Low Carb High Fat Key Lime Cheesecake

I borrowed this picture from the web because I couldn't find one of my own.  Take a picture of this treat the next time I make it, is now on my to do list!

Lets get started with one of my very favorite recipes.  This one comes from Genaw.com. (you can find the nutrition facts there.)

LOWCARBREDHEAD'S REAL KEY LIME CHEESECAKE
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (you'll need 2 large limes)
1 packet unflavored gelatin
2 cups granular Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda
2 eggs, beaten
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest (from about 1/2 lime)
1 cup heavy cream

Cookie Crust (optional):
1 batch Butter Cookies, crushed to make crumbs *
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Topping (optional and not included in the counts):
1/2 cup heavy cream
Sweetener to taste

Prepare the crust first, if using. Mix the cookie crumbs and melted butter; pat firmly on the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Put in the freezer until the filling is ready to put into the crust.

Put the lime juice in a 1-quart saucepan; sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the surface of the juice. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. Whisk in the sweetener and eggs. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened or just until it starts to bubble. It won't get thick like pudding and you shouldn't boil the gelatin.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Pour in the hot juice mixture and beat until well blended and smooth. Beat in the lime zest. Chill 45 minutes or until cool and thick.

In a medium bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream until stiff. Fold into the cooled lime mixture. Spread in the prepared crust or in a greased 9-inch pie plate. Chill at least 2 hours. Garnish the top with the sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Makes 8 servings

* One batch of Butter Cookies equals about 1 cup of crumbs.


This is a winner in my house, with the kids and with the husband.
When I don't have limes I use Key Lime Juice, I really don't notice enough difference to buy, zest, and squeeze limes, unless I am feeling fancy.  However, if that works for you, go for it.  :)

As for the crust.

BUTTER COOKIES 
3 ounces almond flour (3/4 cup )
1/8 teaspoon salt
2-3 tablespoons granular Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda *
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg white

Mix all of the ingredients well in a small bowl. Everything should be moist and the dough should hold together. Freeze about 15-20 minutes to firm up the dough. Drop the dough by teaspoons onto a parchment or silicone lined 12x17" baking sheet. Roll each piece of dough into a ball. I used a 1 teaspoon cookie scoop and skipped the rolling into a ball step. Cover the balls with plastic wrap and take a baking powder can, that has about an 1/8" rim around the bottom, and press down firmly over each ball of dough. Be sure to press all the way down to the baking sheet. Peel off the plastic wrap and discard. Prick the cookies with a fork.

Bake at 325º for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Makes about 20 cookies
Can be frozen

* These aren't as sweet as sugar cookies and remind me of the butter cookies my Grandma used to make. You may want to add the 3rd tablespoon of Splenda if you prefer a sweeter cookie. The carb counts were so close whether I used 2 or 3 tablespoons of granular Splenda or liquid Splenda that I decided to go ahead and use the counts for the sweeter, granular Splenda version. Unless you eat the whole batch, you'll only be saving about half a carb or so if you use liquid Splenda.

Personally, I have never made these before hand.  For my crust I mix up a batch and then press it into a pie pan and bake.  It's helpful when you do remember to do this early enough in advance it can cool before you add the cheese cake portion in.
I also am sure it would be helpful to butter the dish before, but I always forget this step and have it stick some.  Maybe next time...

Frosting & Sugar Berries

So I have a new favorite frosting, I've used it a few times on carrot cake and chocolate cake, and more recently on spice cake.  I have decided no matter the cake flavor, you can never go wrong with cream cheese frosting!

So here is the recipe, and it's so easy!

1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups powered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Additionally,  I was able to make the cupcakes shown pop, while looking more delicate, by washing black berries and then rolling them, while still damp, in sugar.  The photo doesn't do them justice.  (Wish I was a food photographer!)  But they were so pretty!

Let Us Eat {birthday} Cake!

I wanted to do the Kit Kat/M&M's cake (as you can see HERE from my husbands 30th birthday) with a new twist.  White chocolate Kit Kats, and fun M&M's that D. picked out on our visit to M&M World in Las Vegas. We also tied in Hotwheels, his favorite thing!
My sisters little boy was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma over Christmas.  Because of his illness he was selected to be a part of Icing Smiles, "Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child."

Brittany, with  Cravin' Cake Bakery, in Las Vegas took on Caleb's cake.  Here it is.

I recycled the bottom layer (that was fondant covered foam, since a 3rd tier would have exceeded the cake needs for Caleb's brithday.)  For D's cake.  It certainly added to the coolness of the "candy coma" cake I made.

To do this cake of your own, all you need is to bake and frost a  2-9inch cakes as you normally would, then place Kit Kats (full sized) split in half, around cake.  I ended up using 10.5 Kit Kats.  Top with M&M's or other favorite candy.  Tie off with a ribbon to keep candies on.  Enjoy!

*To learn more about Caleb, and follow his story you can follow him on, Prayers for Caleb on Facebook.

Scalloped Potatoes and Onions

I love this recipe.  The best part is no cream of anything.  So yummy!  Recipe can be found here, at allrecipes.com. Scalloped Potatoes and Onions

Rated: Submitted By: Dorothy Bateman Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 2 Hours Ready In: 2 Hours 5 Minutes Servings: 6

"Writes Dorothy Bateman from Carver, Massachusetts. 'This creamy potato dish is so delicious. You can prepare it in the morning, than put it in the oven later--just be sure the sauce covers the potatoes so they won't turn brown.'"

Ingredients:

5 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 3/4 cup chopped onion 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons mayonnaise 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper Paprika

Directions:

1.

In a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish, layer potatoes and onion. In a saucepan, melt the butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth, mayonnaise, salt and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly. Pour over potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 2 hours or until tender.

The Best Cobbler

A friend was looking for a good dessert to make, so I though I would share my very favorite peach cobbler recipe, found here, at allrecipes.com.

 

Peach Cobbler VI

Rated: Submitted By: karen Photo By: daysecraze Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 45 Minutes Servings: 24

"This is a wonderful southern recipe... very easy and tastes great!"

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup margarine, melted 1 (29 ounce) can sliced canned peaches, drained 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.	In a large bowl, combine flour, sugars, baking powder, salt and vanilla. Pour milk into dry ingredients and then stir in melted margarine. Mix thoroughly.
3.	Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch baking pan. Arrange peaches on top and sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

These ornaments were fun to make!  D. thinks they were made just for him to play with.  :)  And of course they were...right!?  :)

Tasty Deer!

Spotted at the Festival of Trees.  These are my kind of reindeer!

 These are my kind of reindeer!