Super Bowl Cheesecake
Wow, what a Super Bowl. *What an upset. I’m not going to lie, I totally had a slice (or five) of pizza.
I know, small potatoes compared to what most people ate that day. But unlike the majority of Americans, I didn’t use the Super Bowl as an excuse to go wild and gorge myself with an endless supply of chicken wings, beer, and ice-cream. I’ll be the first to admit that I think it’s absurd not to indulge in “taboo” foods from time-to-time. You have to live life for crying out loud. But I’ll also be the first to say that everyone can take precautions and learn to prepare foods that are not only delicious, but serve as healthier options as well.
Case in point: No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake from John Berardi’s Gourmet Nutrition (volume one). I’ve made this dish on several occasions and it never fails to impress. If you’re like me and think The Cheesecake Factory is totally over-rated, then this “high protein, low sugar” cheesecake is just for you.
Ingredients
Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup raw oat bran
1 oz fat-free cream cheese, warmed in microwave
1/3 cup water
Cheesecake:
2 cups lowfat cottage cheese
1/2 package powdered Jell-O instant pudding, cheesecake flavor
3 oz. fat-free cream cheese
3 scoops vanilla or strawberry whey protein powder
2 cups sliced strawberries
Instructions:
Mix crust ingredients in a large bowl. Stir this mixture until it’s all the same consistency, and then press into a 9-inch pie pan coated with olive oil cooking spray, stretching the crust up the sides of the pan. Blend the remaining ingredients except the strawberries on high until smooth and creamy. Stir in the sliced strawberries, then pour the mixture into the crusted pan, and refrigerate for one hour.
*Speaking of upsets. While the Giants beating the Patriots will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest upsets of all time, it was nothing compared to the travesty that happened yesterday. Askmen.com released their Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2008. Katherine Heigl (of Grey’s Anatomy fame) beat out both Alessandra Ambrosio and Kate Beckinsale for the title as “most desirable woman.” If by “most desirable,” they mean “woman most likely to have hit every branch falling down the ugly tree,” then I would agree. Are they serious? I’d put Betty White ahead of Katherine Heigl on that list. Shoot. I’d even put Ellen Degeneres on the list, even though she would automatically be disqualified. Cause you know, she’s a dude. Oh snap!
