Ricotta Cheesecake with Macerated Balsamic Strawberries

HomeClinics & ProgramsELLICSR KitchenRicotta Cheesecake with Macerated Balsamic Strawberries

Skill Level	Easy

Preparation Time	15 minutes	Total Time	1 hour (+ 1 hour to cool)
Servings	10	Cost Per Serving	$0.94

Ricotta Cheesecake

2 cups	Ricotta Cheese (low-fat or regular)
2	Eggs
1/3 cup	Plain Yogurt
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp	Ground Almonds
1/3 cup	Honey
1 tsp	Pure Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp	Lemon Zest
1 tsp	Butter or Grape Seed Oil

Macerated Balsamic Strawberries

2 cups	Fresh Strawberries, roughly chopped
1 tbsp	Balsamic Vinegar
1 tbsp	Lemon Zests
1 tbsp	Whole Cane Sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the ingredients for the macerated strawberries and refrigerate.
Grease an 8 inch spring form pan with the butter or oil. Add 1 tbsp of the ground almonds and shake the pan so that the ground almonds stick to the sides.
Combine remaining cheesecake ingredients together well and add to the pan.
Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool and then refrigerate for at least an hour.
Top with the macerated strawberries.

PDF link to nutrition facts table for macerated balsamic strawberries

The idea that “sugar feeds cancer” comes from the observation that cancer cells in the lab will die when they don’t have sugar. However, this is also true for healthy cells. Including some unrefined sugar in moderate amounts fits into a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survivorship.
There is a difference between refined sugar and sugars naturally found in foods. It is recommended that refined foods such as sugar and white flour be replaced with healthy sugars and carbohydrates such as fruit and whole grains. Processed sugar has had all of the nutrients removed from it, so it provides only calories. Natural sugars such as those found in fruit come with fibre, which slows down the digestion of sugar and plays a role in reducing cancer risk. Fruit also contains vitamins and phytonutrients, compounds that may reduce cancer risk and help fight cancer.
Eating a diet that is too high in sugar may indirectly increase cancer risk by making a person overweight. For good health, limit added sugars to 6-7 teaspoons per day. A can of pop has at least 10 teaspoons of sugar.
To sweeten foods and recipes, use natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup and molasses, because they contain minerals and antioxidants that may help fight cancer and do not raise blood sugar as much as refined sugar. Remember that these sweeteners count as added sugars and contain just as many calories as refined sugar, so limit their use to the amount recommended above.