Making cream cheese out of yogurt saves fat grams in any dish that uses cream cheese.
Details are below on how easy it is to make. Then use it any recipe that calls for cream cheese.
Using the Skyr style yogurt works best as it is naturally thicker than Greek or regular yogurt. You can also use flavored yogurts if you are wanting a flavored cream cheese.
I use this to make a low-fat cream cheese frosting. That I spread over carrot cake. I am also working on a cheesecake recipe so stay tuned for that.
Did you know you can make cream cheese out of yogurt just by straining it? The process takes a couple days so you need to plan ahead. But it is worth to save calories and fat grams. What a way to lighten up those dishes that use cream cheese. Even full fat yogurts have less fat than the reduced fat cream cheese. See below on the technique for getting a rich cream cheese with out all the fat!
Author: Sharm
Ingredients
24ouncesSkyr style yogurt
Instructions
Line strainer with cheesecloth.
Pour yogurt into cheesecloth
Pull up cheesecloth around yogurt
Place strainer over a mixing bowl to catch liquid
(a salad spinner can work good as it is a strainer and bowl in one)
Place in refrigerator and let set for two – three days
24 ounces yogurt will yield 12- 15 ounces strained. The longer it sits the less it yields as more liquid will be released.
Once desired firmness is obtained remove yogurt from cheesecloth and store in container and use as desired. Should stay fresh for about a week.
Line storage container with paper towel to continue to absorb excess moisture
The W owners, Shane and Merideth Veritasi continue to quench your thirst as they have once again transformed a space worthy of praise.
The much awaited Hand in Glove is the product of their handiwork and is a coffee and cocktail bar open seven days a week.
Hand in Glove
Much like The W, they did most the renovation themselves over a two-year period. During the renovation they found the brick building sitting on old railroad ties and had to pour ten feet sections of concrete on three sides of the building.
The space is long and narrow but plenty of natural light flows in from the large window front. The decor is bright and features white marble imported from Turkey along with white subway tile. The red leather bar stools with brass accents add a nice pop of color. The La Marzocco espresso machine has been custom painted to match featuring red trim and brass accents.
LaMarzocco coffee machine
The Snug seating area holds up to ten and features three cocktail tables with U shaped booth seating. If you are coming in with a large party call ahead and ask to reserve the snug seating area.
The Snug
The back wall of the bar features original brick with glass shelving and a custom made library ladder.
Also be sure to notice the unique brass accented light fixtures which took over 55 hours to assemble, wire and hang.
Brass Accented Light Fixtures
Unlike The W, which features more elevated cocktails, the cocktail menu at Hand in Glove will include more familiar drinks for those who aren’t as adventurous. Although, guests are encouraged to experiment with their coffee drink orders by adding a shot of one of the many liqueurs, amaro’s or spirits Hand in Glove offers.
Hand in Glove Cocktails and Coffee
The coffee menu includes all the classic coffee drinks like cappuccinos, espressos and lattes but also features a tapped nitro espresso and tapped nitro latte. Local Post coffee is used for the espresso. The drip coffee is also locally sourced and will rotate between Kansas City area roasters including Monarch, Blip and more.
Hand in Glove House Made Syrups
Seven complementary house made syrups are available for you to doctor up your drink and add a touch of sweetness. Flavors such as honey, agave and cane will stay year around, but other flavors will change with the season so look for pumpkin pie and spiced pear in the fall. Oat milk is available for the milk alternative to avoid any nut or soy allergies and there are plenty of tea choices for those who do not want a cup of Joe.
Pumpkin Pie Flavored Syrup
If you are into day drinking the cocktail menu is available all day and features a variety of batch cocktails on tap including a steali deali which is a play on the aged vodka soaked pineapple drink called the stoli doli found at Capital Grill.
Hand in Glove Steali Deali
There is also an old fashioned, negronish, smoked vanilla, a seasonal sangria and espresso martini. Beer aficionados will appreciate the Stella Artois served from the rare gooseneck branded silver tap. The champagne of beers is available too. Built in smokers are used for specialty drinks.
As evening approaches and into the night you can still get your caffeine fix if needed. But you will notice the sound of the espresso machine is replaced by martini shakers and glasses clinking as friends gather for cocktail time.
Hand in Glove offers plenty of non-alcoholic beverages Including a classic New York egg cream which contains neither egg or cream. But how that drink got its name can be saved for a different blog post. Hand in Glove will make your egg cream to taste using Fox’s u-bet flavored syrup of choice, milk and soda water. Currently there is no food available but eventually they are hoping to add some lighter fare to the menu and include items such as croissants, quiches and pies.
The term hand in glove comes from the early 1900s where local business in the same community collaborated and supported each other. With Hand in Glove being in the heart of downtown Lee’s Summit, they look forward to being part of bars and restaurants of downtown Lee’s Summit which is becoming known as the Strother District.
Hours are Monday through Wednesday 7am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday 7am to 1:30am and Sunday 9am to 6pm.
Being an empty nester and frequent traveler I find myself cooking less and less. And when i do, I’ve become quite lazy at it, although I do still try and keep it healthy.
Cleveland Kraut
Fermented foods are all the rage now and when I received some samples of Cleveland Kraut, my creativity juices started flowing.The flavors of the kraut come in Gnar Gnar which features jalapeños and peppers, Curry with turmeric and ginger, Whiskey Dil, Classic Caraway, Beet Red featuring fermented beets, Roasted Garlic and Cabbage and Cukes.
Cleveland Kraut Gnar Gnar
For some reason, I am obsessed with street tacos, and usually order them when we go out to a restaurant that has them. I also have found the chicken street taco kit from Costco. I’m thinking what I really like about them is the slaw that is always on top and the Cleveland Kraut flavors reminded me of slaw toppings you see on tacos so I took a stab at creating my own
Costco Taco Kit
First off when I buy the Costco taco kit, I freeze the shells and use these egg thins crepes by Crepini, also found at Costco. They come made with cauliflower or plain and help keep the carb count on these tacos a little lower.
Crepini Egg Thins with Cauliflower
So to create my Lazy Street Tacos, I heated up some of the chicken from the kit, and topped those crepes with a scoop of chicken and the gnar gnar kraut featuring peppers and jalepeños which gave them a great kick. The Costco kit also comes with a cilantro lime creme which is yummy to drizzle on top.
Lazy Chicken Street Tacos
Lazy Chicken Street Tacos
Another lazy idea I had was using the precooked Frontera Grill brand barbacoa and chicken made by Rick Bayless which you can also find at Costco. I’m kind of a Costco junkie if you can’t tell.
Now, I am certain you can always cook your own chicken, beef, fish or protein of choice and season it however you like, and they still would not take that long to whip up. I’m thinking what really takes the most time in preparing street tacos is making the slaw and with Cleveland Kraut, the works is done for you!
Some other fun ideas I have using the other flavors of kraut would be topping a burger with the whiskey dill or cabbage and cukes and making a cauliflower rice bowl with the curry kraut and lentils.
I’ll add a link to these recipes once I tried them out!
To find Cleveland Kraut near you, order online or just read the cool story of how they got started, visit clevelandkraut.com
This salad is a breeze to whip up. Massaging the dressing into the leaves and then letting it marinate before serving is the key to making it tender and delicious. The recipe recommends 10 minutes. But this is a hearty salad and can even be made early in the day or even the night before. I could almost argue that it is actually better the next day!
If making ahead of time, wait until just before serving to add the additional cheese and walnuts.
This should yield 8 one cup servings. Add your favorite protein to make it a main dish
*If you like to use avocado, walnut or a different kind of oil, decrease olive oil to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 oil of choice.
Instructions
Prepare dressing by adding garlic, lemon juice and red pepper flakes in bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil and one cup of the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Add chopped kale to to large mixing bowl. Top with dressing mixture and thoroughly coat leaves. Using hands massage the dressing into the kale leaves. Let sit 10 minutes at room temperature.
Chop walnuts and add to dry skillet over medium heat. Stir constantly until light toasted.
Once kale has sat in dressing mixture for 10 minutes, transfer salad to serving dish and top with 1/4 cup additional parmesan cheese and walnuts.
These nuts will wake up your taste buds! They are spicy, sweet and savory all at the same time and truly addictive.
I came across this recipe on Food Network while searching for something completely unrelated but when I saw the words rosemary and chipotle, two of my favorite things, I had to check it out. I’ve tweaked the recipe slightly. You can find the original here.
I decided to make them for the holidays and they were a huge hit. I make them all the time for special occasions and when hosting events and sometimes when I’m just craving them.
They are a hit at any party and make a great hostess gift when wrapped in a decorative cellophane bag or mason jar.
Candied Chipotle and Rosemary Mixed Nuts
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
7 1/2 cups nuts of choice (This can be tailored to any ratio you like. I like the following)
3 cups whole roasted salted cashews
1 1/2 cups whole walnut halves
2 cups whole pecan halves
1 cup whole almonds
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves, divided
4 teaspoons course sea salt, divided (l like using Maldon sea salt flakes)
You will need some parchment paper to lay them out to cool on.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, and almonds on large baking sheet.
Drizzle olive oil and maple syrup over nuts then sprinkle on brown sugar, orange juice and chipotle powder. Add 2 tablespoons of the rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss. Toss to coat the nuts evenly. (I like to use 2 rubber spoon shaped scrapers for this, but your hands work fine too.) Spread the nuts over pan in one layer.
Roast the nuts for 25 – 30 minutes, stirring twice while baking with a large metal spatula, until the nuts are glazed and golden brown. I would stir at the 10 minute mark and 19 minute mark.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary. Toss well to coat all of the nuts.
Remove just from baking sheet and spread nuts onto a sheet of parchment paper. Taste for seasoning and sprinkle additional salt or rosemary over top while still warm if desired. Serve warm or cool.
Once nuts have cooled completely they can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature.
Next time you go to grab a Gatorade to replace lost electrolytes from a workout, hangover or whatever else you might use it for, try a switchel instead. I know you might be asking what in the heck is switchel?
Actually, switchel has been around long before Gatorade was even a thought. It was used to fuel and rehydrate farmers and workers in the hayfields during Colonial times.
Although farming has modernized quite a bit since those times, a farmer can still work up quite a thirst out in the fields. Just think how much thirstier a job it was for the Colonials when the grass was hand-cut with a scythe. I’m sure if Iron-Man races were a thing back then the athletes would have used it too!
Gatorade type drink were not around during that time as electrolytes were not even discovered until the 1900’s. And there were no scientific studies showing our bodies needed them replaced after exertion.
Somehow our ancestors knew what they were doing and what our bodies needed and created switchel to nourish them. To bad we didn’t listen and let preservatives and sugar take the place of this natural re-hydrator.
Switchel contains water, apple cider vinegar, ginger and a sweetener. The sweetener can be either molasses, maple syrup, honey or brown sugar.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is all of the rage now and is great for digestion and gut health. Many people incorporate ACV into their diets to aid in weight loss.
With the exception of water, all the other ingredients in the switchel contain potassium which is an electrolyte. Which we now know our bodies need to function properly.
I recently received a sample of switchel from a company called Up Mountain Swizzle, who make a sparkling switchel with fresh ginger, real maple syrup and apple cider vinegar
I have to say the maple syrup definitely makes it sweet and the ginger adds quite a bit of flavoring. It is also fizzy so it feels like you are drinking a soda. You could think of it as a healthy ginger ale! I never drink pop so this definitely feel a like a treat!
I’ve been drinking a concoction I call wetter water for about a year and half which has apple cider vinegar in it. I do it first thing in the morning to get my gut ready for the day.
I like that the Up Mountain sparkling switchel is a little sweeter than my wetter water and definitely more travel friendly. I can just toss a can in my bag or suitcase. I tried traveling with a bottle of apple cider vinegar once. It really did not work out so well.
If you are a Gatorade junkie, I would encourage you to make the switch to switchel. If you have been curious about all the health benefits of apple cider vinegar drinks give Up Mountain sparkling switchel a try.
