Mint-Chocolate Cream Puffs

Watching your diet doesn't have to mean giving up chocolate. These minty chocolate puffs have loads of flavor--and only 126 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.

Ingredients:
Nonstick spray coating
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Two eggs
One, 4-serving-size package fat-free instant chocolate pudding mix or reduced-calorie chocolate pudding mix
1/8 teaspoon peppermit extract
1 cup sliced strawberries
Sifted powdered sugar (optional)
Fresh mint (optional)

Directions:
In a small bowl stir together the graham cracker crumbs and melted margarine or butter. Press onto the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Spray a baking sheet with nonstick coating. Set aside. In a small saucepan combine the water and margarine or butter. Bring to boiling. Add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously. Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Cool for five minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Drop the mixture into 8 mounds, about 3 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in a 400-degree oven about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Split puffs and remove any soft dough from inside. Cool well on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, for filling, prepare the pudding mix according to package directions. Stir in peppermint extract. Cover the surface of pudding with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly.

To serve, spoon about 1/4 cup of the filling into the bottom half of each cream puff. Top with the sliced strawberries. Replace the tops. If desired, dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh mint.

Tip:
After adding the flour, stir the dough vigorously until the mixture forms a ball that does not separate. Cool as directed. Add the eggs, one at a time. After each addition, use a wooden spoon to beat the dough until it is smooth.

Recipe makes eight servings.

Nutrition Facts per Serving:
Calories 126
Total Fat 4g
Saturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 53mg
Protein 2g
Total Carbohydrate 20g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sodium 225mg