Silky & Creamy Easy Peasy No Bake Cheesecake

 

A healthier option cheesecake. I may try 1 1/2 blocks of cream cheese to lighten up the sugar. It is defiantly sweet, and the texture should not be affected & the sweet taste will still be noticed. Top with any of your favorite toppings. 

Pictured is raspberries &almonds.  

1 can (11ounces) of coconut sweetened condensed milk (or regular sweetened condensed milk)

1 - 8 ounce block of cream cheese (or 1 1/2 blocks) room temperature

1 tsp of vanilla extract

* I like to add a couple teaspoons of cinnamon to the mix. 

Directions:

Mix together and pour into prepared pie crust. (see below options) 

Chill in freezer until firm - truthfully it is better the next day so overnight is great, but a few hours works also. 

Crust options or you can crustless for a creamy dessert. 

- graham cracker crust

- pecan or walnut store bought crust

or  pecan homemade crust  (easy!) My option 

2 1/2 cups pecan flour

4 Tablespoons of melted butter

1/2 tsp of cinnamon (optional) 

Mix all ingredients together. 

Full size pie crust: press into bottom of buttered pie pan and baked 5-10 minutes on 325. Watch carefully nuts burn easy. 

                         or

Mini mason jar cheesecakes: press the mixture about 1/2 to 1 inch up  a 1/4 pint mason jar for individual servings. I find that you really do not need to bake the pecan mixture with the little jars. Top with a few spoonfulls of cheesecake mixture above. 

* HINT: The more the pecan layer the less the sugar. 

 

Waffle Iron Cookies - oh my!

 

* gluten and corn free options. See notes. 

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  
• *1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• *Confectioners' sugar

 Gluten Free Options: 
You can sub these gluten free options:

 #1 choice Cassava flour, which acts the most like all purpose flour, ratio of 1 cup to 1 cup 

 #2 Almond flour, ration is 1 cup almond to 1/2 cup all purpose flour (this recipe would take 3 cups almond flour) 

Corn free option:

Confectioner sugar is basically fine ground sugar and cornstarch blended together.

They do sell a corn free option or you can blend your own in a blender. 

Sugar and arrowroot, tapioca .... 

1 cup sugar (I prefer unbleached but it will give you a hint of beige)

1 tablespoon of tapioca or arrowroot starch

Blend until a fine powder is formed. 

* I use a regular size mason jar on my blender- screw on blade and flip upside down- similar to a "bullet blender".   

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture (mixture will be thick).
2. Drop dough in batches by tablespoonfuls 3-4 in. apart onto a greased preheated waffle iron. Bake until dark brown, 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

More Lunchbox Ideas :Bless this Mess Please

Pasta Box

• Easy Pasta Salad (leftover pasta + chopped zucchini/red onion/tomato/bell peppers/ham + salad dressing(roasted garlic, creamy Italian, and classic vinaigrette are awesome in this)
• Cashews + dark chocolate chips
• Kiwi + blueberries

Hummus Box

• Hummus
• Celery/carrots/bell peppers/broccoli
• Crackers
• Dried fruit (mango/pineapple/blueberries/apricots) + dark chocolate

Curry Box

• Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Curry + brown rice 
• Dark chocolate
• Broccoli/radishes/tomatoes
• Red and green grapes

Heartweed: could not find her recipe but here is a slow cooker curry butternut /chicken recipe that can be served with rice. Omit or add ingredients for your taste. Could add lentils or garbanzo beans on place of chicken. 

Ingredients

• 1 medium butternut squash peeled, seeded and diced
• 11/2 pound(s) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless cubed
• 2 tablespoon(s) curry powder
• 1 teaspoon(s) ginger, fresh grated
• 1 medium garlic clove(s) minced
• 3 tablespoon(s) tomato paste
• 1 can(s) coconut milk, full fat (403 mL)
• 1 medium lime(s), juiced
• 2 tablespoon(s) cilantro, fresh for garnish
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) sea salt to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Put all of the ingredients in a slow cooker pot. Stir to make sure all ingredients are coated, and add water if necessary to make sure everything is covered.
2. Cover, cook on low for 6-8 hours. Before serving, stir in the lime juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Luncheon Meat Box 

• Salami + provolone (Hw: meat of your choice) 
• Crackers
• Radishes/cucumber/carrots/black olives
• Raspberries

Apple sandwich and Eggs

• Apple and Peanut Butter “Sandwiches”
• Blueberries
• Cashews + almonds + pecans + dark chocolate chips
• Boiled eggs
• Carrots + celery

Salad Box 

• Egg Salad (HW: chicken, tuna, broccoli salad) 
• Crackers
• Black olives/celery/carrots/broccoli/radishes/bell peppers
• Dried blueberries/apricots/pineapple + dark chocolate + almonds

Quinoa , Chicken and Veggie Box

• Cooked Quinoa + Roasted Veggies + Chicken Breast (great with optional dressing on top, and I love the roasted garlic on this) (Hw: rice option) 
• Red and green grapes
• Pecans + almonds + dates + dark chocolate chips

*place veggies and chicken on sheet aon drizzle with oil and bake 350 for 20 minutes. (cooking times and temps may vary depending on the type of veggies you roast- look for doneness when brown and tender)

Chef Salad Box

• Green Salad (all the veggies + optional ham/cheese/boiled egg). If I’m going to eat it within an hour or two, I’ll add the dressing before I leave the house. I’ll bring the dressing in a separate container if I’m not going to eat it for a few hours. Don’t dress the day you make it; it gets soggy fast.
• Crackers
• Blueberries + raspberries
• Dark chocolate

Lunch Box Ideas from Bless This Mess Please

Boiled Egg Lunch Box

• Boiled eggs
• Seeded crackers
• Veggies (tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, broccoli)
• Almonds + chocolate chips
• Grapes

Pancake “Sandwich” Lunch Box

• Mini pancakes with nut butter + banana slices inside to make a sandwich
• Cucumbers
• Fresh berries
• Almonds + chocolate chips (sunflower seeds, etc) 
• Mandarin orange

Burrito Bowl Lunch Box

• Rice + black beans + roasted sweet potatoes + fresh salsa (opt. ranch dressing, sour cream)
• Almonds + chocolate chips
• Grapes 

Easy Pesto Pasta Salad Lunch Box

• Cooked pasta + pesto + chopped tomato
• Chocolate chips + almonds
• Blueberries

Apple Sandwich Lunch Box

• Apple sandwiches
• Oranges
• No-bake oatmeal bites + almonds
• Veggies like peppers, broccoli
• 
  

Recipe for Oatmeal balls

• 1 cup dry oats (I like 1/2 old fashioned oatmeal and 1/2 quick cooking)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (hw:cashew,sunbutter...)
• 1/4 cup honey (HW: or maple syrup) 
• 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts (HW: any seed or nut or omit)
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• dash of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
• In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and stir to combine well. The mixture should be a bit sticky. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Use a spoon to scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie ball mixture into your hand. Roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. This should make about 12 oatmeal energy balls.
• Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.

Yogurt Parfait Lunch Box

• Yogurt (store bought or homemade)
• Mixed berries
• Strawberries + almonds
• Granola (store bought or homemade)

DIY Pizza Kit Lunch Box

• Pita (HW: or slice of pizza) 
• Tomatoes  + bell peppers (HW: any toppings you like)
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese 
• Dried pineapple + grapes  (HW:fresh or frozen pineapple) 

Banana “Sushi” Lunch Box

• Banana Sushi
• Carrots + tomatoes + cucumber + cauliflower and/or broccoli
• Chocolate chips + almonds

To make banana sushi, simply spread nut butter on a tortilla, place a banana on one edge and roll it up. Slice it with a sharp knife into rolls or “sushi” pieces.

Other sushi ideas: chicken salad and cucumber roll, add some raisins to the banana sushi. 

Hummus Lunch Box

• Hummus
• Curry roasted chickpeas
• Pita (Hw: or crackers, rice, buckwheat, rice cakes...)
• Veggies such as peppers, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, and/or cauliflower
•  pineapple

Roasted chickpeas: 

Can place on fridge and use as needed. 

• 1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), 15-ounces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of seasonings/herbs of your choosing (combo ideas in notes)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the chickpeas and then give them a good rinse with cold water. Place them on a layer of paper towel and use another paper towel to blot of some of the extra water.
2. Place the chickpeas in a small bowl and add the olive oil. Give the chickpeas a stir so that the oil coats them well. Add your seasonings and salt and stir again to combine.
3. Place the seasoned chickpeas on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the outside is crispy and darkened and the inside is creamy. Remove from the oven and enjoy hot. Serve over salads or with roasted veggies over quinoa.

Favorite flavor combos:
TACO – 1/2 teaspoon each – chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika
OR
CURRY – 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder + 1/2 teaspoon cumin
OR
RANCH – 1 teaspoon dill + 1/4 teaspoon onion AND garlic powder
The possibilities are endless! Experiment to find what you like.

Breakfast for Lunch Box

• Mini whole wheat pancakes (Hw: or gluten free , oatmeal pancakes...)
• Maple syrup (Hw: this could get messy if packing -the yogurt would make a good dip) 
• Blackberries + raspberries + blueberries
• Yogurt (store bought or homemade)