Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Lightened Up

This time of year there are so many parties and gatherings and all of them seem to revolve around food!  Next time you are heading to one and need to take a dessert try this lightened up version of a cheesecake.  By replacing most of the cream cheese in a traditional cheesecake with 1 percent cottage cheese and adding cocoa powder and just a touch of melted chocolate the end result is a silky rich deeply chocolaty dessert.  Your guests will be shocked when they learn that this is a healthier version because it tastes so rich and creamy!

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Crust:

• 1 1/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs, 8 whole sheets
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter

Filling:

• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 24 ounces 1 percent cottage cheese
• 8 ounces 1/3 less fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 2 egg whites
• 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• Fresh raspberries and mint sprigs, serving suggestion

1. Position the racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven. Put a small roasting pan on the lower rack and fill about 1/3 full of water. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray and wrap the outside bottom of the pan with aluminum foil to prevent any leaks.
2. Crust: Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, water, and melted butter in a medium bowl until moistened. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes, while preparing the filling.
3. Filling: Put the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium power until soft and melted, about 1 minute, depending on the power of your oven. Stir until smooth. Puree the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese, sugar, cocoa, and flour and continue to puree, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until smooth. Add the egg, egg whites, espresso, and vanilla and puree until incorporated. Add the melted chocolate and pulse until just combined. Pour over the prepared crust.
4. Put the pan on the upper rack in the oven and bake until just set and the center jiggles slightly, about 50 to 55 minutes. Turn off the oven and let stand in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the cheesecake to a cooling rack and run a knife around the edge of the pan.
5. Let stand at room temperature until cooled, about 2 hours, and then refrigerate until well chilled, 8 hours or overnight. Let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving. For easier serving, slice with a clean hot knife, wiped clean after each slice. Serve each slice with a few fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint.

Calories 245; Total Fat 9g (Sat Fat 5g, Mono Fat 2g, Poly Fat 0g); Protein 12g; Carb 31 g; Fiber 2g; Cholesterol 36mg; Sodium 373mg 

Source: foodnetwork.com

Healthified Gravy

With 75% fewer calories,no fat and 38% less sodium than the original recipe. There's no need to give up Thanksgiving gravy!

Healthified Gravy
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
 8 servings (1/4 cup each)

2 cups Progresso reduced-sodium chicken broth                                   
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Dash poultry seasoning, if desired

In 2-quart saucepan, heat broth, onion, carrot and celery to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 15 minutes. Pour broth through strainer, pressing vegetables lightly to extract juice. Return broth to saucepan; discard vegetables.

In small bowl, stir water, soy sauce, flour and poultry seasoning with wire whisk until smooth. Gradually stir flour mixture into broth in saucepan. Heat to boiling. Cook about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly.

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes don't have to be full of butter and cream to taste good, try out this recipe for Thanksgiving and you won't miss the calories!

Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
8Servings

4 medium russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
3/4 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/4 to 1/3 cup hot milk
1 to 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, if desired

Wash and peel potatoes, cut into quarters.  Place potatoes in saucepan, add enough water to cover potatoes.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of the salt.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat to medium-low; cover loosely and boil gently 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes break apart easily when pierced with a fork. 

Drain potatoes well; return to saucepan.  Shake saucepan gently over low heat 1 to 2 minutes to evaporate and excess moisture.

With potato masher, mash potatoes until no lumps remain.  Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and dash of pepper.  Continue mashing, gradually adding milk until potatoes are smooth and creamy.  Stir in butter if desired, serve immediately.

Say No To Holiday Weight Gain

The holidays are upon us!  Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years can be a nightmare on your goals of healthy eating and losing/maintaining weight.  But there are a lot of things that you can do to be able to still enjoy the holidays and not pack on the pounds.  People tend to gain an average of 15 pounds during this time of year but here are some tips to help you to not gain any weight...it can be done!

1.  Weigh yourself twice a week:  That's often enough to make sure you stay on track, but not so often that you take all the fun out of holiday noshing, says Michael Dansinger, MD, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Step on the scale first thing in the morning when your stomach is empty.

2.   Start your day with a bang:  Exercising in the morning can help ensure better behavior all day long, according to a study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Using brain scans, researchers found that when women worked out in the a.m., they not only moved more the rest of the day, but they also responded less to pictures of tempting food compared with the days they didn't do a morning workout. The upshot: fewer cravings for high-fat fare.

3.  Be picky, picky, picky:  Peruse the buffet before you load your plate to avoid foods you don't really want, suggests obesity expert Tim Church, MD, a professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University. If, for instance, you could take or leave sushi but adore sliders, don't start with the tuna rolls hoping to be able to resist the two-bite burger.

"If you pick the stuff you really want and have it in moderation," Dr. Church notes, "you'll stave off those cravings that can get you in trouble later on."

 

4.  Just say no-everywhere:  Willpower is like a muscle: Work it and you get stronger. What's key is to practice keeping yourself in check in non-food situations, too. "Whether you're driving in rush hour traffic or dealing with a temperamental kid, there are challenges that require self-control," Dr. Dansinger says.

Succeed in not honking at that rude driver, he explains, and you'll be better able to resist dessert at the party.

 

5.  Avoid banking calories:  Cutting back all day so you can indulge at an event that night only sets you up for a pig-out.

Why? You're freaking starving! "It's easy to get out of control when you're faced with high-calorie choices," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, RD, author of The Miracle Carb Diet.

Be sure to eat your three squares and a couple of snacks. Aim for lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein.

 

6.  Concentrate your workouts:  So what if you can't get to your favorite yoga class or find time for the treadmill? "Even just 15 minutes can help you maintain your fitness level," Dr. Church says. For example, jumping rope for 15 minutes torches about 190 calories; a quick yoga sequence at home can help you stay flexible.

 

7.  Don't swear off desserts:  But practice the three-bite rule to keep your sweet tooth in check. "You'll get that amazing first taste, a satisfying middle one, and then a lingering third bite," Zuckerbrot says.

 

8.  Avoid morning after food:  Have the night of your life, then send guests home with food-filled Tupperware. "It's the leftovers that do you in," says Lauren Slayton, RD, founder of Foodtrainers in New York City.

Repeat after us: Out of sight, out of mind...

 

9.  Drum up some willpower:  Under the spell of that peppermint bark you co-worker brought to the office? Before you succumb, try this simple trick: Place the thumb and fingers of one hand on your forehand, a half inch apart.

Tap each finger one at a time, once per second, telling yourself, "Hold on." Wait 15-20 minutes (return phone calls, check email), and the craving will disappear, according to Tufts University Research. Sounds crazy, but it works.

 

10.  Cut back on diet soda:  In fact, any bubbly beverage can lead to belly bloat, explains Zuckerbrot. "The carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles of fizzy drinks causes a buildup of air, which can lead to gas.

 

11.  Eat your H2O:  Instead of trying to down eight glasses of water (near impossible when you're busy), have a green salad with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette and a few slices of avocado. "These water-rich foods help keep you hydrated, so that everything moves through your system faster," Zied says.

 

12.  Brew up a pot of peppermint tea:  Research shows peppermint can help calm stomach muscles and reduce gas. Not a fan? Try chamomile, suggests Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It.

 

13.  Chew slowly:  We know: When your to-do list is never-ending, it's hard to make yourself downshift, even at mealtime. But eating fast is a quick recipe for an expanded waistline.

Here's why: "The more air you swallow, the more bloated you'll get," Taub-Dix notes.

 

14.  Get plenty of potassium:  The nutrient counterbalances sodium, so you retain less water, Zuckerbrot explains. Our favorite potassium possibilities: bananas, papayas, kiwis, strawberries, and cantaloupe.

Or serve up some asparagus or dandelion greens to get the bonus of a natural diuretic.

 

15.  Keep calm and kick cravings:  Stressed by the sight of that holiday spread? Take deep breaths before you grab a plate. Research suggests that women who practice stress reduction techniques are able to prevent weight gain.

Close your eyes and focus on your reaching for 30 seconds. Then reevaluate whether you really want to fill your plate; chances are you don't.

 

Source: Health.com

Sesame Shrimp and Apple Salad

Here is another quick and easy recipe to use those delicious apples that are in season right now!

Sesame Shrimp and Apple Salad
Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
2 servings

8 uncooked shrimp
wooden skewers
1/4 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp cider vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
3 cups lettuce leaves
1 Granny Smith apple cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup red bell pepper cut into matchsticks

Heat oven to 400.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Thread shrimp onto skewers, 2-4 per skewer.  Spray shrimp evenly with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake 5-8 minutes until shrimp are pink.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat vinegar, olive oil, honey, sesame oil and soy sauce with whisk until well blended.

In large bowl toss apple and bell pepper with dressing.  Divide evenly between 2 plates.  Top each with shrimp.

Each serving: 150 calories, 5 g fat

Source: Live Better America

5 Advantages of Drinking Water In The Morning

5. Drinking water on an empty stomach purifies the colon making it easier to absorb nutrients.

4.  Increases the production of new blood and muscle cells.

3.  Helps with weight loss.  Drinking at least 16 ounces of chilled water can boost your metabolism by 24% in the morning.

2.  Glowing skin. Water helps to purge toxins from the blood which helps keep your skin glowing and clear.

1.  Balances your lymph system.  These glands help you perform your daily functions, balance your body fluids and fight infection. 

Sounds like a lot of really good reasons to drink that water as soon as you wake up in the morning!  I don't know about you but I am always SO thirsty when I wake up I seem to guzzle water.  Give it a try, I bet you will start to notice a difference!

Healthified Lasagna

It is fall and that means its time for comfort food!  Everything hearty, meaty, cheesey and warm is exactly what I am craving with this cooler weather.  The only problem is those things are so bad for you and loaded with fat and calories.  Give this lasagna a try, I think you will find it delicious and not even notice all the unhealthy things that aren't in there!

Healthified Lasagna
Prep time:  30 minutes
Total time:  2 hours 30 minutes
12 Servings

9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen® organic Italian herb pasta sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 egg
1 container (15 oz) reduced-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package. Place in cold water.

Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook beef and garlic over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in pasta sauce, ground red pepper and 1 teaspoon of the basil. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, beat egg slightly. Stir in ricotta cheese and remaining 1/2 teaspoon basil until blended. Drain noodles. Spread about 1/2 cup sauce mixture over bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 noodles, 1 1/2 cups of the sauce mixture, half of the ricotta mixture and 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and mozzarella cheese; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Spray 15-inch piece of foil with cooking spray. Cover lasagna with foil.

Bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

38% fewer calories • 52% less fat • 55% less sat fat than the original recipe.

1 Serving:  240 Calories and 9g fat

Source: Live Better America