Category Archives: Recipes

Desserts, Italian Inspired Recipes, Recipes

Creamy Italian-style Lemonade Ricotta Cheesecake

Photo: Ricotta Cheesecake

It’s Fall here in Reno, and it’s welcome as this is my favorite time of year. I love watching the trees turn, attempting to salvage any pears from my tree before the birds get them, and tasting all the wonderful flavors that come with the season. Pumpkin is back in all the restaurants, but there are other fantastic seasonal squashes coming up as well. I plan to be experimenting with more new recipes over the next few weeks, so look for that.

In the meantime, I spent most of September in Las Vegas house/dog sitting for my friends who jetted off to their home they are renovating in France. Sounds so posh, doesn’t it? The house in the country in France. I may even get over to see it when they are completely through with the massive renovation. Anyway, I didn’t do much creative cooking while I was there, keeping mostly to the basics and trying to get my body reset to a tight low carb diet.  However, I did experiment a little with this wonderful recipe for an Italian Ricotta Cream Cheesecake. It is adapted for a smaller cake and I use sugar-free lemonade mix in it to give it a very lemony flavor that is sensational. As a bonus, I created it in both a baked form, and as a quick microwave version that serves two. Both are delightful.

Italian-Style Lemonade Ricotta Cheesecake

Adjusted to low carb and adapted from the original recipe by Rene Averett. Find the original at All Recipes.

6 oz. Cream Cheese
1/3 cup Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Sugar Substitute
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Sugar-free Lemonade mix
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoons Low Carb Flour
3 tablespoons Butter, softened
1/2 cup Heavy Cream or Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.) Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit a 6″x6″ cake pan and spray with cooking spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and ricotta cheese until well mixed. Add the sugar, eggs, lemon mix, vanilla, flour, and butter. Mix until smooth and creamy. Stir in the heavy cream or sour cream last.

Pour the mixture in the cake pan and smooth.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave for another 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool before serving.

Place a plate over the top and flip the cheesecake onto the plate. Cut into six slices. Tastes delicious with a tablespoon of sugar-free strawberry jam on top or top with whipped cream.

Makes six servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 272.8 Fat: 26.8 g Net Carbs: 2.6 g Protein: 6.7 g

Photo: Microwave Ricotta Cheesecake

Microwave Lemonade Ricotta Cheesecake

2 oz. Cream Cheese
2 tablespoons Ricotta Cheese
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon Sugar Substitute
1 Egg
3/4 teaspoon Sugar-free Lemonade mix
1/8 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 tablespoon Low Carb Flour
1 tablespoon Butter, softened
2 tablespoon Heavy Cream or Sour Cream

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and ricotta cheese together, blending as much as possible. Stir in the sugar, egg, lemonade mix, vanilla, and butter. Mix well, then add the flour and cream. Stir until mixed in.

Spoon 1/2 of the batter into a microwave safe 1/2 cup ramekin, then spoon the rest into another one. Put one ramekin in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Remove and stir the batter to smooth any lumps from it. Put back in the microwave and cook another 40 seconds. Check to make sure the cake is baked all the way through. If not cook, another 15 seconds.

Repeat baking with the second ramekin. Once cooked, cover both with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. Serve in the ramekin.

Makes two servings:

Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 276.4 Fat: 26.4 g Net Carbs: 2.8 g Protein: 8.1 g

I hope you try this and love it as much as I did. I took the photos in Las Vegas and had to adjust to available cooking pans, but I  hope to make it again soon and will get better photos then.

Desserts, Recipes

Strawberry Mock Trifle is cool and easy

Photo: Mock Strawberry Trifle

This little creation uses a vanilla magic muffin along with low carb yogurt, sliced strawberries and whipped topping to create a variation of trifle that is most satisfying. The muffin cooks in a minute, then you just assemble the rest, so it goes together quickly.

Strawberry Mock Trifle

For the muffin:
1 tablespoon Butter
1 oz. Cream Cheese
2 tablespoons Egg Whites
2 tablespoons Sugar Substitute
2 tablespoon Low Carb Flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Other ingredients:
2 oz. low carb Fruit Yogurt or Dairy mix such as CarbMasters fruit
1/2 cup sliced or chopped Strawberries with juice
1/4 cup Whipped Topping or
use 1/4 heavy cream and whip it with sugar substitute to taste
1 tablespoon Brandy (optional)

In a microwavable cup or bowl, add the butter and the cream cheese. Microwave for about 15 seconds to soften. Stir together with a spatula or small whisk. Add the egg whites, vanilla, and sugar substitute and mix until it looks creamy. Add the flour and baking powder and mix until it is all worked into a batter. Smooth down the sides and microwave for one minute.

Let cool for about 15 minutes.

Cut or tear the cake into pieces. Put into a larger bowl and sprinkkle brandy over the top if you are using it. Add 1/3 carton (2 oz.) of flavored yogurt of your choice. (I use strawberry or another complimentary fruit flavor.) Add strawberries and whipped topping and mix it altogether until fruit, cake and yogurst are evenly distributed.

Spoon into two one cup serving bowls and add a dollop of whipping cream on top. Add a mint leaf for garnish if you wish. Serve.

Makes two servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories:132.4 Fat:8.6 g Net Carbs:5.5 g Protein: 6.0 g

Breads, Breakfast & Brunch, Recipes

Enjoy the taste of Hazelnut in your pancakes

Photo: Hazelnut Pancakes

Pancakes are a delicious way to start your day. They’re easy to make, and they provide that warming touch of comfort food. You can make them low carb with this quick mix recipe for hazelnut pancakes. I simply use hazelnut flour mixed with another low carb flour. In this case, I used Dixie DIner’s Bakesquick, which produces a light, fluffy pancake. Other types may not rise as much, but they work just as well.

If you wish, you can add a teaspoon of Hazelnut Syrup to enhance the flavor, but I find that the cooked hazelnut flavor comes through well. If you wish, double the recipe and put away a couple of pancakes for another day or make breakfast for two.

Hazelnut Pancakes

1 tablespoon Hazelnut Flour
1 tablespoon Low Carb Flour
1 Egg
1 tablespoon Ricotta Cheese
1 tablespoon Canola Oil
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Sugar Substitute

In a medium bowl, mix egg, ricotta cheese, and oil together until blended. Add hazelnut flour, baking mix, baking powder, and sugar substitute. Mix together well or put in the blender to mix.

Heat skillet until a drop of water skitters across the surface. Reduce heat to medium high. Spray pan with baking spray, then drop about 1/2 of the batter into the middle to make the first pancake. If you have a large pan, you can do two at once. Cook until the batter on the top looks set, and bubbles break through the surface, about two to three minutes, then turn the pancake and cook it another two to three minutes until browned.

Remove to a plate and cook the second pancake if you need to cook them separately. Butter and serve with sugar-free maple syrup or the topping of your choice.

Makes one serving.

Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 172.2 Fat: 13 g Net Carbs: 2.7 g Protein: 10.2 g

Breads, Recipes

Low Carb Cheese Bread

Photo: Coconut flour cheese bread

A favorite bread of mine is cheese bread, but on a low carb diet, it’s difficult to enjoy it as much as I’d like. Recently, I spotted a recipe for low carb cheese bread and gave it a try.

The initial recipe calls for coconut flour and psyllium husk powder, which you can buy at a health food store or order online. I happened to have some from previous baking experiments so I used it. If you don’t use it, then add 2 more tablespoons of low-carb flour.

So, I made the cheese bread with coconut flour and again with a combination of Carbquick and Bakesquick. If you like coconut flour, then try that version. It’s quite delicious. If you want to try almond flour with it, combine it with one of the other flour types to make it sturdier. I’ve included recipes for both versions; they are basically the same, just the differences in the flour.

Coconut Flour Cheese Bread

2 Eggs
1/4 cup Egg Whites (boxed version)
1/3 cup Oil
1/2 cup plus 1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese, divided
2 tablespoons Psyllium Husk Powder
3 tablespoons Coconut Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.)

Spray oil or grease a glass loaf pan or cut parchment paper to fit the bottom, then spray with baking spray.

In a medium bowl, add the eggs, egg whites, oil, 1/2 cup cheese, and the psyllium powder and mix until blended together.

Add in the coconut flour, salt, garlic powder (if using) and baking soda and mix it until well combined.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it evenly. Bake for about 25 minutes until lightly browned. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese over the top. Turn the oven to 425 degrees and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Let cool, cut into slices and eat. Makes 6 bread sticks.

Nutrition information per slice:
Calories: 242 Fat: 18.9 g Net Carbs: 2.0 g Protein: 12.8 g

Photo: Low Carb Cheese Bread

Low Carb Cheese Bread

2 Eggs
1/4 cup Egg Whites
1/3 cup Oil or Butter-flavored Shortening
1/2 cup plus 1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese, divided
1/2 cup Bakesquick or other low carb flour
2 tablespoons Gluten Flour or Low Carb Flour
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.)

Spray oil or grease a glass loaf pan or cut parchment paper to fit the bottom, then spray with baking spray.

In a medium bowl, add the eggs, egg whites, oil, 1/2 cup cheese, and mix until blended together.

Combine the flours, gluten flour, salt, garlic powder (if using) and baking soda in a bowl. Add to the wet ingredients and mix it until well combined.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it evenly. Bake for about 25 minutes until lightly browned. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese over the top. Turn the oven to 425 degrees and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Let cool, cut into slices and eat. Makes 6 to 8 bread sticks. I found this bread raised more and cut easily into 8 slices.

Nutrition information per slice (6 slices):
Calories: 197.6 Fat: 14.9 g Net Carbs: 3.0 g Protein: 13.4 g

Nutrition information per slice (8 slices):
Calories: 148.2 Fat: 11.2 g Net Carbs: 2.3 g Protein: 10.0 g

Breakfast & Brunch, Main Dish, Pork, Recipes

A Touch of Cajun in this spicy frittata

Photo: Cajun Frittata with salad

Eggs baked into a quiche or a frittata is one of my favorite ways to prepare them. In many ways, a frittata is like a quiche without the crust, but I think it is much more flexible than the classic dish. It’s the more rustic cousin. The possibilities for fillings are numerous, so you can prepare it often and have a different recipe each time.

I bought some Cajun sausages made almost locally in Carson City, Nevada at our grocery store. They are spicy and delectable, so I decided to try them in a frittata. They brought just enough pepper to the dish to satisfy my desire for spicy food.

Sometimes a frittata has potatoes or zucchini in it, but for this one, I went with the low carb choice of a turnip chopped up. When fresh, they have a delightful taste. A bit of sugar substitute while cooking adds a touch of sweetness to them. If you don’t like turnips, then chop up zucchini instead.

Photo: Cajun Sausage Frittata in Skillet

Cajun Sausage Frittata

4 slices Bacon, cut into pieces and cooked
1/2 cup Onions, chopped
1/2 cup Sweet Mini Peppers or Bell Peppers, chopped
1/4 up Mushrooms, sliced or chopped
4 large Eggs
3 tablespoons Whipping Cream
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 or 2 Cajun Style Andouille Smoked Pork Sausage
1 cup Cheddar Cheese,shredded
1 cup Turnips, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Put the cubed turnips into a bowl, add 1 teaspoon water, a pinch of sugar substitute, and microwave for 2 minutes. Turnips should be fork tender, but not falling apart. Drain and set aside.

Slice the sausage into 1/4-inch pieces.

In a bowl, mix the eggs, whipping cream, salt, and pepper together. Add any additional spice you might like, such as a little red pepper or Italian seasoning.

Cook the bacon pieces in an oven safe 8-inch skillet, such as cast iron or copper. Cook the chopped onions, mushrooms, and sweet peppers in the same skillet until just tender. Add the turnips and mix the vegetables together well.

Stir the egg mixture and add in 1/2 cup of the cheese, then pour over the vegetables in the skillet. Lift the pan to distribute the egg mixture over all the vegetables, then let the eggs cook for about three to five minutes until they are beginning to set.

Bake in the oven for about 8 minutes until the eggs are almost done. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake another 5 minutes to melt the cheese.

For a crisp topping, you can put it under the broiler for a couple of minutes.

Makes 4 to 6 servings, depending on appetite or if you’re serving it with a salad or fruit.

Nutrition Information per serving for 4 servings:
Calories: 375 Fat: 26.6 g Net Carbs:6.3 g Protein:25.1 g

Nutrition Information per serving for 6 servings:
Calories: 250 Fat:17.8 g Net Carbs: 4.1 g Protein:16.7 g