Tart Cherry and Camembert Phyllo Tartlets

When it comes to losing weight, there’s not one-size-fits-all diet. Some people like going to group meetings. Others like to join an online site to manage their food journal. Yet, here’s something to be said for a traditional approach of counting calories. That’s where the 400 Calorie Fix: The Easy New Rule for Permanent Weight Loss! comes in. Written by Liz Vaccariello, author of the Flat Belly Diet, Mindy Herman, RD and the Editors of Prevention magazine, this cookbook and eating plan can help you lose the weight.

The 400 Calorie Fix program is easy to follow. You can eat anything you want as long as you can consume it as one of four, 400 calorie meals throughout the day. It’s not a diet but a way to fix food that simplifies the guesswork. It’s about going back to basics with easy calorie counting and easy solutions that fit with your lifestyle and busy schedule.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’m always looking for low calorie but decadent desserts like this one from the 400 Calorie Fix.

Tart Cherry and Camembert Phyllo Tartlets

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 90 dried tart cherries (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 30 mini phyllo tart shells (from 2 boxes, 1.9 ounces each)
• 4 ounces Neufchâtel cheese
• 4 ounces Camembert cheese, rind removed, cut into 30 small slices
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cherry preserves
• 4 basil leaves, very thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Set aside 30 cherries. Combine the remaining cherries and the water in a small bowl and let stand for 2 minutes. Drain.
3. Arrange the tart shells in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Place 2 drained cherries in the bottom of each tart shell. Top with the Neufchâtel and Camembert.
4. Bake until the cheese is hot, about 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and, working quickly, top each shell with 1/4 teaspoon of the cherry preserves and 1 reserved cherry. Sprinkle with the sliced basil.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional information:

1 serving = 5 tartlets

• Calories: 280
• Total Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Sodium: 280mg
• Carbohydrate: 28
• Dietary Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 9g
• Calcium: 10%

Tips:

• Enjoy with 5 ounces of white wine for a romantic evening’s snack.
• Be sure to look for dried cherries that are unsweetened. You may need to check your local health food store for this item.
• You can find phyllo tart shells in the freezer section of your local grocery store.

Anne-Marie Nichols is the Managing Editor of Mom Central Food. You can also find her cooking up some healthy recipes at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet.

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Disclosure: Anne-Marie was provided with a review copy of the cookbook.

Anne-Marie Nichols