GiltHealth

Amaretto Cheesecake with Almond Brittle

Cake:
Cooking spray
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 (8-ounce) blocks 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs, at room temperature
Brittle:
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons water
How to Make It
Step 1
Place a rack in the middle of the oven; preheat to 350°. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; set aside...

Amaretto Cheesecake with Almond Brittle | GiltHealth Ingredients Cake: Cooking spray 1 cup sliced almonds 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon sugar 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 (8-ounce) blocks 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk 2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur) 1 teaspoo...

General Concepts in Allergy

1. What is an allergy?
The word allergy refers to a reaction to an environmental substance, either by breathing it, eating it, or having contact with the skin. The most common mechanism by which an environmental substance causes this kind of reaction involves antibodies, which are proteins formed by the immune system. The normal function of antibodies is to protect the body from infection by attacking and killing organisms like viruses and bacteria. In the case of allergy, the antibody is called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, and, rather than attaching itself to microorganisms, the antibody binds to normally harmless substances like pollen, dust mites, and animal danders. Once IgE is formed in the bloodstream, it seeks out and binds to a type of cell called a mast cell, which is located in the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract as well as skin. If the person is then reexposed to that same allergen, the mast cell is triggered within a few minutes to release a variety of chemicals, including histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins (Table 1). These chemicals, which are also referred to as mediators of the allergic response, are responsible for the symptoms that patients develop after exposure to allergens.