they are healthy and make some yummy desserts. The recipes in this article feature some of our favorite fruits. You are sure to love Low-Fat Mandarin-Lime Fruit Dip served with an assortment of fresh fruits. This is perfect for your Spring and Summer parties. Old Nellie's Cherry Dessert goes together quickly and is wonderful served with a whipped cream topping. The Kentucky Fruit Dessert is based on an old dessert we ate in Kentucky. Being from Southern Indiana, we often crossed the Ohio River and ate in Kentucky where they served some wonderful food. This recipe is different but very good. The last recipe is for a Lemon Pineapple Party Punch which features the juices from these fine fruits.

LOW-FAT MANDARIN LIME FRUIT DIP
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp orange juice

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and blend together well. Refrigerate several hour to allow the flavors to blend. Serve with an assortment of fresh fruit.

OLD NELLIE'S CHERRY DESSERT
2 cans cherry pie filling
2 sticks butter, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 box white cake mix

In a 9 x 11 x 2-inch baking pan, spread the two cans of cherry pie filling. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pie filling. Sprinkle the cake mix, dry, over the pie filling. Pour melted butter over the cake mix and sprinkle the nuts over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve topped with whipped cream.

KENTUCKY FRUIT DESSERT
1 can pineapple chunks
1 can diced pears
1 jar maraschino cherries
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp flour
1 egg, beaten
4 red apples, unpeeled
1 cup white miniature marshmallows
1 cup chopped pecans

Drain the pineapple, pears, and cherries, reserving the pear and pineapple juices. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, egg, the reserved pineapple juice and 1/2 cup of the reserved pear juice. Cook the mixture over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. Allow to cool. Remove the cores from the apples and cut into large chunks. Place the apples in a bowl; add the pineapple, pears, cherries, marshmallows and pecans. Stir gently to mix. Pour the sauce over all and chill for 24 hours.

LEMON-PINEAPPLE PARTY PUNCH
2 pkg (4-serving size) lemon gelatin
2 cups boiling hot water
1 can (46-oz) pineapple juice
1 small can frozen lemonade concentrate
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 bottle (2-liter) ginger ale, chilled

Mix the dry gelatin with 2 cups hot water and stir until completely dissolved. Add pineapple juice and lemonade concentrate to the gelatin mixture. Pour the mixture into a gallon jug and fill 3/4 full with tap water. Stir in the sugar and almond extract. Place in the refrigerator to chill. Add the ginger ale just before serving. Serve in a punch bowl with fresh lemon slices floating on top as garnish, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/ For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/