Fresh fruit desserts in 15 minutes

My poor husband. He grew up in a family full of sweet tooths, a family who always ate dessert after dinner. I, on the other hand, was raised by a mother who always had a bag of Cheetos stashed in the corner cupboard and a father who is psyched when he can get a cheese plate for dessert when we go out to dinner.

So when we first moved in together I was just plain confused when I’d watch him root around the cabinets looking for something sweet after dinner. Dessert? Every night? Really?

I could only take his pitiful pillaging for so long. I decided it was time to whip up some healthy fruit desserts. Not only does he get a serving of fruit from his dessert, but they’re all ready in 15 minutes or less, so I don’t spend too much extra time in the kitchen. And I like them, too, so we both win! Here are some of his favorites:

1. Citrus-Infused Strawberries (see recipe below): A touch of lemon juice and Grand Marnier add zippy citrus notes to fresh strawberries. Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream.

2. Caramelized Bananas: Rum, cinnamon and brown sugar make a luscious sauce for bananas. The bananas have to get in and out of the pan in 1 1/2 minutes, no longer, so they stay firm in the center.

3. Instant Peach Frozen Yogurt: Frozen peaches turn into nearly instant frozen yogurt in this quick and easy recipe.

4. Mixed Berry Sundaes: A melding of your favorite summer berries top scoops of sorbet in the perfect summer dessert.

5. Rhubarb-Vanilla Compote: Vanilla and cinnamon add subtle flavor to this quick rhubarb compote. I can serve warm or cold, and it’s delicious wrapped in storebought crepes, stirred into Greek yogurt or over low-fat ice cream.

Citrus-Infused Strawberries

1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine strawberries, sugar, Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur) and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Let stand, stirring once or twice, until the strawberries release their juice, about 10 minutes.

Makes 4 servings, 3/4 cup each.

Per serving: 73 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber; 1 mg sodium; 178 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (112% daily value).

By Carolyn Malcoun

When associate editor Carolyn Malcoun came to Vermont to attend New England Culinary Institute, she knew she didn't want to work in a restaurant but knew that she wanted to do something in the food industry. Luckily she discovered EatingWell, where she's able to combine her love of food and writing.

Related Links from EatingWell:

• Find healthy recipes in over 100 recipe collections—from chicken to Chinese to cake—at eatingwell.com.
• Find more than 100 delicious seasonally-inspired recipes in our newest book, EatingWell in Season: The Farmers’ Market Cookbook.
• Sign up for EatingWell's free weekly newsletters and get healthy recipes, diet tips and nutrition news delivered right to your inbox.
• Get a free trial issue when you subscribe to EatingWell Magazine.