Low-Carb Chocolate Cheesecake

Everyone who tastes this raves over it.  It's one of those experiments that worked out - unlike the ones that are epic fails.

The crust is what makes it so, so good, although the filling is wonderful also.  So here goes - I hope this is just as good for anyone who tries it.

CRUST:  The proportions actually make too much for one pie plate.  I usually fill a pie plate with about 2/3 of the mixture, then put the rest in a smaller Pyrex pan which I later fill with another recipe of filling.

This is a variation on the great lemon cheesecake recipe sent by my cousin.  I like that one the way it is written - will post it sometime - but like this version also (even though I've made it more complicated).


LOW CARB CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

1 1/2 cups pecans - measure and then chop fairly fine in food processor.
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup Stevia or your choice of sweetener
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
Approx. 1/4 cup almond flour - may need a little more to make a good crust consistency.  If crust is too crumbly to easily pat into pan, you can add melted butter a tablespoon at a time.

Pat into a Pyrex pie pan and another smaller Pyrex or other baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  The smell coming from the oven will be wonderful.

FILLING for one pan:
1 8-oz. bar cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Chocolate Milk - No Sugar Added variety
1 package sugar free chocolate pudding mix
1/4 cup sweetener
1/2 cup cream or half and half
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together with an electric mixer.  This thickens very quickly.  Spread over crust.  Shave some dark chocolate over it if you desire - just a tiny bit, enough to look like a garnish.  Put in refrigerator for a couple of hours.

My husband cannot get enough of this.  He keeps saying - Are you SURE it's low-carb?  Yes, I'm sure.

I hope it's just as good for anyone who tries it.

Friday's Fave Five 3-27-20

LINK to Friday's Fave Five host blog

1. I have survived a full week of on-line teaching.  It is somewhat intimidating.  Especially because we are a private school, I feel the need to really teach - not just give assignments and have the students return them to me.  So I've been making some short videos.  Two days ago I went in to the science lab, pulled out all my examples of metals and non-metals, and did demonstrations with them. It's a lot of work but satisfying in the end to feel that it's been a worthwhile process.

2. Last week I made a chocolate cheesecake that was completely low carb and that my husband and parents said did not taste low-carb at all.  In fact, the last two days, Mike has been asking me if I got another one made.  I think that is a hint.  :-)  I guess I will try to get busy today.  Maybe this time I will get a picture to post.  EDIT:  I got one made.  :-)

3. The upside to sheltering in place is that we are living a quieter life.  For the first time ever, I have enough time in the spring to enjoy the bird life that is most active in this season.  And we have the farm property this year, so I can ride out there with Mike, hike out to one of the deer stands, and see things I've not gotten to experience due to teaching full-time for so many years - more years than we've even been interested in birds.  Which leads me to the next one:

4. This photo.  I got it yesterday of a black-and-white warbler.  Those little things move so quickly that they are about impossible to photograph, or even see with binoculars, because by the time I've got the spot found in the eyepiece of camera or binocs, the bird has moved.  It took me about a dozen camera clicks, and then cropping, to get this.  But it is very satisfying!!

5. Still, to my knowledge, no one that I know has gotten the virus.  I am hopeful and prayerful that this will all settle down soon, and also that President Trump will be able to get the economy going again soon.  These are unsettling times, but knowing that God is sovereign is very comforting.

Fever! The Hunt for a Killer Virus

Fever! The Hunt for a New Killer Virus by John G. Fuller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Absolutely riveting reading, especially about the people involved and the scientific sleuthing to track down this terrible illness. Especially interesting considering what we are going through right now with COVID-19. I read this book a number of years ago, pulled it out a couple of days ago, and was not able to put it down until finishing it. My only criticism is that the end of the book is so sudden that the reader feels a little "dropped off the shelf." I highly recommend this, especially for people who like scientific books that are geared to the general public.


View all my reviews

Fierce Women

Fierce Women: The Power of a Soft Warrior by Kimberly Wagner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Most of this book includes great information that is desperately needed today. Most of the book is about how women should be treating their husbands. The author's detailed acronym of APPRECIATION should be helpful and convicting to many wives - and is the best part of the book. It reveals truths that are simply not known by many women today (probably because of the feminist movement's subtle impact in our lives) and which need to be practiced to encourage husbands to be the leaders they should be.

The package here was not the best. The "fierce" theme didn't really fit the material in my opinion. The book is really for wives, not women in general. (One page at the end addressing single women is not enough to market this book to all women.) And the word "fierce," though having a legitimate meaning of "showing a heartfelt intensity," has a strong connotation, from its primary definition, of being angry and mean. I thought that tenacious, or determined, might have been a better theme word.

I also felt that the author was consumed with self in the text. Obviously a first-person book is going to have references to self; however, the book is full of wording such as this: "Please bear with me while I get a little personal with you. I've got some tough questions and I hope you'll receive this section as it's intended--I want you to. . ." etc. This book would have been better if the author had not made it so much about herself.

But - again - the information about how to treat husbands is good.


View all my reviews

Friday's Fave Five 3/20/20

LINK to Friday's Fave Five host blog

A week ago, right about now, I was writing out lesson plans and finalizing field trip arrangements for a trip our grades 7-10 were going to take on Monday 3/16.  I left Monday's lessons open because of the trip.  I made note that several students would be gone on Thursday, and all students would be gone on Friday, because of the annual Fine Arts Festival sponsored by our Christian school association.

By 5:00 last Friday afternoon, the Fine Arts Festival was canceled.  By mid-afternoon on Sunday, the field trip was canceled.  And by later that same afternoon, school for 2 1/2 weeks (at least) was canceled.  And none of this was known for sure a week ago at this same time (11 am).  Now, I have completed two days of on-line training and am in the third day of teaching that way.  I'm learning how to make videos to post, both encouragement and teaching videos. Life changes.  Sometimes very quickly.

So these Friday's Fave Fives are from an unusual week.

1. To the best of my knowledge thus far, no one I know has gotten sick.  There are two cases in our area thus far, but most of us are, at this point, just doing our best to prevent getting this illness.

2. I have a good set-up here at home.  I've commandeered my husband's office (fortunately he has not been using it much lately) and can go in there, close the door, make videos, and concentrate on uploading work, grading work, and sending messages to students.

3. While family members have had to take pay cuts, no one is out of work.  

4. I have some extra time.  I really appreciate the opportunity to, yes, work awhile each day - but also have time to clean out closets, read, write, think, do some eBay, and clean some things that don't get cleaned very often.  That is a wonderful blessing to a woman who sometimes feels like she just can't accomplish all the things she has to do and also wants to do.

5. Technology allows us to keep doing what needs to be doing as far as education goes, but also to keep in communication with others thus far.

So, although this is a world situation that we must all work through, by the grace of God we are doing fine.  It's also brought people together more - it is wonderful not to see politics dominating the news constantly.  I know that God can use this in people's lives to draw them closer together and ultimately to Him.