Nonfat? No; Yummy? Yes

DEAR SOS: The Nonfat Lemon Cheesecake at Robin’s in Cambria is wonderfully creamy and delicious. I’m hoping you can obtain the recipe.

--PAT

DEAR PAT: Sounds like the perfect light supper dessert. Unfortunately, this is anything but nonfat, because the crust calls for half a cup of margarine. It is good, though, and if you wanted to just pat the crumbs into the bottom of the pan, you would have something approaching low-fat.

ROBIN’S LEMON CHEESECAKE

CRUST

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup margarine, melted

1/4 cup sugar

Mix crumbs, margarine and sugar in small bowl. Press into 9 1/2-inch springform pan. Set aside.

FILLING

1 pound nonfat cream cheese

1 cup nonfat sour cream

1 cup sugar

Grated peel of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup egg substitute or equivalent of 3 eggs

Beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, lemon peel and vanilla in mixer until mixture is fluffy and smooth. Stir in egg substitute, being careful not to over-beat.

TOPPING

2 cups nonfat sour cream

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix together sour cream, sugar and vanilla.

Pour filling into prepared crust and bake at 350 degrees until center has barely set, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes then pour topping over cheesecake. Chill to set, at least 1 hour. Serve with any desired fruit topping or raspberry sauce.

Makes 8 servings.

Each serving contains about:

535 calories; 561 mg sodium; 40 mg cholesterol; 25 grams fat; 67 grams carbohydrates; 15 grams protein; 0.18 gram fiber.

The Coke Generation

DEAR SOS: My mother used to bake a cake made with Coca-Cola. Do you have such a recipe in your files?

--SHANNON

DEAR SHANNON: Certainly. It was a rage during the ‘50s and ‘60s.

COCA-COLA CAKE

CAKE

1 cup butter

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cup Coca-Cola

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Heat butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola to boiling in saucepan. Add flour, sugar and baking soda and mix gently. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract and marshmallows. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cake can be frosted while warm.

FROSTING

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup cocoa

6 tablespoons Coca-Cola

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 (1-pound) box powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts

In saucepan, heat butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola to boiling. Add marshmallows, stirring until dissolved. Beat in sugar and vanilla extract. Stir in nuts. Spread over warm cake.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Each of 10 servings contains about:

819 calories; 405 mg sodium; 118 mg cholesterol; 37 grams fat; 122 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams protein; 0.43 gram fiber.