Lemon-Vanilla Cheesecake

Yeah, It's another cheesecake...but with less carbs, so you can have a larger slice. Or you can even have a second slice because it too is made with whey protein powder and is very low in carbs.


Lemon-Vanilla Cheesecake

Ingredients:

2 Cups cottage cheese
2eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup vanilla-flavored whey protein
1/4 cup Splenda
Grated rind and juice of fresh lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

**Low-carb crust

Cooking spray
1+1/2 cups hazelnuts***
1/3 cup vanilla-flavored whey protein powder
4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350ºF
Grind hazelnuts or almonds in food processor or blender to medium-fine
Add protein powder and butter, mix well
Spray pie plate or pan with cooking spray
Press crust mix firmly and evenly into pan
Place crust in preheated oven on bottom rack
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until brown
Let cook before adding cheesecake mix.

Directions for filling:

Preheat oven 375ºF
Mix cottage cheese,eggs,sour cream, protein powder,Splenda,lemon rind,lemon juice, and vanilla extract in blender or with mixer(high speed) Blend until smooth.
Pour into pre-baked crust.
Place cake on the top rack of oven.
Place a flat pan of water on bottom rack under cake.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes
Let cool then chill before serving

Makes 12 servings
8g carbs
2g fiber
True carbs=6g

What is a "free food" ?

I got an e-mail from one of my readers and he wanted to know what they mean when they say it's a "free food" ?

Well Dan here is the answer...

A free food is any food that contains less than 5 grams of carbohydrates and has less than 20 calories.(Yes, I count the calories too) You should limit all free foods to no more than 3 servings a day spread out throughout the day.

Cranberry Pear Brown Betty

Delicious and crunchy, just in time for the holidays. You can even add some nuts
for more crunch.

Yield: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS

2 cups dry coarse whole wheat bread crumbs**
2 tbsp butter, melted, or extra virgin olive oil
6 pears, peeled, cored and sliced (or large can pear halves,drained, enough to equal 3 pears)
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
* 1/4 cup packed brown sugar *
1/2 cup cranberry cocktail (no sugar added)

Directions

In a bowl, combine bread crumbs and butter. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine pears, lemon juice, cranberries and brown sugar.

In a greased slow cooker stoneware, spread one-third of the bread crumb mixture. Layer half of the pear mixture over top. Repeat. Finish with a layer of crumbs and pour cranberry cocktail over top. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours, until fruit is tender and mixture is hot and bubbly.

Notes

Works best in a small (3½ quart) slow cooker

* You can reduce the carbs by using Splenda Brown Sugar

**To make dried bread crumbs for this recipe, toast 4 slices of whole wheat bread. Tear into pieces and process in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until finely ground. Use a light-tasting whole wheat loaf for this recipe.