I Came, I Saw, I Baked!

Finally, I baked again.  I have mentioned in earlier posts how much I have missed baking.  When Mark and I got married, I was not a very good cook.  But I could bake!  That was one thing my mom taught me how to do!  I have always enjoyed baking goodies from scratch.  A mix will do in a pinch, but nothing tastes as good as a cake or pie made from scratch.  I love the organization of it all.  The measuring, the mixing...it just makes my heart happy.  I am glad to say that after 18 years (and lots of phone calls to my parent and in-laws) I am now a decent cook.  I like to make recipes my own.  I have thoroughly enjoyed cooking during my eating better blog.  Now, I told you that I did not gain any weight on vacation.  And that is true!  However, after vacation is another story.  I pretty much took a break for the rest of the week last week and gained 3 pounds.  My oh my!  Why is it so easy to put it on and so hard to get if off!!!!  Oh well, Sunday I made myself get back to it and I am happy to say that it came off pretty easy.  I have also gotten lazy about tracking my points on WW.  So I got back on the website to log in and lo and behold there popped up a cheesecake recipe.  I nearly fainted!!!  Cheesecake is MY. FAVORITE. DESSERT. EVER!!!!!  I had to bake it.  I can say that I may do things a little different next time.  And there will be another time.  It really hits the spot!!!!  Here is the recipe

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

10 chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling
8 oz fat free cream cheese
8 oz light cream cheese in the tub
1 cup of sugar
2 tbsp of flour
1 cup of cottage cheese
2 tsp almond extract
6 large egg whites
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly coat a 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray.  Crush cookies and sprinkle cookie crumbs evenly over bottom of pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheeses until well blended.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour.  Add to cream cheese mixture and blend well.
In a blender, puree the cottage cheese until smooth.  I added the almond abstract to this and blended it with the cottage cheese as well.  Add cottage cheese to cream cheese mixture and mix well.
Add egg whites and beat until well blended.  Stir in 1/2 cup of choc. chips.
Pour into the springform pan and top with the remaining chocolate chips.  Bake until cheesecake puff and center is almost set, about 60 minutes.
Cool completely.  Run a knife around the edge and loosen the edge to release the pan sides.  Cover and chill overnight.  Cut into 12 slices.

In WW points this is 6 points a slice.  I know that is a lot, but to fix my cheesecake craving, it is worth it.  I have one slice a day.  I will probably use vanilla instead of almond next time, or a tsp of each.  This is really good.  It is not overly sweet.  I assume you could make this sugar free if you got creative!  I hope you enjoy!!!  Go get your bake on!