Yummy holiday gift ideas to please everyone on your list

Holiday shopping and entertaining don’t have to be all about stress and overindulging. ShapeUpMom Kathryn Sansone, author, fitness trainer, busy mother of 10 and creator of shapeupmom.com, has some great gift giving and entertaining tips that will help you have fun and still eat smart over the holidays.

•Start by getting organized! This year, make a point to create a file of gift recipients. From teachers, mailmen and hairdressers to neighbors, family and friends, file each recipient into a category and add what gift they received this year. Next year, it will facilitate the gift-buying and gift-giving process and offer gift ideas you may have forgotten.

•Shop from friends or make it yourself. Buy gifts from friends and family who have small businesses. If you have a cousin who makes jewelry or a friend who does monogram soap, order a variety of gifts from them. You’ll feel good about giving them the business and you’ll treat your friends and family to a unique gift. Another option is to make gifts yourself. Not only does it show your thoughtfulness, but it highlights your creativity. Try making a gift basket with healthy items such as a set of dumbbells, jump rope, and a workout outfit and DVD.

Secret Santa Gifts

If you’re asked to be a Secret Santa to someone this year, give a gift that most everyone enjoys — coffee and chocolates. Buy a creative mug that speaks to the person’s taste, a gift card to a local coffee shop and some deliciously crunchy low-calorie/low-sugar chocolate candies. To make it even more special, prepare pretzel rods dipped in chocolate along with caramel-pecan cranberries. Place them in a mug, tie it with a festive bow and attach a recipe card.

Remember Girlfriends!

Women appreciate when other women are looking out for them. When hosting a group of friends for a holiday exchange, prepare a lunch that is healthy so no one has to feel guilty about indulging. Sansone says, “I love to make easy chicken or turkey sandwiches, toss together a bowl of fresh fruit and then add a delicious dessert such as a tray of assorted healthier candies — that are easy, tasty and can be part of a healthier lifestyle.”

Packaging is everything. For a great hostess gift, take two martini glasses, a punch bowl or tray and fill with a variety of candies. Wrap them in cellophane and a bright bow. Attach a tag with a personal favorite recipe and you’re all set.

For more recipes and tips to make the holidays merry, visit weightwatchers.com/sensiblefoods.

Chocolate Caramel Fondue With Fresh Fruit

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Makes: 3/4 cup fondue

Serves: 5

2 (3-ounce) packages caramels

1/4 cup fat-free milk

2 1/2 cups mixed sliced fruit (strawberries, banana, apple)

Fill medium pot halfway with water. Cover pot with metal bowl that fits snugly over pot, ensuring that bowl’s bottom is not submerged in water. Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat.

Add caramels and milk to bowl, stirring to ensure even melting. When caramels are halfway melted, reduce heat to medium and continue stirring. When milk is fully incorporated and caramels are melted, fondue is done. Serve fondue with 1/2 cup sliced fruit per person.

Good idea: You can also dip strawberries or dried apricots into fondue and chill in the refrigerator to make delicious caramel-covered fruits.

Dipped Pretzel Rods With Chocolate, Caramel-Pecan and Cranberries

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Refrigeration Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

4 pieces pecan-caramel candies

1 tablespoon fat-free milk

1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried

fruit of choice, chopped

4 large pretzel rods

Fill bottom portion of double boiler halfway with water and bring to a steady boil. Combine Pecan Crowns and milk in top portion of double boiler and place over boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer and gently stir candies until just melted. Remove from heat promptly and stir in cranberries. (If double boiler is unavailable, bring 4 cups water to a steady boil in a medium sauce pot. Combine ingredients in a small heat-resistant bowl and place over sauce pot.)

Line small tray with aluminum foil. Spoon equal amounts chocolate-caramel mixture onto each pretzel rod, leaving about 1/4 of each pretzel without chocolate-caramel coating. Place coated pretzel rods on tray and chill in refrigerator until coating becomes slightly hardened, about 10 minutes.

Good idea: For casual holiday entertaining, you can easily double or triple this recipe. Prepare the night before, and keep coated pretzel rods in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Baked Candy Apples

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 to 40 minutes

Serves: 4

4 unpeeled Granny Smith apples (or your favorite apples)

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 cinnamon sticks

13-ounce bag caramel or caramel-pecan candies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a melon baller or paring knife, de-stem and core each apple, leaving the bottoms intact.

Place cored apples in 8-inch glass baking dish. Pour water around apples in baking dish. Add lemon juice and cinnamon sticks.

Cut candies into 1/4 -inch pieces. Set aside 8 teaspoons. Place remaining candy pieces into each apple.

Place apples in oven and bake until apples are thoroughly cooked and fork-tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven briefly and top each apple with 2 teaspoons candy. Return to oven and bake until candy is just melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove promptly and serve warm.

Good idea: For extra low-calorie decadence, add a dollop of fat-free whipped topping to each apple before serving.

Find hundreds of printer-friendly recipes at spokane.net /recipes