Thursday, September 16, 2010

Clean Eating Orange Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake

(no garnish)

From Clean Eating Magazine, May/June 2010

Serves: 16. Makes: 1 9-inch cake. Hands-on time: 45 minutes. Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes (plus 2 hours or overnight set)

Crust:
1/4 C Dutch-processed cocoa powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
1/2 C almond meal/flour (Mom grinded up almonds in my blender)
3/4 C rolled oats
1/4 C raw honey
Pinch of sea salt

Filling:
1 med naval orange, zested and juiced
1/4 C skim milk
1/4 C raw honey
3 Tb agar agar flakes (we had to go to the health food store for this)
3 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or greater), chopped (about 100 g or 1/2 C)
1 1/2 C extra-smooth low fat ricotta cheese
3/4 C low fat cream cheese, softened

Garnish (we didn't...)
3 Tb cocoa powder
8 slices naval orange

Equipment: 9 inch springform pan

1. Prepare crust: combine cocoas, almond meal, and oats in a food processor and pulse until combined and almost smooth. Add honey and salt and continue to pulse until combined. Press mixture evenly into the bottom of springform pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. (Crust may be prepared ahead and kept, covered and refrigerated, for 24 hours).

2. Prepare filling: Add orange zest and juice, milk and honey to a small saucepan. Stir in agar agar and let rest for 15 minutes at room temperature. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer and stir for about 3 to 5 minutes or until agar agar is dissolved. Set aside at room temperature.

3. Meanwhile, melt dark chocolate in medium-size bowl over a double boiler. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer the whisk attachment (or in a large mixing bowl, if using an electric hand mixer), whip together ricotta and cream cheeses until combined and fluffy. While mixer is running on medium speed, slowly pour in orange mixture until combined. Then slowly pour in warm, melted dark chocolate until combine.

5. Pour filling over crust in springform pan and smooth with a spatula until even. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight until set. Cheesecake will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days.

6. To serve, with a knife carefully loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan. Remove sides of springform pan. Over a bowl, pour remaining 3 Tb cocoas into a fine mesh strainer. Lightly dust entire top of cake so that no filling is visible. Fill a pitcher or bowl with warm water. With a sharp knife, slice cake into 16 wedges, dipping knife into water and carefully wiping it clean and dry with a towel after each slice. Garnish each piece of cheesecake with a slightly twisted orange slice, if desired.

Nutrients per serving: Calories: 166, Total Fat: 7 g, Sat Fat: 3.5 g, Carbs: 21 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 13 g, Protein: 6.5 g, Sodium: 114 mg, Cholesterol: 14 mg

Friday, May 21, 2010

Granola

Kristen's Granola Recipe (which is super yummy and really inexpensive)

My adaptations to suit our diet needs:

4 C oatmeal
1/2 C unsweetened coconut
1/2 to 1 C sliced almonds (I honestly just threw them in without measuring)
1/2 to 1 C raw sunflower seeds
ground Flaxeed (maybe 1/4 C?)
1/4 C maple flakes
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C honey (local)
1 t cinnamon
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 C raisins (optional)

1. In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, nut, seeds, and flax
2. In a small or medium saucepan, combine sugar, oil, honey, and cinnamon and bring to a boil
3. Remove saucepan from heat and add vanilla
4. Pour coating over oatmeal mix and stir to coat evenly
5. Spread mix in a large, shallow baking pan and bake @ 350 degrees F for 20 mix. I usually stir once or twice during the baking process
6. If using raisins or choc chips, add after baking.
7. Cool completely then store in an airtight container



Saturday, February 27, 2010

Chipotle!

If you are like me, you LOOOOOOVE Chipotle but there is not one restaurant anywhere near you. Last week Ethan and I were in Orlando and we were able to enjoy Chipotle's yumminess for the first time since last August. Then I thought, I HAVE to figure out how to do this at home. We came home and had our normal black bean burritos (a pregnancy staple for me over the last few weeks) and they just tasted so bland and boring. Oh Chipotle, my tastebuds crave you. So, I found this website: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=recipes. I have been collecting recipes for our burrito combos and we are going to try it out next week when my folks are here (all Chipotle fans). I'll let you know how it goes!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Key: No sugar, No corn syrup. I used Hunts Tomato Paste because it doesn't contain corn syrup.

I got this recipe from SparkRecipes.com

Ingredients

    12 oz can tomato paste
    12 oz water
    1 small onion, chopped
    1 tbls garlic, minced
    4 tbls dry chopped basil
    1 tbls dry oregano
    1 beef bouillon cube, crumbled
    1/2 tsp black pepper, fresh ground
    2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

Heat olive oil over medium high heat in large, heavy frying pan. Saute onion until soft and cooked through. Add garlic and cook until soft. Add herbs, pepper and beef bouillon, and saute until the scent releases. Add tomato paste and water, stir to combine. Heat through. Adjust herbs and spice to taste.

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user BASICMOUTH.

Number of Servings: 6

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Orange Beef (modified)

This is a recipe I have modified from other recipes and it is now one of Ethan's and my fav dishes.

1.5 lbs beef top sirloin, thinly sliced
1/3 C rice wine vinegar
2 Tbl OJ
1 t of sea salt
1-2 Tbl of soy sauce
2 t (or more) of orange zest
3 Tbl grated fresh ginger
1.5 Tbl minced garlic

Mix ingredients and marinate beef for as long as desired. (I have marinated 30 min or overnight.) Brown in a skillet and serve with rice. We eat it with green beans, but I'm sure tastes great with steamed broccoli.

Strawberry Crush

2 C strawberries
1/2 crushed pineapple (I used 1 C of chunks)
1/2 banana
1/2 water (I used OJ)
1/4 C lemon juice (I just used a squirt)
Squirt of honey (I will omit this next time)
Squirt of flaxeed oil (Opt)

Combine and blend. Sooooo good.

Skillet Bow Tie Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic close, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1.5 cups water
1 can (6 oz) tom paste
1 Tbl dried parsley flakes
2 t dried oregano
1 t salt
2.5 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
3/4 cup small-curd cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, cook beef, onion, and garlic over med heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Add the tomatoes, water, tom paste, parsley, oregano, and salt; mix well.

Stir in pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring once. Combine cheeses, drop by rounded tbl onto pasta mixture. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings