Wednesday, November 19, 2008

For the Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from 14 graham crackers)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
1 .25-ounce envelope unflavored gelatin
1 8-ounce bar cream cheese, at room temperature
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Make the Crust
Heat oven to 400° F. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan. Using a straight-sided dry measuring cup, press the mixture into the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of the pan. Bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.

Make and Chill the Filling
Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup boiling water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until dissolved, about 5 minutes.

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin, sour cream, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla. Mix in the gelatin mixture until incorporated.

Pour the mixture into the crust and refrigerate, covered, until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 458; FAT 29g (sat 17g); CHOLESTEROL 80mg; CARBOHYDRATE 44g; CALORIES FROM FAT 56%; SODIUM 233mg; PROTEIN 6g; FIBER 3g; SUGAR 32g

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

This luscious reduced-fat cheesecake, with a crust full of nutritional goodies, is really a very creamy pumpkin pie that easily could become a traditional favorite on Thanksgiving or any special family dinner.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
16 ounces soft silken tofu, drained
1 can (16 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons dark rum or bourbon
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place oats and walnuts on baking sheet and bake 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to food processor. Add wheat germ and 2 tablespoons brown sugar and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan and press mixture into bottom of pan.

2. In food processor (no need to rinse), combine cream cheese, tofu, pumpkin puree, whole eggs, egg whites, rum, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, salt, and remaining 1 cup brown sugar and process until smooth. Pour batter into springform pan.

3. Bake 1 hour. Turn oven off, prop oven door open slightly and let cake stand 45 minutes in turned-off oven. Cool to room temperature, then chill overnight before serving.

Via Kimberley!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

14 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Graham Cracker crumbs (store bought works well also)
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
5 packages (8 oz each) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

DIRECTIONS:
Mix crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.

Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition, just until blended. Blend in sour cream. Pour over crust.

Bake for 10 minutes and then lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees F, bake for about 1 hour and 5 minutes or until center is almost set. Run a small knife around the rim of the pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Top with Cherry pie filling.

Other serving suggestions:
1. Cut up fresh strawberries and arrange them on each slice of cheesecake, then glaze with Strawberry Preserve
2. Using a milk or dark chocolate bar (Ghiradelli works well,) shave off chocolate curls, using a knife. Arrange them on top of each slice of cheesecake.

Tips: To cut perfect cheesecake slices, use a wet knife.

Storage suggestions:
1. This will stay fresh up to 3 days in refrigerator and 1 week in freezer. Cover with plastic wrap or a cake box with a lid.

Via Pastry Whiz

I made this for a dinner this past Friday night and it was a huge hit.  Everyone wanted a piece to take home and it was super easy to make. 

Monday, November 19, 2007

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS
1/4 tsp saffron threads
10 cups (2 1/2 quarts) chicken broth
1 1/4 cups dried yellow split peas
1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
6 cups peeled, seeded and cubed pumpkin (from a 3- to 4-pound pumpkin)
Minced fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large metal spoon or a small pan, heat saffron over low heat about 10 seconds until dry, then grind to a powder with the back of a spoon and steep in 1 tbsp boiling water to release flavor, about 1 minute. Bring broth, peas and onion to a boil in a large soup pot over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in oil, cinnamon, ginger, spoonful of saffron and pumpkin. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. The soup is done when the pumpkin begins to fall apart and the peas are tender. Salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Ingredients:

2 cups canned pure pumpkin
1 box Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies Mix (the 18.3-oz. Family Size box)
2 tbsp. Better ‘n Peanut Butter, room temperature

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine pumpkin with the brownie mix in a large bowl; stir until smooth (do not add anything else).  Spray a small baking pan (6” X 6” or 8” X 4” work best - no larger!) with nonstick cooking spray and pour in the mixture.  Spoon 2 tbsp. of Better ‘n Peanut Butter (room temperature) on top and use a knife to swirl peanut butter around. Cook for approximately 35 minutes.  The batter will remain very thick and fudgy, and it should look undercooked.  Remove from oven.  Cover with aluminum foil and let cool in fridge for a couple of hours.  Cut into 36 squares and serve.


Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 1.3 oz.)

Calories: 63
Fat:  1g
Sodium: 56mg
Carbs: 13.5g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 9g
Protein: 1g

1 Point!

via Kimberley

Serves: 8

Traditional smells and tastes with a distinctively vegan personality.

Ingredients
3/4 cup pecan halves
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup canola oil (save calories and fat by using applesauce instead)
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 cup soy milk
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 inch pie plate. Spread nuts over a baking pan. Toast for 7-10 minutes on middle shelf, or until the smell of nuts fills the kitchen. Set aside 16 pecan halves for garnish.

2. Combine oats, flour, remaining pecans, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Pulse until mixture becomes a coarse meal. Whisk together oil and 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and mix into dry ingredients to form a soft dough. Press mixture into pie plate. Crimp edges. Bake for 10 minutes, and set aside to cool.

3. Blend soymilk and arrowroot in the food processor until the arrowroot is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth, about 15 seconds. Add pumpkin, 1/2 cup maple syrup, ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, and cloves; blend until smooth. Pour filling into crust, and smooth the top.

4. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and the outside inch of the filling is set. Don’t worry if the center is still soft; it firms up as the pie cools. Transfer pie to a wire the rack. Gently press toasted pecan halves into hot filling in 2 circles. Cool to room temperature, and then chill until set, about 3 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

NUTRITION INFO (per serving)
Calories: 340
Fat: 15.6 g
Carbohydrates: 47 g
Protein: 6.9 g

Via Kimberley