For K.D., Columbus

Makes 15 servings

After the cooking time, you can unplug the slow cooker. The dessert will stay warm and delicious for hours. It also travels well to potlucks. Serve the cake with ice cream or whipped cream.

Nonstick cooking spray

3 cups skim milk

1 box (5 ounces) chocolate cookand-serve pudding mix

1 box (18.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix (preferably Betty Crocker's Super Moist Chocolate Fudge)

1 1/3 cups water

½ cup applesauce

6 egg whites

Spray a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk the milk and pudding in the cooker until completely dissolved.

In a medium bowl, whisk the cake mix, water, apple sauce and egg whites 2 minutes or until well blended.

Gently pour the cake batter in the middle of the pudding mixture in the cooker.

Cover and cook on high 2 1/2 hours. Serve the cake warm.

Elaine McCain, Ashville

PER SERVING: 201 calories; 5 g protein; 40 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber;

2 g fat (1 g saturated); 1 mg cholesterol; 347 mg sodium