No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

I love a quick recipe and this can't get any quicker! This cheesecake is very light but full of pumpkin flavor :)

Ingredients:

• 7 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese

• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1/4 cup brown sugar, unpacked

• 8 oz Cool Whip Free, thawed (I bought two so I had some to top on each slice)

• 9 inch reduced fat Graham Cracker Crust

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar for a few minutes until fluffy. Add Cool Whip and whip until smooth. Spoon mixture into pie crust and chill for a few hours, until firm.


adapted from Skinnytaste

Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Tilapia with Roasted Broccoli Rabe and Sweet Potato Hash

Happy Fall! :) My last post was September 5th and I started class September 4th so please excuse my disappearance!!! I went from having so much time before school to now only having Monday and the weekends available to make dinner and even my weekends have been hectic lately! Since I finally took some time away from homework to make dinner here is a healthy fall recipe that you have to try! It had to be a quick simple meal because I had to get back to my studying so I promise it's easy to make!

Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Tilapia

 Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp panko crumbs
• 1 tsp dry parsley
• course salt such as kosher
• fresh cracked pepper
• 4 pieces tilapia filets
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• olive oil spray  

 Directions:

 Grind the pumpkin seeds in a food processor or coffee grinder. Combine crushed pumpkin seeds, panko, parsley, pinch of salt and fresh pepper and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. Drizzle 1/4 tsp oil on each tilapia filet. Rub over fish to coat, season with salt and pepper and top with crushed garlic.

 Add crumbs to the top, mist with a little oil and place in the center of the oven.

 Bake for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through, then broil for 1 - 2 minutes, or until crumbs are golden (be careful not to burn! You really need to watch them). 

served with Roasted Broccoli Rabe

• 1 large bunch broccoli rabe, tough stems removed
• 4-5 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and fresh pepper
• pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Heat oven to 400°. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When water boils, add broccoli rabe and blanch one minute. Remove from water and DRAIN WELL in a colander.

Add to a baking dish and mix with garlic, oil, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes. Roast 15-20 minutes. SOOO YUMMY :)

Adapted from Skinnytaste

And a Sweet Potato Hash

•  2 Large Sweet Potatoes (cubed)
• 2 tbsp of oil
• 1 clove of garlic chopped
• Salt + Pepper
• Garlic Chili spice to add a kick to it 

Heat oil in a large  covered skillet. Once hot add all the ingredients above and cover the skillet to help steam the potatoes. Cook and stir about 8 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

ENJOY!

 

Detox (Day 2)

Fresh Green Drink:

I'm definitely having a more difficult time getting this juice down than the first but I don't feel hungry. Yesterday I only ate 2oz of almonds and a 4oz plain piece of chicken. Today I ate a 6oz piece of plain chicken and steamed broccoli. (I put some fresh lemon juice to help out the taste!)

Ingredients: 

Apple, Celery, Cucumber, Ginger, Parsley, Spinach.

End of Summer Detox (Day 1)

After an amazing summer with family, friends, food, and alcohol, I decided it's time for a Fall detox. I have never done a detox before so this will be quite interesting! I found this 3 day cleanse from Lauryn on The Skinny Confidential, which she used from Juicers in Solana Beach, CA. Since we don't have access to a Juicers I decided to make it on my own. Brian (The best boyfriend ever) bought me a GE Juicer to make the process easier, but you can also use a regular blender to make the juice. It just needs to be a larger blender and not a magic bullet size. You can find more information about Juice Fasting here.

For the 3 day detox you make 64 oz of juice and you drink 8oz every hour with a glass of water in between each hour starting around 9am and ending at 4pm. You may have 6oz of lean protein and a large handful of steamed vegetables once in the day. But you can also split the 6oz of protein into 4 oz of chicken and 2oz of almonds, which is what I did. It's really up to you. You are also allowed herbal tea's with the detox.

Juice 1 consists of  
Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Carrots, Beets, Celery, Apples, and Lemons.
Day 1 pictures:

I'm just about half way done for today and I'm feeling good! I did get a little hungry so I snacked on some almonds. I also had a Bigelow Green Tea. Only complaint is how often I have to pee! ;) I will post day 2 juice tomorrow and if you would like the information sheet email me at kathryn.pember@gmail.com!