Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake

Savory Cheesecake !
Normally when we think cheesecake we think of something sweet.  But instead this cake is savory and built as a perfect summer side dish.  It is based with Ricotta cheese instead of Cream cheese so it has a much different texture.  The real trick is getting it to "set".  The first thing you have to do is grate the Zucchini sprinkle with salt and set in a colander for about 10 mins.  THen squeeze as much liquid out with you hands as you can.  One thing to consider is that smaller zucchini's are tastier  as well they hold less water so choose small when shopping for this recipe:)

Ingredients:
2 Cups Zucchini, unpeeled & grated
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
2 1/2 Cups Ricotta cheese
1/2 Cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 shallots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 Cup fresh dill
zest of one lemon
2 Large eggs beaten
1/3 Cup goat cheese, crumbled

                                                                                Method:
Preheat Oven to 325.  Butter/oil a 7 inch springform pan (I used my favorite pie plate)

In a Strainer, toss the shredded Zucchini with the sea slat and set aside for ten minutes.  Now Squeeze and press out as much moisture as you can.  Set aside.

In a Large Bowl combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, shallots, garlic, dill and lemon zest.  Stir in eggs.  Stir till combined.  Now stir in shredded zucchini.  Pour mixture into your springform pan and place on a baking sheet.  Place in oven and bake for 60 minutes.

                                                                                    Now sprinkle with goat cheese and return to oven.      
Bake for another 20 -30 minutes.  or until the cheese is melted and the cake barley jiggles in the center.  This cake will set up more as it cools.
Cool completely and serve at room temp.

BLueberry Crumb Bars

This is another one of those recipes that does not belong on a figure girl blog
BUT I love to bake
To be honest I sometimes don't even taste these yummy things I make for the people I love
maybe some day I will get over that
I made these Bars for a concession for a friend.  Managed to make enough to give my parents a taste too.  They went over so well I found myself making Blackberry crumb bars the next week:)
These are easier to cut once chilled and store best in the fridge.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sugar
1 tsp baking powder
3 Cups all Purpose Flour
1 Cup Cold unsalted Butter
1 Egg
1/4 tsp salt

Zest and Juice of One Lemon 
4 Cups Fresh Blueberries
4 tsp Corn Starch

1. Preheat Oven to 375.  Grease a 9x13 " Pan.
2. In a medium bowl stir together 1 Cup Sugar, 3 Cups Flour, and Baking Powder.  Mix in salt and Lemon Zest. Use a fork or a pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg.  Dough will be crumbly.  Pat 1/2 of dough into pan.
3. In another bowl stir together sugar, corn starch and lemon juice.  Gently mix in the blueberries.  Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over crust.  Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
4. Bake in preheated oven for about 45 mins or unitl the top is lightly brown.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.

ENJOY!

Salmon Loaf

Oven Temp: 350

Ingredients:
1 Cup Cooked Salmon
1 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Cup Boiled Skim Milk
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
 Dash of Salt & Pepper

1 tsp Butter
1/2 Onion Chopped
1/2 Cup Celery Chopped
1 TBSP Fresh Dill

2 Egg Whites Beaten Till Stiff

Method:
In large bowl mix together Salmon, crumbs, milk, lemon juice, S & P

In medium sauce pan melt butter
saute onion & Celery till tender add to other ingredients.
Beat Egg whites and fold in last
Bake for One Hour in greased casserole dish

 

YUM! BlueBerry Bites

Ingredients: 

1 tsp Cinnamon 

1/8 tsp nutmeg

Water as needed

2 Large Whole Wheat Tortillas 

Preheat Oven to 350

On Cutting board use small canning jar to press circle into Tortilla use scissors to complete cut 

Cut 4 small slits in each circle at 12 o'clock 3 o'clock 6 o'clock & 9 o'clock

The slits should not meet they are just there to shape to muffin tin

Next use a pastry brush or small rubber spatula to brush each side of each circle with water 

Sprinkle Both sides with cinnamon/Nutmeg mixture 

Press circles into non stick muffin tin

Bake in oven till crispy about 15 mins 

Next make filling

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dry Curd Cottage Cheese 

1 Cup Fat free Plain Yogurt 

1/2 Cup Vanilla Fat Free Greek Yogurt 

Put all Ingredients into small Blender or food Processor blend till combined and lumps are mostly gone

add more yogurt if needed 

When tortilla Muffin Cuppies are done Spoon mixture into each

Add Blueberries 

Enjoy!!!

 

Quick Dinner Idea

Greek Chicken Pita with Low Fat Protein Tzatziki 


Veggies and fillings:


Whole Wheat Pita Shells
Red Pepper
Yellow Pepper
Green Lettuce leaves
Cucumber
Purple Onion
Lemon Wedges
Goat Feta
Blanched Asparagus Spears
Cooked Chicken Breast

Tzatziki:

2 Cups Fat Free Greek Yogurt
1 Clove Garlic Minced Finely
1/2 Cucumber, grated, and squeeze as much liquid out as you can
1 tsp Fresh Dill
1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Grego's Salsa Salad:

When I make this salsa it is only wise to make it in an ridiculously large batch or else I might have to make it every day.

Although to any other person this is simply 'fresh salsa' to Gregory this is salad to be eaten by heaping tablespoons with breakfast meals and just anything else he can think of.

When we first became sweethearts I use to make this salsa for him.  Every morning we would have it with poached eggs.  No word of a lie it may have been how I won his heart.  Yup its that good!

Fresh not Frozen blueberries are the only way to go...but you can try mango or pineapple too.  The Chipotle peppers can be found in a little tin in the Mexican section at most grocery marts.
Be careful with this ingredient!  Just 1 pepper can go a long way in a large batch of salsa.

I fork one of these lil babies out and cut it up into tiny pieces with a fork and a sharp knife then add it to the mix without ever touching it.  Guaranteed I rub my eyes after toughing these hot things ..learn from my mistakes my friends !

The tomatillo are a type of green tomato that come covered by a papery husk.  These simply cannot be skipped.  Also a word to the wise ...memorising the grocery code for these will get you through the checkout line faster since they seem a little uncommon.

So this is what we like to put in our Fresh Salsa ...ehhhemmm Salad :)

• Onion 
• Red pepper 
• Juice of 1 lime (more if you like)
• vine ripened tomatoes 
• tomatillo's 1 or two is great
• chipotle pepper (I use 1 ...If you like it hot go for more)

Chop it up and enjoy ....I really like cilantro but find not everyone is a fan.  So most often I wont add this but I think it makes it extra yummy :)

Sweet Things & Green Things ...Green is GREat!

Today was one of those days that seemed like it would be a flop
 but I actually got a lot done :)
 After a sleepless night ...I managed to power through the day like a champ ....if I don't say so myself :)
...with some great kitchen activities ...a great back workout WITH cardio
 even a trip to the Dentist with my short stinky side kick
the day felt like a marathon ...but I feel happy about it ...just wish sunshine was a part of it
but I guess you can't have everything
Now I relax...just thought I would share some food pics of some yummy stuff I made today ...more mini Quiches ...lots of Spinach this time...blackberry muffins for my kiddo and an amazing Green monster Smoothy ...I am certain it is the Green that got me through this day
Thanks Green
Your Great