Chocolate fountains might be all the rage in party equipment, but you don't need one to dip fruit, pretzels, or cookies into melted chocolate. You don't even need a fondue pot. Here's a simple recipe to make at home.

To make this recipe quick and easy, buy fresh or frozen packages of green beans designed for microwaving.

If your ingredients are flavorful, you don't need a lot of fat. One Italian sausage link will do. Once your beans are cooked, this soup takes no time at all.

A great homemade bean dip for fresh vegetables or pita chips.

Boil potatoes with garlic, then mash with sour cream, and whip until smooth.

Blend fresh mango, reduced-fat sour cream, and lime juice.

The fillets are dipped in Japanese-style breadcrumbs and herbs before cooking.

Applesauce adds moistness without fat. A nonnutritive sweetener also cuts the calories.

Serve this dish hot, at room temperature, or chilled as a side dish - to grilled salmon, for instance.

A moist quick bread perfect for the holidays.