Thursday, June 30, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake




Calling all chocoholics!  Calling all cheesecake lovers!  (Cheesecakeoholics just didn't have the ring I was looking for.)  It's true, all chocoholics and cheesecake lovers can live in harmony.  =)  In all seriousness, this was a great cheesecake.  Even my husband, who is not a cheesecake lover , enjoyed this.  (Yes...those people exist.  I somehow married one.)  I got the recipe from VeryBestBaking.com.  It called for an Oreo cookie crust.  I didn't have any Oreos (I know...shame on me.) but I did have graham crackers and made a graham cracker crust instead.  I also used regular sized chocolate chips vs. the mini ones.  It's what I had.  I bet the mini ones would make it prettier.  Anyway, if you need a pretty dessert to impress the in-laws...here you go!

Graham Cracker Crust:
Recipe taken from Food.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1/3 cup sugar

Directions:
  1. Mix all ingredients together and press evenly across bottom of a inch springform pan.



Chocolate Chip Cheesecake:

Recipe taken from VeryBestBaking.com

  • 2- 8oz packages of softened cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 TBS vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 TBS AP-flour
  • 3/4 evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups chocolate chips, divided
Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 300
  2. After the crust has cooled, sprinkle 1 cup of chocolate chips evenly across the crust.
  3. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until smooth. 
  4. Beat in eggs and flour. 
  5. Gradually beat in evaporated milk and sour cream. 
  6. Pour over crust. 
  7. Sprinkle with remaining morsels.
  8. Bake for 25 minutes
  9. Cover loosely with foil
  10. Bake an additional 30 to 40 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly. Place in refrigerator immediately; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Remove side of springform pan.
My Tips for this Recipe:
  • Even though the recipe doesn't tell you to do so, I put a pan of water on the bottom rack and the cheesecake on the top rack of my oven.  It helps keep it from getting too dry and cracking.
  • I know it's tough to keep from cutting into the cheesecake while it's nice and warm...but you can do it! Resist the temptation.  =)  





By the way, my pictures make the cheesecake look a little yellow. That is for a good reason. =) I use eggs from free range chickens that I purchase straight from the farm. The yolks are much darker and higher in protein due to their natural diet than your average store bought egg. Just thought I'd let you know that. =)






Linking up at these fun parties:

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #35

Y'all are killing me!  Last week, soooo many yummy things were linked up that I have had the HARDEST time picking ONE to feature!  I feel like I have to at least mention the two runner ups.  So in honor of all of the beauty pageants going on right now,  I'm going to announce them beauty pageant style!

2'nd runner up in the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try link up party #35 goes to.....

{Drum Roll} 


{Wild Applause}

1'st runner up in the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try link up party #35 goes to.....

{Drum Roll}


{Wild Applause}

And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for.  This week's Recipe I Can't Wait to Try #35 and winner of this week's feature goes to.....

{Drum Roll}

{More Drum Roll (for the added dramatic effect)}


Photo is property of Cooking with K
{Wild Applause}

Thanks to all of you that linked up last week.  They all looked DELICIOUS!!!  Y'all really made it tough to pick some out.  I hope you all link up again this week!

Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts! My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer! Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love! =) This is a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog. By the way, some new features have been added to Linky Tools. =) I'm making the list so that the links show up randomly. In other words, even if you are the last person to link up, sometimes your recipe may be listed closer to the top of the list. Enjoy!


If you were featured, feel free (but not pressured) [=)] to grab my button!
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If you are participating in the linky party and would like to sport the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try button on your blog, here you go!
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Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:



Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #34

Gosh y'all, it seems that every week I have something crazy going on!  As you already know, that is if you actually read the post last week ;-), I took my kids to my parent's house to stay until this past Saturday.  I was excited about the chance to catch up on some much needed blogging while they were gone.  Wednesday night, I got sick.  Really sick.  Thursday, I felt like death and didn't move from the couch.  Friday, I still felt like death but went to the doctor.  She said it was strep throat and that she suspected that I might have mono. (BTW, thankfully I don't have mono.)  Booo!  Saturday, I was almost starting to feel better when we discovered that Hannah was covered in a rash.  Seriously?!  My husband took her to an urgent care and sure enough...strep throat and scarlet fever.  He brought her home, we gave her the antibiotic, then put her in bed.  20 minutes later she starts crying.  I went in to check on her and her ears were bright red.  ???  I took her to the changing table and opened up her sleeper and she had what looked like sunburn all over her stomach, neck, throat, chest, under her armpits, behind her knees, and in her elbow creases.  Once again...seriously?!  We grabbed the benadryl and called the doctor.  They got a new prescription called in for her...this time it's penicillin free.  By Sunday evening she was starting to feel better.  So there.  That's my craziness for the week.  I felt terrible for James because we didn't get to do anything fun for Father's day.  We had to stay cooped up at the house.  Oh well.

Last night I was finally feeling well enough to go running.  James and I often put the kids in bed and run up and down our street while they are sleeping.  We got dressed, laced up the shoes, had music playing in our ears, walked outside....lightening....LOTS of lightening.  So we came in, took off our shoes, turned off our music, walked into the kitchen, and enjoyed a homemade peach cobbler with ice cream.  =)  Recipe coming soon!

Ok, Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  Yummmmmmy!  As I mentioned a while back, and as you've probably noticed by the recipes on my blog, I do most everything from scratch.  My goal is to eliminate ALL processed foods from our diet.  I'm doing pretty good too!  I also am trying to become a little more self sufficient.  This year we started an organic garden in our back yard.  It's the saddest, most pitiful looking thing you've ever seen in your life.  I'll save that sad little story for another post.  But my goal 'was' to grow things and can them.      So when I saw this recipe for Mango Jam at Frugal Follies, I knew it was a keeper!

Photo is property of Frugal Follies


Mango Jam at Frugal Follies

(BTW, the jars on the left are Mango Chile Sauce)












Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts! My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer! Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love! =) This is a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog. By the way, some new features have been added to Linky Tools. =) I'm making the list so that the links show up randomly. In other words, even if you are the last person to link up, sometimes your recipe may be listed closer to the top of the list. Enjoy!


If you were featured, feel free (but not pressured) [=)] to grab my button!
Photobucket 


If you are participating in the linky party and would like to sport the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try button on your blog, here you go!
Photobucket 


Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! #33

*oops! Sorry, y'all, the linky is fixed now.*
So I was a total slacker last week.  As a result, I get to share 2 Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!!!  Yeehaw!  I'm currently at my mom and dad's house getting ready to leave my boys here while I take my daughter home until Saturday.  Right now there is a 4, 5(my niece), and 7 year old making laps around me as I type.  If my post is a little scattered...you'll understand.  I'm feeling slightly ADD with all of the activity going on around me.  =)  Anyway, on to last weeks Recipe I Can't Wait to Try from week #31!!!  This was a no brainer for me.  Chocolate-covered Strawberry Cheesecake at eASY bAKED!!!  This cheesecake is BEAUTIFUL!   Go check out the recipe



Chocolate-covered Strawberry Cheesecake at eASY bAKED















Week #32 looks just as fantastic!  I was overwhelmed with all of the yummy recipes linked up that I have had a hard time picking one!  But I think I'm going to have to go with the Creamy Avocado Wontons from Cook with Sara!  Sweet avocado...how I love you so.  <3


Creamy Avocado Wontons at Cook with Sara















Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts! My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer! Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love! =) This is a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog. By the way, some new features have been added to Linky Tools. =) I'm making the list so that the links show up randomly. In other words, even if you are the last person to link up, sometimes your recipe may be listed closer to the top of the list. Enjoy!


If you were featured, feel free (but not pressured) [=)] to grab my button!

Photobucket



If you are participating in the linky party and would like to sport the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try button on your blog, here you go!
Photobucket





Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:




Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #32

Is it Wednesday?  This is the first week that my son has been out of school and my days are ALREADY messed up!  My husband was sick today so that kind of messed with me, I took my kids to Vacation Bible School, picked up my kids and went to a friend's house to swim, then went to another friend's house to rehearse for music at church on Sunday.  Sometime today...I think it was around 4...I thought to myself, "What was I supposed to do today?  There's something I'm missing."  Then about 9 tonight I smacked myself on the head realizing that I missed Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  I'm so sorry!!!  I hope y'all come back to link up still even though it's so late.  =(  Because this post won't get as many hits as usual, I'm not going to feature a recipe from last week tonight.  I'll save it for next week and feature one from Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #31 & another from Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #32.  That way the featured recipe from #31 will have better exposure.  I hope I'm making sense.  It makes sense in my head anyway.  =)

Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts!  My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer!  Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love!  =)  This is a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog. By the way, some new features have been added to Linky Tools.  =)  I'm making the list so that the links show up randomly.  In other words, even if you are the last person to link up, sometimes your recipe may be listed closer to the top of the list.   Enjoy!


If you are participating in the linky party and would like to sport the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try button on your blog, here you go!

Photobucket 





Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Recipes I Can't Wait to Try #31

It's Wednesday!  It's hump day!  It's time to slide down the week hill!  It's the day for Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  I don't know if I can really tell y'all how much I look forward to seeing what you will link up each week.  Last week there were so many delicious things linked up that I really had a difficult time choosing what to feature.  But, I HAD to take note of the Peanut Butter Fudge Cookie on Easy Baked!  So here's this week's recipe I can't wait to try...peanut butter...chocolate...yes please!

Photo is property of Easy Baked


Peanut Butter Fudge Cookie at Easy Baked














Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts!  My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer!  Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love!  =)  Also, this week I've made it a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog.  Enjoy!


If you were featured, feel free (but not pressured) [=)] to grab my button!
Photobucket 


If you are participating in the linky party and would like to sport the Recipes I Can't Wait to Try button on your blog, here you go!
Photobucket 


Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:

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