Low Cholesterol Desserts!

In her first book, Siegel, a technician at a pharmacy, makes self-indulgence a little less sinful with an alluring collection of desserts for cooks who are trying to hold the line on cholesterol and saturated fats. Although a number of offerings, such as poached apples with banana cream and a mocha mousse, pack lots of flavor into fewer than 200 calories per serving, this isn't a diet book--witness a rum-topped applesauce cake that checks in at 739 calories and 33.8 grams of fat per slice. However, by using low-fat dairy products, replacing butter with safflower margarine, and whole eggs with egg substitutes, Siegel has designed numerous cakes, pies, puddings, fruit desserts and cookies that allow dessert-lovers to have a bit of fun without abandoning all dietary scruples. And the recipes are worth it: there's rhubarb honey sauce to be poured warm over banana slices or chilled for an ice milk topping, ginger cream cookies, and apple wedges sauteed and served with a spiced apple brandy sauce. Recipes are easy to follow, and each supplies information on calorie count, saturated and total fat levels and cholesterol. (Dec.)