Raspberry Yogurt Cheese with Gingersnaps

Since raspberries are my favorite fruit, and I like gingersnaps because they help me feel better when I have a belly ache, and, of course, my blog is about yogurt, I just thought I'd share with you this recipe.

Yield
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups raspberries, plus extra for garnishing
4 tablespoons honey
3 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
12 gingersnaps

Preparation
Place the raspberries and 2 tablespoons of the honey in a medium bowl and stir gently. Add the yogurt and carefully fold in the berries until thoroughly combined; some berries should remain whole. Place a large strainer or colander in a medium bowl and line it with 4 layers of cheesecloth or plain white paper towels, allowing the cloth to extend beyond the edge of the strainer. Spoon the yogurt mixture onto the cloth, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Turn the yogurt cheese onto a serving plate and remove the cloth. Discard the drained liquid. Drizzle the remaining honey over the yogurt cheese. Use the gingersnaps as crackers, topping them with the cheese and extra berries.

Tip: You can also serve the Raspberry Yogurt Cheese with bagels and breads.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 230.27 (26% from fat)
Fat: 6.66g (sat 3.5g)
Protein: 6.54mg
Carbohydrate: 38.14g
Fiber: 2.8g
Cholesterol: 19.11mg
Iron: 1.47mg
Sodium: 178.54mg
Calcium: 201.05mg

If I still haven't convinced you to try Greek yogurt, this should do it. LOL

Many think of yogurt as just a sweet snack. But the thick, creamy, rich kind that’s traditional in Greece has been integral to Grecians’ healthy diet for thousands of years. “We have a custom that before a couple goes on their honeymoon, they eat yogurt with honey and walnuts for prosperity and energy,” says Antonios Maridakis, president of Fage USA, importer of Greece’s biggest yogurt brand. “A lot of us believe that yogurt is an aphrodisiac.”

My New Obsession - Greek Yogurt

My mom went to BJ's and bought this new, strange yogurt called Chobani. It's a brand of Greek yogurt, which I had never tried before. So far now, I've had blueberry, strawberry, and peach. I can't say one was better than the other because I loved them all! They are fat free, with just 140 calories and an amazing amount of protein - 14 grams. And did you know, protein-dense yogurt is now considered a meat alternative by the United States Department of Agriculture in its school meal programs?

Chobani also contains 3 active probiotics -- good for digestive health. The yogurt has a distinct flavor. It is very creamy, and the Chobani kind comes with fruit on the bottom that you mix in. It is a delicious and different kink of yogurt that I recommend to everyone!

Get your fiber -- even in yogurt!

The American Heart Association recommends eating a variety of food fiber sources. Fiber is important for the health of the digestive system and for lowering cholesterol. Foods containing fiber often are good sources of other essential nutrients. Depending on how they're prepared, these foods can also be low in trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Fruits, vegetables, whole-grain, high-fiber foods, beans and legumes are good sources of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. The AHA recommends that at least half of grain intake come from whole-grain foods.

(http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4574)

Here is an easy and delicious way to get an excellent serving of fiber using, of course, yogurt!! You're 5 ingredients and 10 minutes away from dipping into a deliciously layered dessert or snack of yogurt, fruit and high-fiber cereal.

Strawberry-Banana Parfaits
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
Makes:4 servings

2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free strawberry yogurt
2 cups Fiber One® Honey Clusters® cereal
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 medium banana, thinly sliced
4 whole fresh strawberries

1. In each of 4 (10-oz) plastic cups or parfait glasses, layer 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1/4 cup cereal, 1/4 cup strawberry slices and 1/4 of banana slices.
2. Top each with 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1/4 cup cereal and remaining yogurt. Garnish top of each parfait with whole strawberry.

(This recipe uses Yoplait yogurt. You could even use Fiber One Yogurt for even more fiber.)

Here's your yogurt with Vitamin D!

Below are the major national-brand yogurts that have been fortified with vitamin D, because not all yogurt has Vitamin D in it. Vitamin D is fortified into milk and yogurt.

Now there may be more brands than these listed below, so leave any comments if you want to add any more to the list. I've included only brands that contain at least 10 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin D per single-serving container. (Smoothies and yogurt drinks are excluded).


(Size is a 6-ounce cup unless noted) . . .

Breyer's Creme Savers: 30 percent
Breyer's Light: 20 percent
Breyer's Disney Swirled Lowfat: 20 percent (4 ounces)
Dannon Light & Fit: 20 percent (except for strawberry and mixed berry, with 15 percent)
Stonyfield Farm Fat-Free: 20 percent
Stonyfield Farm YoCalcium: 20 percent
Stonyfield Farm Lowfat: 20 percent
Yoplait Original: 20 percent
Yoplait Light: 20 percent
Yoplait Thick and Creamy: 20 percent
Yoplait Light Thick and Creamy: 20 percent
Stonyfield Farm Fat-Free Probiotic: 15 percent (4 ounces)
Dannon Light & Fit 0%-Plus: 10 percent (4 ounces)
Yoplait Whips: 10 percent (4 ounces)
Yoplait Yo-Plus: 10 percent (4 ounces)
Yoplait Fiber One: 15 percent (4 ounces)
Trix by Yoplait: 10 (4 ounces)

Vitamin D and Yogurt

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.

Vitamin D must be present for calcium to be absorbed and used. For this reason, yogurt that is rich in calcium and fortified with Vitamin D is a good choice. Some yogurt brands are not fortified with Vitamin D. Look for brands, such as Yoplait, that contain Vitamin D, or make sure you are getting your vitamin D from other sources.

Classic Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

Last night I visited the Taunton mall again with a few friends. We stopped at Bridgham's (again) for some ice cream/frozen yogurt. This time I got vanilla frozen yogurt with hot fudge and strawberry topping. It was really good! Fudge and strawberries go very well together, I must say, especially with frozen yogurt.

And since we've been working on a project about the ingrdients in food, most of the ingredients in the vanilla frozen yogurt seem pretty promising. Here's the list:

Skim Milk, Sugar, Cultured Skim Milk, Corn Syrup, Cream, Vanilla Extract, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Soy Lecithin. Contains active Yogurt Cultures: L. Bulgaricus & S. ThermophilusContains active Yogurt Cultures: L. Bulgaricus and S. Thermophilus