Foody Friday - Healthier Cheesecake

I am a glutton for free e-books on my Kindle. It's not uncommon for me to download a book, that I'd barely look at in a bookstore, just because it's free. Such was the case with The Perfect Ten Diet.  I thought it sounded interesting because the diet focuses on 10 hormones that need to be balanced to lose weight. I started reading not expecting that I'd finish it but it was a very interesting read and the author/doctor put explained difficult scientific concepts in understandable ways. I admit I would find it  VERY hard to follow this diet to the letter; no sugar or sweeteners, no processed foods, NO CAFFEINE,limited bread!! But also adding more healthy fats to your diet; eggs, olive oil, fish, chicken, CREAM, real BUTTER!! I can do butter!  After reading the book I decided to try and follow some of the recommendations. Can't be too healthy right? 

The book even includes healthier recipes at the end and imagine my surprise when cheesecake was on this diet! Aw, what the heck. I figured I'd make it, it would be lousy and I'd throw it out. But at least I'd try. 

Oh. my. goodness. It was great! It took DR and I about a week but we finally ate the whole thing. And boy, did it fill me up! It isn't as sweet as a regular cheesecake but it was VERY satisfying. 

New York Style Cheesecake

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup whole wheat cracker crumbs

1/2 cup agave (I used honey, not on the diet but darn natural in my book)

40 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup heavy cream 

3 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 t. vanilla

1/4 cup all purpose whole wheat flour

Grease the sides of a springform pan. In a large bowl, combine the butter and cracker crumbs. Press into the bottom of the pan, and place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the agave and cream cheese for 4 minutes. Blend, with electric blender, in the heavy cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added. Mix in the sour cream, vanilla, whole wheat flour until smooth. Pour the filling over the crust. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cake cool in the oven for 5 hours (I only cooled it for 4 hours). Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. 

I enjoyed eating the cheesecake plain but DR had to doctor it up! Pretty though! If you make this I'd love to know what you thought of it. 

Sunday Devotions - Stewardship of Health

*borrowed from the devotional book One Minute a Day

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I love this sign I saw hanging in an auto repair shop. It said, "If you're smoking in here, you better be on fire!" That sign is typical of the current emphasis in America on helping people to stop smoking. But shouldn 't we be just as careful about our health in other areas as well?

Just as our cars were made to run on clean fuel, so were our bodies. they need pure food, clean air, good water, lots of exercise, and peaceful hearts. Our health is a gift from God that we ought to take seriously. It's part of being a good steward of God's grace.

God has given each of us only one body. We need to treat these gifts of God with respect and appreciation.


I came across this devotion this week DR's book, One Minute a Day. I exercise a lot and I try to eat lots of vegetables and sometimes I catch a lot of flack from people for my lifestyle. I hear, "Why run? That's why we have cars!" or people think my kids are weird when they say their favorite foods are apples.

I wasn't always into healthy living. There was a time I smoked and ate all kinds of terrible things and watched too much tv but all that changed when I had kids. Suddenly it became very clear that I was in charge of someone else's health, someone who couldn't choose what kind of lifestyle to lead. Because I wanted my children to be healthy my lifestyle habits changed as I made good choices for them.

And you know what? I might be a "health nut" but I have more energy now than I did ten years ago. This body is not mine I am told in Corinthians. It is a gift and with any gift I receive, I'm trying to take care of and protect it.

Dear God, Thank You for my health! Thank You for the ability to make healthy lifestyle choice for myself so that I may honor the gift of this body You blessed me with. Amen.