Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake w/ Macadamia Nut & Berry Topping

Adapted from a Berry No-Bake Cheesecake on Sweet & Healthy Living.

 This is the first time I've used the NuNatural's product:

Stevia More Fiber Baking Blend

 I can say now that I'll be using it again, and again, and again now.

I was a little concerned that the powdered Stevia would be bitter or not sweet enough for the cake.

Especially because there are no other 'sweet' ingredients except the dates.

It was neither bitter nor unsweet, it was perfection.

The Stevia held the no-bake cake together well and gave the berries a great sweetness.

I would compare the taste to a Blueberry Cream Pie!

Yum...........
So how can you make this wonderful Dairy, Sugar and Gluten free Cheesecake?

Wash off your fresh blueberries but air dry them before
using them in this recipe so they don't add a lot of water.

This is the cheesecake batter before adding in the blueberries. It will be less
smooth than dairy cheesecakes but taste even better ((I think)

This is the final cheesecake batter layer being spread on.
Fresh blueberries were dropped on throughout each layer.
See difference here between the 'blueberry flavored' batter and the plain.

Rough chop the nuts, you don't want them too crumby like dust.

Blueberry Cheesecake with Macadamia Nut & Berry Topping

Vegan, Dairy and Gluten Free

Crust
This recipe is basically the Raw Caramels shown here

1 Cup Raw Unsalted Sunflower Seeds

15 Pitted Medjool Dates

2 Tbs. Olive Oil

2 tsp. Liquid Vanilla Stevia

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 Tbs. Finely Ground Coffee or substitute like Cafix

Pulse Sunflower Seeds until pulverized. Add in the dates

and pulse until lumpy batter forms. Add in other ingredients and

continue pulsing until smooth.  Chill for 30 minutes and then press

into bottom of springform pan to about 1/2 inch thickness. 

Freeze until firm.

Cheesecake Filling
2 Cups of Cashews - soaked 2 - 8 hours in filtered water, drained
1 Cup of Chopped Dates soaked 30 minutes and drained

1/4 Cup Lemon Juice

1/3 Cup melted Coconut Oil

Pulse all ingredients until a smooth batter is obtained, scrape down sides of blender

Add in:

1/3 Cup Nut Milk of choice

8 oz. Non Dairy Cream Cheese like Tofutti brand

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Cup of Powdered Stevia More Fiber Baking Blend from NuNaturals

Pulse together with first ingredients until smooth

To have a Blueberry Flavored layer to the cheesecake:

Seperate out 2 cups of the batter and set aside.

Add 1 Cup of fresh Blueberries in with the remaining batter and pulse until smooth

To assemble the cheesecake:

Remove the chilled crust in the springform pan and set on an even surface.

Spoon out enough of the set aside, non blueberry flavored batter to cover the

bottom crust about 1/2 Inch thick.

Freeze 30 minutes to firm batter again.

When cake is firm, add spoonfuls of the blueberry flavored batter in different

areas of cake on top of first layer of plain flavored batter using about 1 cup of

blueberry flavored batter.

Spoon the remaining plain flavor batter inbetween the blueberry batter and on top of

the fresh blueberries.

Sprinkle of few fresh blueberries on top of the batter.

Spoon the remaining plain flavor batter inbetween the blueberry batter

and on top of the fresh blueberries.

Freeze again.

Pour on remaining Blueberry flavored batter over entire cake and smooth to

cover the previous layers.

Freeze at least 5 hours until whole cake is solid.

Topping

1 Cup of Macadamia Nuts, roughly chopped (see picture)

1/2 Cup Fresh Blueberries

1/2 Cup Fresh Raspberries

Top the firm frozen cake with berries and nuts - pressing down lightly to top the cake.

Freeze again for 1 hour, remove springform pan exterior.

Store in the freezer or cut into slices and freeze slices well wrapped.

This one is a keeper.  Adapt the berries to suit your own likes.

Another cheesecake posting you may enjoy:

Raspberry Mocha Cream Cookie Dough Cake

ENJOY!

Sprouting & Anti - Inflammatory Charts

I wanted to share 2 charts I came across in the last week that are really helpful

summaries of healthful eating. 

The first one deals with Anti-Inflammatory Dieting.

Courtesy of Dr. Weil, this chart really defines how we should choose our food.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

I've used this diet guideline for the past 2 years and it REALLY does help with joint pain.

Last week I recommitted myself to sticking with this food parameter again as part

of my Getting Back On Track efforts this month.

I'm using Vega smoothies daily for the next few months to take off 20 lbs.
They work perfectly with Anti Inflammatory Dieting.

The second chart is goes hand in hand with Dr. Weil's Diet guidelines.

SPOUTING!!

I fell in love with spouting foods last spring and this chart is wonderful at organizing

techniques and general information.

When I saw it on Anna's Facebook page, I knew I had to save it for a reference.

Do any of you sprout your food?

Any good ideas for keeping the sprouts fresh longer, or what your favorite tastes are?

Great references here.  Thanks Anna, thanks Dr. Weil!

"Keeping on Track" with VEGA Energizing Smoothies

Have you ever tried a new product and been so surprised about the quality....for the price?

That's how I felt last year when I made my first VEGA Energizing smoothie.

Since last Sunday, I've been committed to eating better and losing about 20 lbs. that snuck back onto my hips and waist over this past winter.  See more here - "Getting Back On Track" 

For even more convenience
make up a few batches and freeze them. 
Then they are literally grab n go!












Picked out my 'Keeping On Track" goal pants to fit into by July:

My alarm goes off 5 days a week about 4:30 am. Well, Floydy wakes us up at 4:15 by clawing the sheets

and 'MEOWING'!! 

It's a whole system he and the other cat have worked out to get fed when the birds outside wake up.

Anyway.

At 5am, when I'm trying to get out the door to work, I'm not in the mood to take 6 or 7 different items out of the freezer to make a good smoothie for breakfast.  I just want to grab and go.  VEGA helps me make this happen and still get a great tasting drink with tons of nutrition. 

VEGA has so much to brag about and with good reason.  Their plant based products are so delicious and even more importantly, full of nutrition, easy to prepare and reasonably priced. 

Check out just some of the response to VEGA products, more info at their site:
http://myvega.com/company/awards

VEGA products are all plant based, organic and full of wonderful flavors.

My favorite for now is Tropical Tango.........mix in a frozen banana, a little ground flax seed and you have a creamy frozen treat that's guilt free, convenient and so delicious.  Give them a try!


More information on VEGA Smoothies from their website:
http://myvega.com/products/vega-energizing-smoothie/features-benefits
Energize your day with a convenient, on-the-go nutrient boost. Energizing Smoothie gives you the all-natural, plant-based goodness you expect from Vega—compete with protein, fiber and Omega-3—but unlike traditional smoothies, you only need water to shake and go. In four mouth-watering flavors: mixed tropical fruits, chocolate, vanilla almond and berries (plus an unflavored natural), Energizing Smoothie is so delicious it will make you forget how healthy it is.
One serving of Vega Energizing Smoothie features

• Two servings of veggies
• 10 g of complete, plant-based protein
• 5 g of fiber
• 1 g of Omega-3

Just add water, shake and go!
Formulated by Brendan Brazier, vegan professional Ironman triathlete and bestselling health author on plant-based nutrition, Vega Energizing Smoothie is alkaline-forming, free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. Available in Bodacious Berry, Choc-a-lot, Oh Natural, Tropical Tango and Vanilla Almondilla flavors.

Enjoy some VEGA products soon, you won't regret the effort!

Getting Back On Track

I'm determined to get my health back on track starting today.

Starting with getting back to a healthy diet.

It's been almost 2 years since I discovered that dairy, and a lot of wheat and sugar,

make my joints ache, my stomach unsettled, and very fatigued.

Read more here: http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/p/why-go-dairy-free.html

Since that discovery, my life turned into a quest for more information on nutrition.

I went through several phases in that first year of eliminating more and more foods.

The more I read, the less I wanted to eat until I was finally down 75 Lbs.

For the first time as an adult, I was wearing a size 4 pants, size small shirts! Unbelievable after being heavy since my early teens............

And my pain was gone!

2 years ago, I stopped dairy, stopped sugar, white flour, lots of bad fat, most wheat, and on and on.

I was growing wheatgrass, sprouting, eating flax seed daily, taking a probiotic 3 times a day.

Get the picture? I was healthier than I've ever been.

Today is my crossroads...time to get back on the right track.

 I started this blog because I became really obsessed with letting people know

that they could eat widely delicious food without being unhealthy.

And that the effect that food has on how we feel each day is VERY significant.

When I changed my diet 2 years ago, my life changed. I didn't know that

I could feel 'good' again...just thought the aches were part of aging.

Some days, I wish someone would just put food in front of me and I wouldn't have to think about a gazillion things
with my food and nutrition!

So what happened to get me off track this year?

Well, my husband doesn't eat the way I do

and that was always a battle.

I started cooking more and more fun desserts which has made it easy to slip back to old food habits.

And bottom line is, it's just harder to eat right.

So little by little, I've let myself get back into

bad habits of fast food, sugar, and because of that

I haven't felt like exercise either.

Photo from Mt. Md BBQ

Here I am last August at my lowest adult weight, 138 and a healthy BMI of 21.

Sad part is I think that I look pretty heavy in this picture and at the time

people were telling me weekly that I was too thin.

I'm 5' 8" so I've always been able to hide a bit of weight but my posture

makes me look pregnant even.

Maybe I should just stand up straighter and I wouldn't feel too fat.

But the aches and pains are what I have to control.

I know last year up until November, I was feeling better than I had

since I was in my early twenties.

Maybe better than ever, that I can remember.

So it's back on track for me.

Starting today, Sunday the 10th of June, I'm a healthy eater again.

I'm getting back to finding beauty all around. In every place,

even the lowest or most remote. I hope my readers

will help keep me on track. Share advise and share

their own healthy pursuits.

Any good habits you all have and would like to share to help in my straight track goal would be

much appreciated.

Do you have any allergies to food? Any hints for staying on track with your health?


Congratualations to Manda, Abby, Heather and Maryann, winners of the NuNaturals giveaway!