This week, our mission was to take a favorite comfort food recipe, and give it a healthy makeover...so that when we do indulge, it's not as bad for you!
I made over my favorite New York Cheesecake recipe. Here are the ingredients for the original recipe:
3 Tbsp. Butter
5 packages (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 cup crushed graham crackers
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. flour
When these ingredients are processed and baked, one serving (1/16th) of cheesecake is 449 calories and 32 grams of fat. Now, here is the made-over version:
3 Tbsp. reduced calorie butter spread
5 packages (8 oz.) reduced fat cream cheese
1 cup crushed graham crackers
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
4 eggs
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. flour
Heat over to 325 degrees. Line 13 by 9 inch pan with foil. Mix crushed graham crackers, 3 Tbsp. of the sugar, and butter spread; press onto bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, rest of sugar, flour, and vanilla extract until blended. Add sour cream and blend. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed until blended.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Use foil to lift cheesecake from pan. Top with fresh strawberries. Makes 16 servings.
In adjusting to reduced fat and lower calorie ingredients, one serving of cheesecake becomes 340 calories and 19 grams of fat. Still not exactly "diet" food...but it definitely won't do as much damage if you indulge, and you shouldn't have this kind of food all the time anyway. I prefer strawberries over cherries to begin with, so I changed the fruit, but any kind of fresh fruit would be great on this cheesecake.
I do also want to add a tip: When I make pumpkin pies for the holidays, I always use the fat free condensed milk instead of the regular kind. I tweak the spices a little, and otherwise follow the normal directions. Everyone always wants me to make my pies...because they like the flavor better. And the pie is a little bit better for all of us!
I'm so glad we had this challenge. I plan to makeover more recipes very soon!!!
6 comments:
The cheesecake looks delicious! And, I love cheesecake. I haven't made one is so long because it is so fattening. A may have to give this recipe a try.
I made over my recipe yesterday. I'm hoping to have it posted tomorrow. Today has been so busy heading back to work after my summer off, that I was too tired to write it all out tonight.
Great job!
okay, so here's the deal. i send you my address - lol - you send me a slice. Deal? DEAL! :) looks great!
Sorry...it's all gone! LOL We each had some, and shared with our wonderful neighbors! :o)
It looks great!
Its amazing how you can make things so much better without anyone being the wiser!
I am going to have so much fun during the holidays "tricking" people into eating goodies that are better for them!
Thanks for the recipe, too!
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)
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