Monday, October 31, 2011

Cherry Cheesecake

I love sweets and I love to make them as well. This recipe I found on foodgawker.com. It originally comes from Weight Watchers. Unfortunately, while they are points portioned, it is easy to eat too many. This was a simple recipe and I had everything on hand. Enjoy! I give this an 8 on a 1-10 scale. From here on out I’ll begin rating things.
Rating: Me (8)
Recipe: Cherry Cheesecake

Ingredients from Weight Watchers
3/4 cup(s) graham cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp light butter, melted
2/3 cup(s) low fat cream cheese
6 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 large egg white(s)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup(s) sugar
3/4 cup(s) light fruit pie filling, cherry
Instructions
Place 12 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Spoon 1 tablespoon of crumb mixture into bottom of each liner and press down gently; refrigerate until ready to use.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat both types of cream cheese until fluffy. Add lemon juice, egg whites, vanilla extract and sugar; beat until smooth.
Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly into muffin liners; bake until set, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Top each cheesecake with 1 tablespoon cherry pie filling. Yields 1 cheesecake per serving.
Servings: 12
Points Plus: 3

Bacon Veggie Quiche

It's fairly easy, but takes a little time to make. Feel free to make ahead of time. Quiche is good cold or warm in my opinion.

Rating: Me (7)
Recipes: Bacon Veggie Quiche
Ingredients
1-2 Tbp Olive oil
¼ cup diced red pepper
½ cup chopped broccoli
¼ cup diced red onion
¼ cup chopped yellow squash
¼ cup chopped button mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
5-6 slices bacon
2 roma tomatoes, sliced
Large handful of spinach leaves
½ cup ricotta cheese
½ cup shredded cheese (of your choice)
6 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 sheet refrigerated pie crust
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unroll crust and place into pie pan. Bake for 10 min at 375. Remove from oven.

Sauté red pepper and broccoli with the oil over medium heat for 3-5 min. Add onion, squash, mushrooms, and garlic. Sauté till al dente. 5-10 min.

While veggies sauté cook bacon, as desired.  In a separate bowl beat eggs with whisk or fork.

Mix in ricotta and shredded cheeses until well combined. Add salt and pepper to egg mixture.

Chop bacon and add to egg mixture. Add veggies to egg mixture.

Pour just enough mixture into the pie pan (with the precooked crust in it) to coat the bottom.
Place a large handful of spinach leaves over the egg mixture in the pie pan to create a layer. Por remaining egg mixture on top of spinach.

Top with sliced tomatoes, arrange as desired.

Cover in foil and back 40 min. Remove foil and bake an additional 20 min.
Serves 6. Serving size 1/6 of pie.

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Greek Wontons

Ok, I know Greek Wontons doesn't really make sense, but it is a fun alernative to your typical fried wonton.

I had leftover wonton wrappers from a dinner party a week ago. I pulled together some other ingredients I thought would be good together. And out came what I call "Greek Wontons". Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Rating: Me (9), 
Recipe: Greek Wontons

Ingredients
½ cup low fat cream cheese
½ cup shredded cheese (of your choice)
¼ cup low fat sour cream
10-12 kalamata olives, diced
1 green onion, diced
¼ tsp garlic salt
Pepper to taste
16 wonton wrappers
¼ cup water
Vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients, minus the wonton wrappers, water, and oil, until well mixed. Place 1 tsp of mixture into the center of a wonton wrapper. Dab your finger into the water and slide along two edges of the wrapper. Place just enough water on the wonton to dampen it, not too much. Fold the dry sides onto the wet. You should have a triangle shape.

Once you have made all 16 triangles. Heat a pan of oil, about ½-1 in from the bottom, over medium heat. Once it bubbles when a sprinkle of water is added, place four triangles into the oil. Heat about 1-2 min on side one, or until medium brown and turn. Heat an additional 1 min on side two or again until medium brown. Remove and place on paper towel. Repeat with remaining triangles. Enjoy!

If need be you can keep them warming in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit in an over safe dish.

Ten minutes after he got home: