The finished Cheesecakes:
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Plain with Blueberry Lemon Sauce
Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
Saturday, April 30, 2011
What an Absolutely Glorious Saturday!!!!
They are all finished and I am so happy they turned out better than I expected.. it was divine intervention how easy each one came off the bottom of the springform pan and how beautiful each one looks.. I hope that they bring in lots of money.. it is for such a great person.. I honestly don't know how I would deal with all that Tiffani and her family has to deal with.. she has such a wonderful spirit and attitude.. we should all strive to be more like her and her family.. Then there is Clete Cole.. another amazing family.. what he is doing for his brother.. amazing how selfless both these families are..
The finished Cheesecakes:
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Plain with Blueberry Lemon Sauce
Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
The finished Cheesecakes:
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Plain with Blueberry Lemon Sauce
Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy EASTER!!!! (Butter Rolls, Baked Beans, Au Gratin Potatoes)
Good Morning and Happy Easter!!! I hope everyone has a very blessed day!!! I didn't sleep well last night, the Excedrin PM isn't working.. ugghhhh.. I don't really know how much longer I can function on very little sleep..
So I got up around 7:30 and decided to make dinner rolls, and realized I forgot to soak the beans overnight... oooppsss.. the beans are soaking now and I just finished the dinner rolls.. a brand new recipe and the dough felt so soft and beautiful.. I did make a couple little changes.. I can't help myself.. I am a rebel..
Butter Rolls
1/2 c warm water
3 tsp yeast
2 tbsp sugar
Put in a large mixing bowl and let proof..
1/4 c sugar
1 c warm milk(not hot or it will kill the yeast.. your body temp is good..so test it with your finger, if it is cool heat a little more too hot, stir it to help it cool)
1 stick butter, melted
2 eggs
2 tsp salt
4 to 5 c flour (I used a mixture of whole wheat and white)
After the yeast has proofed, add the sugar, warm milk, butter, eggs, salt and 1 c flour, mix and then add another cup of flour.. Keep adding the flour until a soft dough forms, then turn out on a floured surface and knead for a couple minutes.. shape into a ball and cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes.. after it rests, shape into 2 to 3 inch balls, depending on how big you want your rolls.. put in either a 9x13 pan or round cake pans and let rise for an hour to an hour and a half.. until doubled and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.. brush with melted butter when taken out of the oven..
The Baked Beans didn't turn out.. I knew I should have cooked them first.. so next time I will cook the beans overnight.. drain the liquid and then add the yummy stuff to them.. the sauce is delish, the beans never got soft and something in the back of my mind kept telling me that this wasn't going to work.. :) So I am modifying the recipe...
Crockpot Baked Beans
1lb small white beans
3 c water
Cover the beans with the water and cook overnight.. drain and add the following..
1 c onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 slices bacon, chopped
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c molasses
1 tbsp grainy mustard
2 tbsp ketcup
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
Drain beans and rinse with cold water.. place in crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients...Stir well.. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours..
I am also making Au Gratin Potatoes.. and not from a box
Au Gratin Potatoes
4 large or 8 medium potatoes
1 1/2 c heavy cream
1/2 c milk
2 to 3 tbsp flour
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
2 c sharp cheddar cheese
Scrub the potatoes well and slice, not real thin, but not thick, maybe 1/4 inch thick.. place in a greased casserole dish. Mix the heavy cream, milk and flour, then add the garlic, salt and pepper.. cook in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes covered, then uncover and cook another 20 minutes.. remove from oven and cover with cheese, place back in the oven and heat until the cheese is melted..
We are also having the usual suspects, Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Sauteed Asparagus with lemon and parmesan.. I love Asparagus.. :)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!!!
So I got up around 7:30 and decided to make dinner rolls, and realized I forgot to soak the beans overnight... oooppsss.. the beans are soaking now and I just finished the dinner rolls.. a brand new recipe and the dough felt so soft and beautiful.. I did make a couple little changes.. I can't help myself.. I am a rebel..
Butter Rolls
1/2 c warm water
3 tsp yeast
2 tbsp sugar
Put in a large mixing bowl and let proof..
1/4 c sugar
1 c warm milk(not hot or it will kill the yeast.. your body temp is good..so test it with your finger, if it is cool heat a little more too hot, stir it to help it cool)
1 stick butter, melted
2 eggs
2 tsp salt
4 to 5 c flour (I used a mixture of whole wheat and white)
After the yeast has proofed, add the sugar, warm milk, butter, eggs, salt and 1 c flour, mix and then add another cup of flour.. Keep adding the flour until a soft dough forms, then turn out on a floured surface and knead for a couple minutes.. shape into a ball and cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes.. after it rests, shape into 2 to 3 inch balls, depending on how big you want your rolls.. put in either a 9x13 pan or round cake pans and let rise for an hour to an hour and a half.. until doubled and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.. brush with melted butter when taken out of the oven..
The Baked Beans didn't turn out.. I knew I should have cooked them first.. so next time I will cook the beans overnight.. drain the liquid and then add the yummy stuff to them.. the sauce is delish, the beans never got soft and something in the back of my mind kept telling me that this wasn't going to work.. :) So I am modifying the recipe...
Crockpot Baked Beans
1lb small white beans
3 c water
Cover the beans with the water and cook overnight.. drain and add the following..
1 c onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 slices bacon, chopped
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c molasses
1 tbsp grainy mustard
2 tbsp ketcup
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
Drain beans and rinse with cold water.. place in crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients...Stir well.. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours..
I am also making Au Gratin Potatoes.. and not from a box
Au Gratin Potatoes
4 large or 8 medium potatoes
1 1/2 c heavy cream
1/2 c milk
2 to 3 tbsp flour
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
2 c sharp cheddar cheese
Scrub the potatoes well and slice, not real thin, but not thick, maybe 1/4 inch thick.. place in a greased casserole dish. Mix the heavy cream, milk and flour, then add the garlic, salt and pepper.. cook in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes covered, then uncover and cook another 20 minutes.. remove from oven and cover with cheese, place back in the oven and heat until the cheese is melted..
We are also having the usual suspects, Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Sauteed Asparagus with lemon and parmesan.. I love Asparagus.. :)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!!!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Happy Saturday Before Easter!!! (Layered Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars, Lemon Meringue Pie)
Working today reminded me a little of Black Friday!!! People are crazy!!! The craziest thing I saw.. people doing their "Easter bunny" shopping with the kids.. I don't get it.. if they know, why go through the pain of buying everything.. what's the point.. I am still trying to figure out what bunnies, chicks, eggs and candy have to do with Easter... I did make my kids baskets.. but again the emphasis was put on the holiday, not the baskets.. when they got to a certain age I did one basket with candy and a movie.. that was our tradition.. we went to church for a while, but that stopped eventually too.. Now I seem to work all the time.. I mean it feels like all the time.. I think it's because of the hours and the rotation of every other weekend.. I am thankful for my job.. and I love what I do in Cosmetics, Jewelry and Accessories.. I even love making other parts of the store look like they are a new set.. but after you do it and then a week later it looks like it did before it can be a little bit discouraging.. but I digress.. Today was CRAZY!!!!
I had an old man wandering around in infants asking where the beer was.. I mean, we don't keep beer with the infant formula.. never have and probably never will.. lol then I always love the last minute shoppers looking for white shoes.. yeah, what you see strewn all over the floor is all we have at the moment.. :) Thank you!!!
I haven't been sleeping much lately.. I have suffered from insomnia for over 11 years, it started right after my mother passed away and got worse after the fire and making myself read the autopsy reports, but it is getting worse.. I seem to hurt all the time.. I was thinking this sucks.. getting old shouldn't mean being in constant pain.. I wake up with my whole body screaming in pain.. usually after an hour to an hour and a half of being asleep.. and then I can't go back to sleep.. I am constantly having to move because of the pain.. I thought.. I will get some Excedrin PM and take it and then I will sleep.. maybe 3 hours a night, but still not all night.. I have been doing some research and my findings aren't making me happy, so I told Saundra I would just ignore it all and that maybe it would just go away.. Yeah I know.. so not going to happen.. but what else am I supposed to do..
So tomorrow is Easter.. I always get nostalgic around Easter.. It makes me realize what a huge sacrifice was made so that I may have eternal life, because I am a sinner.. could you as a parent knowingly have a child so that they may suffer such a horrible death so that we all could live.. He refused to take our Free Will, but He gave His Only Son for us.. I don't know that I could make that sacrifice with one of my children.. I am just in AWE of it all.. :)
I wasn't going to cook Easter dinner.. I was just going to be lazy and do nothing, but then Thursday as I was driving to work it hit me.. it won't seem like Easter if I don't cook.. so cook I am going to do.. the usual list of suspects.. Ham, Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Au Gratin Potatoes, Asparagus and Dinner Rolls.. except I was going to cheat and buy rolls, but I forgot so I guess I will be trying a refrigerator roll.. you do everything and then let it rise in the refrigerator.. might be interesting.. something that I have personally never done before.. there is a first time for everything.. :) (Still looking for recipes.. if I do it I will write another blog) Tonight I am making the desserts.. Layered Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars and Lemon Squares.. yummy..
Layered Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars
1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed
1/3 c butter, melted
mix together and press into a 9x13 pan.. put in refrigerator
Vanilla Pudding
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
4 c milk
2 tsp vanilla
Mix the flour and sugar together.. add the eggs and whisk until blended.. add the milk and cook over a medium heat whisking constantly until it comes to a boil, turn off heat and add the vanilla.. pour into a glass bowl and refrigerate until cool
While that is cooling whip 2 c. whipping cream in a mixer until peaks form..
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
2 tbsp sugar
2 c whipped cream
Mix together and spread over the graham cracker crust.. put back in fridge
3 c. vanilla pudding, cooled
2 c whipped cream
1 c sweetened coconut
Mix the pudding, whipped cream and coconut together.. pour over the cream cheese layer, sprinkle with extra coconut..
refrigerate overnight.. cut into squares..
Lemon Meringue Pie
1 9 inch pie crust. I am using a graham cracker crust
Filling
1 c sugar
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
zest and juice of 2 large lemons
1 1/2 c water
2 tbsp butter
4 egg yolks
Meringue
4 egg whites
6 tbsp sugar
In a large saucepan combine sugar, flour and cornstarch, whisk together and add the zest and juice of the lemons, then stir in the water.. put over medium heat and bring to a boil.. reduce heat and put the 4 egg yolks in a bowl and then add a ladle of the hot mixture to the bowl to temper the eggs, mix well and then add to the saucepan.. add the butter and stir well... bring back to a boil and cook, stirring constantly until thick.. pour into crust..
In a CLEAN mixing bowl add the egg whites, beat until soft peaks form and then add sugar 1 tbsp at a time and beat until stiff peaks form.. then put over the filling sealing the edges.. bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes until meringue is golden brown..
I had an old man wandering around in infants asking where the beer was.. I mean, we don't keep beer with the infant formula.. never have and probably never will.. lol then I always love the last minute shoppers looking for white shoes.. yeah, what you see strewn all over the floor is all we have at the moment.. :) Thank you!!!
I haven't been sleeping much lately.. I have suffered from insomnia for over 11 years, it started right after my mother passed away and got worse after the fire and making myself read the autopsy reports, but it is getting worse.. I seem to hurt all the time.. I was thinking this sucks.. getting old shouldn't mean being in constant pain.. I wake up with my whole body screaming in pain.. usually after an hour to an hour and a half of being asleep.. and then I can't go back to sleep.. I am constantly having to move because of the pain.. I thought.. I will get some Excedrin PM and take it and then I will sleep.. maybe 3 hours a night, but still not all night.. I have been doing some research and my findings aren't making me happy, so I told Saundra I would just ignore it all and that maybe it would just go away.. Yeah I know.. so not going to happen.. but what else am I supposed to do..
So tomorrow is Easter.. I always get nostalgic around Easter.. It makes me realize what a huge sacrifice was made so that I may have eternal life, because I am a sinner.. could you as a parent knowingly have a child so that they may suffer such a horrible death so that we all could live.. He refused to take our Free Will, but He gave His Only Son for us.. I don't know that I could make that sacrifice with one of my children.. I am just in AWE of it all.. :)
I wasn't going to cook Easter dinner.. I was just going to be lazy and do nothing, but then Thursday as I was driving to work it hit me.. it won't seem like Easter if I don't cook.. so cook I am going to do.. the usual list of suspects.. Ham, Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Au Gratin Potatoes, Asparagus and Dinner Rolls.. except I was going to cheat and buy rolls, but I forgot so I guess I will be trying a refrigerator roll.. you do everything and then let it rise in the refrigerator.. might be interesting.. something that I have personally never done before.. there is a first time for everything.. :) (Still looking for recipes.. if I do it I will write another blog) Tonight I am making the desserts.. Layered Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars and Lemon Squares.. yummy..
Layered Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars
1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed
1/3 c butter, melted
mix together and press into a 9x13 pan.. put in refrigerator
Vanilla Pudding
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
4 c milk
2 tsp vanilla
Mix the flour and sugar together.. add the eggs and whisk until blended.. add the milk and cook over a medium heat whisking constantly until it comes to a boil, turn off heat and add the vanilla.. pour into a glass bowl and refrigerate until cool
While that is cooling whip 2 c. whipping cream in a mixer until peaks form..
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
2 tbsp sugar
2 c whipped cream
Mix together and spread over the graham cracker crust.. put back in fridge
3 c. vanilla pudding, cooled
2 c whipped cream
1 c sweetened coconut
Mix the pudding, whipped cream and coconut together.. pour over the cream cheese layer, sprinkle with extra coconut..
refrigerate overnight.. cut into squares..
Lemon Meringue Pie
1 9 inch pie crust. I am using a graham cracker crust
Filling
1 c sugar
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
zest and juice of 2 large lemons
1 1/2 c water
2 tbsp butter
4 egg yolks
Meringue
4 egg whites
6 tbsp sugar
In a large saucepan combine sugar, flour and cornstarch, whisk together and add the zest and juice of the lemons, then stir in the water.. put over medium heat and bring to a boil.. reduce heat and put the 4 egg yolks in a bowl and then add a ladle of the hot mixture to the bowl to temper the eggs, mix well and then add to the saucepan.. add the butter and stir well... bring back to a boil and cook, stirring constantly until thick.. pour into crust..
In a CLEAN mixing bowl add the egg whites, beat until soft peaks form and then add sugar 1 tbsp at a time and beat until stiff peaks form.. then put over the filling sealing the edges.. bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes until meringue is golden brown..
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
It's Wednesday!!! (Whole Wheat Pizza Crust, Banana Pudding)
Woke up to overcast skies this morning and it is sprinkling off and on, so the plan to soak up some sun at lake Acworth has been cancelled.. ahh well.. will just have to wait to get darker.. Guess I will clean and pack the living room and dining room and then I think I am going to make pizza for dinner.. with a nice healthy whole wheat crust, I have Turkey pepperoni, Turkey Italian sausage, onions, pepper, black olives and mushrooms, even have some pickled jalapenos.. hmmm.. I love making pizza.. used to make it every Sunday during football season when I wasn't working all the time..
Today we get to go look inside the house that we are all in love with.. well in love with the outside.. I cannot wait.. it's a huge house.. almost 3000 sq feet.. I might not know what to do with that much room.. lol.. 4 br 3 bath.. just 10 to 15 minutes from work.. depending on which way you go.. We could be moving in the next week and a half.. exciting and nerve racking too.. but we are strong, determined, stubborn women and we can get it done.. with some help of course.. :) ahh.. so it didn't work out.. so back to the drawing board.. We will find something soon.. :)
I also made an appt for a pedicure and fill Friday at noon with my favorite guy David, he always does my nails and does an amazing job and Lynn, she does my pedicures.. and she is great.. I have been going to Elite Nail spa for about 4 years.. love everything they do.. they are really good to me.. but I send them a lot of business..
The girls and I decided that we were going to watch Gone With The Wind when we got home.. Such an amazing movie.. I need to find my Rhett Butler!!! :)
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
2 c warm water
5 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
5 to 6 cups flour(I use 3 to 4 c whole wheat to 2 c all-purpose)
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
In a large mixing bowl add the warm water, yeast and sugar, lightly stir and let sit for 5 minutes to proof.. add 1 c flour, salt and olive oil, mix and start adding flour 1 c at a time until a soft dough forms.. turn out on floured surface and knead a few times and them put in a bowl that has been oiled with olive oil.. roll the dough around until all sides are coated and cover with a towel and place in a warm spot to rise.. should take about an hour.. punch dough down and divide in half.. each half stretch out to either a round or oblong shape.. whatever size pan you have.. then place on oiled pan and bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 minutes.. then top with your favorite sauce and toppings and cheese.. bake another 15 minutes....
Banana Pudding
2 1/2 bananas
2 boxes Vanilla Wafers
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
4 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
Slice bananas and layer them with the vanilla wafers in a big casserole dish.
In a large saucepan add the sugar, flour and eggs.. stir until well combined.. turn the heat onto a medium low and slowly stir in the milk. Heat to boiling stirring constantly.. add the vanilla after it boils and thickens.. pour over the bananas and vanilla wafers..
Today we get to go look inside the house that we are all in love with.. well in love with the outside.. I cannot wait.. it's a huge house.. almost 3000 sq feet.. I might not know what to do with that much room.. lol.. 4 br 3 bath.. just 10 to 15 minutes from work.. depending on which way you go.. We could be moving in the next week and a half.. exciting and nerve racking too.. but we are strong, determined, stubborn women and we can get it done.. with some help of course.. :) ahh.. so it didn't work out.. so back to the drawing board.. We will find something soon.. :)
I also made an appt for a pedicure and fill Friday at noon with my favorite guy David, he always does my nails and does an amazing job and Lynn, she does my pedicures.. and she is great.. I have been going to Elite Nail spa for about 4 years.. love everything they do.. they are really good to me.. but I send them a lot of business..
The girls and I decided that we were going to watch Gone With The Wind when we got home.. Such an amazing movie.. I need to find my Rhett Butler!!! :)
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
2 c warm water
5 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
5 to 6 cups flour(I use 3 to 4 c whole wheat to 2 c all-purpose)
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
In a large mixing bowl add the warm water, yeast and sugar, lightly stir and let sit for 5 minutes to proof.. add 1 c flour, salt and olive oil, mix and start adding flour 1 c at a time until a soft dough forms.. turn out on floured surface and knead a few times and them put in a bowl that has been oiled with olive oil.. roll the dough around until all sides are coated and cover with a towel and place in a warm spot to rise.. should take about an hour.. punch dough down and divide in half.. each half stretch out to either a round or oblong shape.. whatever size pan you have.. then place on oiled pan and bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 minutes.. then top with your favorite sauce and toppings and cheese.. bake another 15 minutes....
Banana Pudding
2 1/2 bananas
2 boxes Vanilla Wafers
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
4 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
Slice bananas and layer them with the vanilla wafers in a big casserole dish.
In a large saucepan add the sugar, flour and eggs.. stir until well combined.. turn the heat onto a medium low and slowly stir in the milk. Heat to boiling stirring constantly.. add the vanilla after it boils and thickens.. pour over the bananas and vanilla wafers..
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