Friday, September 25, 2009

Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with Blueberries


Photo: http://foodandspice.blogspot.com/
A light and luscious version of everyone's favorite dessert--topped with blueberries in a sweet syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup reduced fat vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (about 30 wafers)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 cups fat free ricotta cheese
2 (8 ounce) packages reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
Finely grated zest of one large lemon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
Topping:
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup blueberries
Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9 X 3 inch spring form pan with cooking spray. In a medium sized bowl, combine cookie crumbs, melted butter, and honey--stir until combined. Press mixture into spring form pan. Refrigerate crust while preparing filling. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together ricotta cheese, and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Beat in granulated sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low, add eggs and egg whites, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour cheesecake filling onto cookie crust. Place pan in center of oven and bake at 325 degrees for 50-55 minutes, until cheesecake center is set, but slightly wobbly. Remove pan from oven and cool cheesecake on a wire rack, until room temperature. Spread top of cheesecake with blueberry topping. Cover cheesecake, place in refrigerator, and chill for 5 hours, or until ready to serve. For serving, run a knife around outside edge of pan, loosen pan sides, and slice. To make blueberry topping, melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and bring mixture to a light boil, stirring frequently (about 1-2 minutes). Add blueberries to sauce pan, and cook 2-3 minutes, until blueberries are starting to release their juices. Remove pan from heat and cool mixture slightly, before spreading on top of cheesecake.
Notes: Delicious, fresh, and healthy tasting. It doesn't taste low fat. It reminds me of an Italian summer dessert. I LOVE lemon and blueberries together.
Number of Servings: 12
Submitted by: emiliehobbs3124558
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Kids are taught to share their toys and snacks. Unfortunately, they also share things you’d rather have them keep to themselves — germs. Getting sick is part of growing up, but there are ways to prevent infection and illness. “The best protection is immunization against vaccine-preventable illnesses, good old hand washing, and covering coughs and sneezes,” says Lisa M. Asta, MD, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco, who practices in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Chickenpox

Getting the chickenpox used to be an expected part of childhood, but not for kids today. A vaccine against the highly contagious varicella zoster virus is now available, making the blistery, itchy rash practically a thing of the past. Dr. Asta says the vaccine protects against 90 to 95 percent of all chickenpox infections. “Children who get chickenpox after being vaccinated generally have a milder illness,” she says. Scratching can infect the skin, so apply calamine lotion to help relieve itchiness.

Fifth Disease

f your child has cold-like symptoms, then develops a rash that looks like his cheeks were slapped, he may have fifth disease. This illness generally affects kids between 5 and 15 years old and is caused by parvovirus B19, says Kimberly Parker, RN, MSN, clinical program manager for illnesses prevention at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The rash can spread to the trunk and limbs. In most kids, it’s a mild illness and doesn’t require treatment.

Measles

Although relatively rare in the United States thanks to vaccines, measles still affects 10 million people worldwide. The illness is a viral respiratory infection that causes fever, a hacking cough, and a total body rash. Measles can be serious and even fatal. The only way to prevent it is by vaccinating your child with the measles-mumps-rubella immunization (MMR). It’s given in two doses and is sometimes combined with the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.

Mumps
he MMR vaccine also protects against the mumps, a viral infection that causes headache, loss of appetite, and fever. The most well-known sign of mumps is swollen, painful salivary glands. Mumps is usually not serious inkids, but in some cases, serious complications can occur. Before the introduction of the vaccine in 1967, mumps was a common childhood illness in the United States, causing more than 200,000 cases a year. That number is now less than 1,000 cases annually.

Rubella

MMR also protects against rubella, or German measles. “Rubella is a mild viral infection for children with fever and rash,” says Asta. However, the infection poses a real risk to unborn children. “If a woman who has not been immunized against rubella contracts the infection in early pregnancy, the fetus is at risk for severe congenital defects,” she says. Women who are not immune and are contemplating motherhood should consider getting a rubella virus vaccine at least a month before conception.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is considered a mild viral infection that generally affects kids younger than 10. Symptoms are painful mouth sores, fever, and sometimes a rash — typically on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet. There is no vaccine and nearly all kids are better in a week to 10 days. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is sometimes confused with hoof and mouth disease, which strikes livestock. However, they are not related.

Ringworm

Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm — it’s a fungal infection. It causes a ring-shaped, itchy rash that can affect the scalp and nails, too. Asta says it is important to get a correct diagnosis, so the right medications are used. “Your pediatrician may be able to recommend an over-the-counter treatment,” she says. Ringworm is very common and contagious, so get it treated and make sure your kids aren’t sharing towels.

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Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to people through bites from infected ticks. One distinctive sign is a bull’s-eye-shaped rash; however, not everyone gets this. Flu-like symptoms occur in early stages. Parker says that, when diagnosed early, the illness is usually successfully treated with antibiotics.Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Using insect repellent with 20 to 30 percent DEET is good protection, but consult your child’s doctor first.
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