Easy and Healthier Chocolate Cheesecake

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Happy New Year with this succulent sweet!  Chocolate cheesecake continues to rein over all the desserts I have sampled, making it a stedfast favorite.  I dont eat it often, for the caloric and sugar bomb it is, but man oh man, is this a tasty treat and one that when I do indulge, I revel over.

This particular version, while not sugar free, is considerably lower in sugar than usual cheesecake versions.  Though there is already sugar in the Oreos and bittersweet chocolate, there is no further added sugar in the cake (which most recipes do).  Though the crust contains wheat, you can easily make it without.

If you would like an equally enticing though gluten/grain free dessert, eliminate the crust.  I promise, it will be just as scrumptious without.

Enjoy this decadent, sinfully sweet dessert, without so much guilt.

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Lose the wheat, lose the weight

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Hi all!  Happy Holidays!  Just in time for New Years and all those health-related resolutions…

For a slightly different posting, I am going to offer a review of an excellent, health-oriented book I read recently.  “Wheat Belly: lose the wheat, lose the weight, and find your path back to health” by Dr. William Davis.

With the arrival of the new year and everyone vowing to overhaul their diet and health, this article seemed an ideal topic.

wheat belly

A book on my perpetually growing, never-ending, “to read” list for years that I just now got around to reading.  And wow, was this an eye-opening, sobering read indeed.

I used to tout the belief that, while bread wasn’t great for you, it was sugar that was the ultimate evil.  Sugar is horrible for your health, that truth still holds, but on reading this, I learned that wheat is the food to avoid at all costs.  At least, if you wish to remain disease free, age well, not gain tons of weight over the years (and no, exercise will not keep wheat related weight gain off), nor have neurological issues, diabetes, or heart disease.

I was absolutely flabbergasted to read just how awful wheat is for both our physical and mental well being.  It was a bit depressing (because who doesn’t love pasta?), though a mind-blowing, and thus, incredibly important read to say the least.

And further, wheat isn’t one of those things you can just “enjoy in moderation.”  Wheat is a food that, anytime even a bit of it enters your system, it wreaks havoc and sets in motion all the damage I will now describe below.

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Sweet. Raw. Free. Cookbook!

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Love recipes you’ve seen or sampled on Sweet. Raw. Free? Are you an impassioned foodie at heart? A health aficionado? Motivated and inspired toward eating and living a healthier life, though not wanting to skimp or sacrifice on taste?

Then the “Sweet. Raw. Free. Cookbook” is the thing for you.

Sweet Raw Free Cover

Chock full of eye-catching, vivid photographs, coupled with easy to make, top-notch-in taste recipes, all of which fall under at least one (if not more) of the tiers of gluten/grain free, lactose-free, sugar-free, or raw, this is a lifestyle changing cookbook worth having at home.

The perfect gift for a family member, friend, romantic partner, or colleague who loves food, as well as enjoys topics related to healthier eating.  It’s also an ideal item to have on the shelf in your own kitchen at the ready. Whether you are one of those unique types who loves actually reading cookbooks (in which case, we are kindred spirits), or is just looking to shake things up in terms of your weekly menu, all while whipping up food that is scrumptious, though simultaneously great for your health, “Sweet. Raw. Free.” has you covered.

See below for a sneak peak of some of the recipes within…

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There are several versions available to suit your preference. A softcover print book, a hardcover version (with or without a dust jacket), as well as an E-Book- which is perfectly portable and thus, can be taken with you easily anywhere.

Here is the link just below for how to get your own copy (you can also find the book by going to Blurb.com and in the top right hand corner, within the search bar, typing “sweet raw free”):

Sweet. Raw. Free.
Sweet. Raw. Free.
By Brooke English
Photo book

 

If for some reason, the link above didn’t work, here you go:

Preview or purchase Sweet. Raw. Free. on Blurb.com here.

Have a blast cooking and baking up a plethora of decadent, delectable, healthful, and easy to make dishes, many of which are lovely to look at, and even better to eat.

With warmest regards, gratitude, and wishes,

your fellow foodie,

Brooke

 

Healthy-ish Oreo Pie

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Oreo Pie, coupled with Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Chocolate Cake (so maybe its more of a menage-a-trois) are, in my book, three of the most marvelous and mouthwatering desserts out there.  All three are classics.  Easy to make.  Decadent and satisfying.  Out of this world awesome, in terms of their taste.

Behold, my healthy-ish (as in, slightly better for you than the usual) Oreo Pie.  However, there is absolutely no difference in taste between this one and the traditional recipe.  While it’s of course, loaded with dairy, this one is way lower in sugar than typical versions and can be gluten-free if you choose “gluten-free” chocolate sandwich cookies.

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Kale, Egg, Tomato, and Pesto Bowl

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Hi all,

With the downturn in temperatures and thus, increase of incidence towards hustling indoors, this quinoa bowl hits the spot.  Comforting, homey, and oh so yum.  Tasting subtly nutty and grainy, though of course, its made without grains at all (as quinoa is actually a seed).  The combination of egg and pesto, causing an explosion of umami like flavor in ones mouth.  The tomatoes adding a bright, juicy pop to the entrée.

Its super easy to make, one of the best parts.  So less time in the kitchen spent on these long since dark nights on returning home from work.  Leaving more space for tea, reading, or watching something and cozying up.

This dish is gluten free, lactose free (save for the negligible amount in the pesto), and sugar free.  Cooked quinoa and eggs aside, its raw.

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Perfect Paleo Pumpkin Pie

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Happy Holidays, everyone!  I cannot imagine autumnal and winter holidays without the accompaniment of pumpkin pie.  To me, the two go hand in hand.  Cool weather celebrations, and pie.  Pecan, apple, chocolate cream, though for me the most preferred is pumpkin.  Light, subtly spiced, homey, humble, yet delightfully delicious.  This particular pumpkin pie though, is better than the rest.  Thats because, while it tastes like the best bakery made or store bought among them, its grain/gluten free, and low in sugar.  This is a pie in the sky thats actually legit 😉

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Walnut Cardamom Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

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Talk about a fantastic fall time cake.  Though its delicious and delectable anytime, this one is especially autumn appropriate in terms of the flavors and spices.  Walnuts.  Cinnamon.  Cardamom.  Ginger.  Buttercream frosting.  Get excited for this cozy cake.

The best parts?  Gluten/grain free, and low in sugar.

This is a cake you can feel much better about eating than the usual flour and sugar laden recipes one finds in bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, and widely served up at celebrations.

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Cranberry Curd Tart

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And just in time for Thanksgiving!  This tart has the slightest bite, the twang from the cranberries pairing beautifully (both literally, as you can see, as well as figuratively) with the nutty, crumbled crust.

This adapted version is gluten free and without any refined sugar.  Woo hoo!

Though its a slightly time consuming one to make, the end result is gorgeous, as well as divinely delicious.  In fact, one of the best desserts I’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling, and its made by none other than Master Chef Maxx.  Yes, this is his recipe :-).

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Sugar Free, Grain Free Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Hi all,

To me, autumn is synonymous with the explosion of all things pumpkin flavored.  This recipe has subtle spice, is creamy, easy to make, lightly sweet, and the best part?  Its free of any refined sugar (just honey), and with zero gluten/grains.  Yet, it tastes exactly like a slice you would sample at the Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory.  Dont believe me?  Try it yourself.  You may never go back to the mass produced, processed stuff after.

Enjoy!

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Paleo Pumpkin Donuts

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Tis the season.  With autumn well under way, all things pumpkin have arrived in explosion, showcased in abundance on any and many menus.  Pastas with pumpkin, quinoa bowls with chunks of pumpkin among other autumnal flavors and ingredients, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin muffins, and of course, pumpkin donuts.

There is something about the color, that warmth induced coziness via the brilliant orange shade.  As well as of course, the spiced flavor of pumpkin desserts.  Laced through with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, all manner of comforting, cold weather friendly spices.

These pumpkin donuts?  Get super excited, because not only are they moist, cakey, delicious, subtly spiced, and easy to make.  But.  They are also gluten/grain free, lactose free, and low in sugar.  No guilt in enjoying one of these babies.  Clocking in around 250 calories each, frosting included (not an exact count, a very close estimate), they aren’t heavy on the calorie end for a sweet treat of this size and satisfaction inducing either 😉

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It is my goal over the next few weeks to perfect the pumpkin donut (albeit, a gluten/grain free, low in sugar one.  My two stipulations).

In the meantime, this is a pretty darn good start.

Note: see bottom of the recipe for a cashew maple glaze frosting and how to make it.

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