Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and GIVEAWAY

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I was honored to be featured on the blog: Against All Grain. I think you would enjoy her blog! Check it out here:
http://www.againstallgrain.com/2012/12/15/guest-post-lemon-bars/

ChocoPerfection Giveaway!

Enter to win a box of ChocoPerfection bars! All you have to do is leave a comment below that you would like to win and also include what "healthified" recipe you and your family enjoys the most. The winner will be picked on December 30th. Good Luck!

ChocoPerfection bars uses the sweeteners oligofructose, which is derived from ground-up chicory root, and erythritol, which comes from fermented natural foods. These ingredients don't effect insulin levels (zero on the glycemic index) or have a laxative effect like malitol. Most "low carb" chocolates use malitol which does increase blood sugar and often causes intestinal discomfort. So, here's to chocolate on a "diet!" Click HERE to find all "healthified" chocolates. 

I often get asked about dairy. Sure, if you use conventional dairy, you are going to get a lot of undesired hormones in the product. But we always use organic dairy products. I prefer Castle Rock, which is local and organic. Yes, it costs more, but it feels so good actually getting to know the families that you help support!

Here is a great video of Mark Sisson talking about a Paleo diet.

Also, if you have a gluten allergy, it can cause a dairy sensitivity...people are dairy sensitive though and that can be a problem for weight loss. When you are gluten sensitive you have something called "atrophy of the villi". You digest dairy and other proteins like eggs at the end of the villi. So once you stay completely gluten free and heal the intestinal wall, you can incorporate those foods again (in smaller doses at first). I usually have people take l-glutamine and other things to heal the intestinal wall.    

NOTE: If you click on the ingredients, it will take you to my Amazon.com store where I find everything on sale.

"HEALTHIFIED" CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE
CRUST:
2 TBS butter or coconut oil
1 ChocoPerfection bar (chocolate raspberry), chopped
1 cup almond flour (or hazelnut meal)
1/4 cup confectioners Swerve (or erythritol and 1/4 tsp stevia glycerite)
1 tsp raspberry extract (if desired)
1 egg
FILLING:

2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
4 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups confectioners Swerve (or erythritol and 1 1/2 tsp stevia glycerite)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 eggs
TOPPING:
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 ChocoPerfection Bar (chocolate raspberry), chopped
2 TBS confectioners Swerve (or 1/8 tsp stevia glycerite)
1 tsp raspberry extract (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. CRUST: Melt the butter/oil with the chopped ChocoPerfection bar. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Add in the nut meal, natural sweetener, egg and extract (if using). Press into the bottom of an 8 inch spring form pan with 3 inch sides.
FILLING: Stir chopped chocolate and almond milk in metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove bowl from over water. Blend cream cheese, natural sweetener, and cocoa powder in processor until smooth. Blend in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in lukewarm chocolate. Then swirl in the raspberries or raspberry jelly (I also chopped another ChocoPerfection bar and swirled that in also). Pour filling over crust. Bake for 60 minutes or until center is just set and just appears dry, about 1 hour. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around sides of cake to loosen. Chill overnight. 

TOPPING: Stir cream and chocolate in a medium sized saucepan over low heat until smooth, add in the natural sweetener. Cool slightly. Pour over center of cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge and filling any cracks. Chill until topping is set, about 1 hour. Do ahead: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover with foil and keep refrigerated. Makes 16 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Cheesecake = 461 calories, 29.6g fat, 7g protein, 42.5g carbs, 1.9g fiber (40.6 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Cheesecake = 298 calories, 29g fat, 7.7g protein, 7.7g carbs, 4.3g fiber (3.4 effective carbs)