Orange Creamsicle Cheese Cake

 [Edit: I was informed due to the Orange Juice this is NOT plan approved. I'm so sorry. Maybe you could use flavoring, oil, or a plan approved juice]

We have started a new diet called Trim Healthy Mama. It's been great and we are loving the food but best of all is the weight loss. This week was my granny's birthday and she loves Orange Creamsicle. So here is my invention of a Trim Healthy Mama Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake.

 Orange Creamsicle Cheese cake

Trim Healthy Mamma crust ~ pg. 373

Trim Healthy Mamma cheesecake in spring form pan ~ pg. 373 

Make crust from cheesecake recipe in a spring form pan. Bake & cool.

Make cheesecake. Bake and cool.

Top with Orange creamsickle

Cool in refrigerator overnight

Orange Creamsicle layer

1 ½ c. Orange Juice (about 4 oranges with water added)

1 T. grated Orange rind

1 T. Truvia

2 packs of gelatin

1 can Coconut cream (whipped)

1teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat orange juice and stir the gelatin with the boiling juice until it dissolves. Add truvia or sweetener of choice.

Pour the coconut cream into a large bowl. Beat cream until it reaches soft peaks using more or less to taste. Briefly beat in vanilla extract, if using.

Then gently whisk in the whipped coconut until it's completely combined. Pour over the cheesecake.

Chill it over night.

When ready to serve use a sharp knife and run it around the pan to separate the gelatin layer from the side. Unhinge the pan and gently lift from the cheesecake.

We added ready whip to the top. Yum!

Christmas Truffles

My sister gave me her "secret" Truffle recipe and I'm going to share it. LOL yes, I asked first. But the real secret I'm going to share is dipping those nasty little things. I hate dipping truffles. Every year I try again, and again. It's such a mess, and I can never get them to look good. The chocolate always hardens too fast. 

mix the truffles and roll into balls. 

heat a crockpot of water with a widemouth jar. I used a my dip crock pot but i'm sure you could use the full size one with two jars! (one white and one chocolate?) 

Add your chocolate. I used chocolate chips once and white chocolate melt once. 

it will take a while to melt, but then you will have time to roll more truffles. :-) 

The chocolate will not get too cool and clump so dip away! I like to sprinkle decorating candy or crushed pecans while the chocolate is still hot. Be sure to sprinkle every 4-5 truffles so the don't cool. 

after the truffles are cool, i like to put them each in a x-small muffin cup then wrap or put on a tray. 

here is the double layer tray I put them on for the cookie exchange. 

The white ones are the Oreo Truffles. But are dipped the same way :-) 

Sara's Truffles

1 bag coconut 

1 bag powered sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon flavoring of your choice. 

Mix well with hands or heavy duty Kitchen aide with dough hook.

Roll into balls and dip in chocolate.

Roll in crushed nuts, sugar, coco, candies, or coconut.

Oreo Truffles

1 package of finely crushed Oreos

1 8ox package of softened cream cheese

Mix well and shape into balls, freeze.

Dip in white chocolate and sprinkle with decorating candies.

Ratatouille

Inspired by a well loved movie Ratatouille

(Image from http://movies.disney.com)

Here is my version of Ratatouille.

1 zucchini 

1 yellow squash

1small eggplant

3-4 tomatoes

1 small can of Tomato paste

2-3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Olive oil

Italian seasoning 

Salt

Slice all the vegetables thinly. I used the Pampered Chef Mandolin Slicer.

Spread half of the tomato pate in the bottom of a 8x8 pan.

Stack the sliced veggies and stand on end. 

Once the pan is filled tightly,

mix the rest of the paste with enough water to make it the consistency of tomato sauce. 

Top with the tomato sauce and sliced garlic. I love the garlic slicer from Pampered Chef!

Sprinkle Italian seasoning and salt over the top. 

Cover the dish with Foil.

Bake 400 degrees for 20-30 minuets till veggies are tender. 

Had to include my little helper, "the box man" as he called himself.