I am all for moderation. Through the years, I have tried all sorts of diets. But, as I have studied nutrition I have learned that as cliche as it is, it really is all about having a balanced diet. So, if you want a hunk of good ol' fashioned cheesecake with graham cracker crust and whipped cream, HAVE IT! I do. I do, however, enjoy the challenge of coming up with tasty recipes that have some nutrition behind them. I enjoy knowing that, even from my dessert, I am getting less saturated fat, less sugar, more protein, and even a bit more fiber. Cooking is a creative flow, a meditation. It's something that fills the soul with the "good stuff," if you know what I mean. Kind of like how in The Sims when one of your Sims reads a book, they get that little column above their head that fills them up with knowledge and experience.
My motto is to enjoy cooking, whatever that means to you, and enjoy yourself in moderation (and sometimes without it). To quote Oscar Wilde, "everything in moderation including moderation." If you are going out to a restaurant, get the burger! Get the chocolate soufflé with ice cream! Psychological health is just as important as physical health and it truly is all a balance. Just find what works for you.
THIS Lemon (Protein) Cheesecake works for me.
PS~ I don't measure when I cook, so this recipe is based on an estimate of approximately how much of each ingredient I used. I encourage you to use taste as your tool for measuring. I used whatever I had in my house at the time. If I could have made the crust from almond meal and whole wheat flour, I would have.
Here's the recipe:
Lemon (Protein) Cheesecake
Crust:
-2 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
-1/2 cup raw almonds
-1/4 cup coconut oil
-5 to 6 drops stevia
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, process almonds until ground. Add to a small bowl. Add toast to food processor, pulse until finely ground. Add to bowl. Add stevia. Add coconut oil one tablespoon at a time, and work with your hands until it slightly sticks together. Do not add too much. Press into the bottom of a pie dish, and bake for 5-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool before adding filling.
Filling:
-1 cup 0% greek yogurt
-1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
-1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
-2 eggs
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-3 TBSP lemon juice
-1 to 2 tsp lemon zest
-10 drops stevia
-honey and/or coconut sugar, to taste (I used ~2 TBSP of each)
Add all ingredients to a food processor, and blend until smooth. Pour filling over pie crust, and smooth the top. Bake at 350 degrees for ~1 hour. The edges should be slightly browned, and the center should be jiggly. Garnish with lemon zest. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours before cutting.
Enjoy!
XOXO, Kristina
