Thursday, May 14, 2009

'NOTHING LIKE WEEDING TO UNKNOT THE MIND ...' ~ LEMON DELIGHT CHEESECAKE

"Soon her fingers were deftly pulling out tufts of grass and violets from around the bleeding heart; nothing like weeding to unknot the mind ..."


Bleeding Heart
(Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart')
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Gardener's Note: This brilliant 'old-fashioned' bleeding heart POPS in a shade garden . Surprisingly hearty with long lasting blooms, its sunny leaves will glow throughout spring and summer.
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LEMON DELIGHT CHEESECAKE
~ Favorite 'heart smart' spring dessert from old clipped Bon Appetit (Aug 1995)
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1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp melted margarine
3 (8-oz) packages low fat/fat free soft cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
3 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup egg substitute
1 (8-oz) carton lemon low fat/non fat yogurt
Garnish: lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs
  • Combine graham cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar, and margarine; firmly press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
  • Combine cream cheese, 3.4 cup sugar, and flour; beat at medium speed with electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add lemon juice and egg substitute, beating well. Add yogurt, beating well; pour into prepared pan. Cover loosely with foil.
  • Bake at 350-degrees for 1 hour or until set. Remove from oven; immediately run knife around sides of cheesecake to loosen. Cool completely in pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
  • Remove sides of pan from cheesecake. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint. (6 servings)
SWEET VIOLETS


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21 comments:

  1. AnonymousWednesday, May 13, 2009

    Those sweet violets would undo the knots in most anything -- aren't they darling? They remind me of the bouquets we'd collect as kids, the stems so short my Mom would use an egg cup for a tiny vase. :) The cheesecake, well......'nuf said. Yum!

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  2. Roses and LilacsWednesday, May 13, 2009

    Good morning Joey. Love your photos. The double exposure with the bleeding heart is so nice. I'll have to spend some time with Photoshop and learn that technique.

    I had to laugh when I read your title ...unknot the mind. I immediately thought of my unknoted mind and my knoted back;)
    Marnie

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  3. Brenda PruittWednesday, May 13, 2009

    You're right, Joey! I have worked out lots of problems and dilemmas with my fingers down in the dirt!
    Brenda

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  4. Monica the Garden FaerieWednesday, May 13, 2009

    Yay, Dicentra! I'm tired--did hard work for five hours until I felt too wet from the rain.

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  5. F CameronWednesday, May 13, 2009

    The garden is definitely therapeutic. Great post and photos!

    Cameron

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  6. joeyWednesday, May 13, 2009

    I love a small vase of May violets, Nancy. Then, the rest of the year it's wrestling with their agressive habit of dancing everywhere.

    Yes, weeding is very therapeutic, Brenda!

    Rained all afternoon here also, Monica. I'm having a hard time catching up, in fact, I'm not. As you see, I pre-posted a day early running late out the door for a Garden Club meeting :(

    Thanks Marnie, it's a fun project and works especially well with distinct figures/flowers. And yes, my back and sprained ankle are also knotted! I have a huge back yard and am embarrassed as the landscaping crew next door watches me hobble out of the garden ... not pretty.

    Glad to see you back home safe & sound, Cameron. Now, back to the real world and therapeutic weeding :)

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  7. AnonymousWednesday, May 13, 2009

    Bleeding Hearts are one of my favorite spring perennials. That 'Gold Heart' is pretty special with its' golden foliage. ;) Lemon & Cheesecake is a tasty combination!

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  8. joeyWednesday, May 13, 2009

    Thanks Racquel ... the golden foliage really 'pops' in the garden. I love it!

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  9. marmeeThursday, May 14, 2009

    love the bleeding hearts, joey,
    i finally planted one this year. i have no violets but love seeing them in tiny vases. sorry to hear about your ankle...hope you will be well soon. wordless wed...is spectacular.

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  10. Ellie Mae's CottageThursday, May 14, 2009

    Beautiful photos! The cheesecake sounds yummy. I'll have to try that recipe. -Jackie

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  11. joeyThursday, May 14, 2009

    Thanks Marmee ~ wish you lived near ... I have violets for thousands!

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  12. Nutty GnomeThursday, May 14, 2009

    Great photos Joey - and I love bleeding hearts.

    The recipe sounds scrummy - but what are graham crackers? Are they sweet or savoury? Once I know that, I'll know what English crackers or biscuits to substitute! :)

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  13. joeyThursday, May 14, 2009

    Welcome Jackie! It is good for a lighter, lower fat, cheesecake.

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  14. Brenda PruittThursday, May 14, 2009

    That is such an elegant flower. Somehow I don't think it will grow here...
    Brenda

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  15. UnknownThursday, May 14, 2009

    Hi there, Joey. Lovely flower pics as usual. Thanks for sharing a recipe of one of my favorite desserts. I'm so making this one soon!

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  16. joeyThursday, May 14, 2009

    Thank you, dear Nutty. Graham crackers are hard to describe so here it is from Wikipedia:

    The graham cracker was developed in 1829 in Bound Brook, New Jersey, by Presbyterian minister Rev. Sylvester Graham. Though called a cracker, it is sweet rather than salty and so bears some resemblance to a cookie (American English) / biscuit (British English) (although the term is unheard of in the United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland - a digestive biscuit is the closest approximation). The true graham cracker is made with graham flour, which is unsifted and coarsely ground wheat flour.

    I often also substitue vanilla wafers or ginger cookies.

    Hi Brenda ~ Bleeding Hearts are spring treasures (Zone 4-8).

    Thank you Desmone and always a delight to hear from you ... it's easy and light (for a cheesecake)!

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  17. Shady GardenerFriday, May 15, 2009

    Joey, What a funny title - and quote. I misread it at first and said 'huh?' ;-)

    I've just planted 'Gold Heart' and now it's receiving Lots of rain! Hope it helps it grow!

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  18. Nutty GnomeMonday, May 18, 2009

    Thanks for that Joey - digestive biscuits and ginger biscuits I can do! I'm off to make the cheesecake:)

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  19. The Weathered PaneTuesday, May 26, 2009

    And you use graham crackers for smores! :) Great great pictures. And that cheesecake looks yummy. I'll definitely have to try it. Nancy

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  20. Shady GardenerWednesday, May 27, 2009

    Weeding is a wonderful opportunity to be in the garden... and the prospect of a piece of your cheesecake might lure me in before I should! ;-)

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  21. CatherineFriday, May 29, 2009

    Two fav's Joey~ Bleeding hearts & Violets~both so beautifully captured by you! Now let's talk Cheesecake~oh my!~I do love cheesecake,& love trying new ones,& you know how much I love lemon recipes~your Lemon Delight Cheesecake sounds delightful!:)
    Also LOVE the quote~so so true!
    Big Hug's Bloggin Sis!
    Cat

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