Steve's blog: Sugar-free cheesecake is worth the wait!

Steve: I know you've been waiting with baited breath to see what I've conjured up this week, and hopefully my choices will have you heading straight to the local bookstore to buy Davina’s book!

Last week was more about snacking due to my hours at work, so this time around I needed a couple of new recipes and one trusted family favourite.

Risotto with Spring Vegetables (p.92)

I always thought risottos were for people with no taste buds, however I decided to make the spring vegetable risotto and have to say that this tasted really fresh - and the hint of lemon definitely added a really nice flavour. I used plenty of asparagus, broccoli, courgette, peas and green beans in my dish -  my wife was crying out for lots of veg.

My only mistakes for this dish were using the wrong size pan and forgetting to add the Parmesan! How did I know the wrong pan was used? Check out my cooker, it's all over the place! As for the Parmesan, I replaced this with a really mild hard cheese and we still thoroughly enjoyed this dish.

Lime and Ginger Cheesecake (p. 189)

Next up for my culinary adventure was the lime and ginger cheesecake. I tried to hold back on making this as cheesecake is my favourite dessert, however temptation got the better of me!

First, I made a batch of the digestive biscuits on page 177. I was wary about these as I do tend to overcook biscuits but I got this right... hurrah he says! The rest of the dish was very simple to make and, as Davina recommends, let it set overnight, it’s worth the wait.

My wife and I love the freshness of lime and, being a modest chap, I have to say that even Davina would be beaten by my effort! Seriously, it tasted really fresh and light. It's probably best to keep this one a secret and eat it all by yourself! Not all in the same day though, that’s just greedy... ;)

Shepherd's Pie (page 127)

Now, every household must have Shepherd's Pie on their 'favourite family dishes' list! This is a fantastic recipe and the sweet potato with crème fraîche just gives it a slightly sweeter taste. My wife and I are now fully converted to the sweet potato topping - it's healthier without the loss of taste... just what you need on a cold wintry night. 

Loaded with plenty of veg and with a hint of cinnamon, this is just what the taste buds needed. I would be very surprised if this wasn't enjoyed, so why not try.