About Me

I live in a small poke town within an hour of the California coast where there are more vineyards than people with my husband and three children and various pets. James Dean's tree is within walking distance and the James Brothers were also known to ride these hills. I was born to the son of Lutheran missionaries and the daughter of Catholic hypocrites. I'm a Zionist. I was born and raised in California where liberal ideas become gods, and conservative ideals are evil. Unfortunately, it's illegal to have morals in California. I'm one of the evil ones. I take my frustrations out on my houseplants, all 300+ of them.

Recipes & Procedures


New York Style Cheesecake

It's not a cheesecake blog until there is at least one recipe for a New York style cheesecake.



New York Style Cheesecake
Makes 1 - 9 inch spring form pan
Ingredients:
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/8 cup cornstarch
1 fluid ounce amaretto liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 eggs
1 egg yolks

Directions:

  1. Bring all ingredients to room temperature.
  2. Place oven shelf in the center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  3. Wrap the outside of a 9 inch spring form pan with foil.
  4. Generously butter the inside of the pan.
  5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  6. Mix in sugar and cornstarch.
  7. Blend in sour cream and whipping cream.
  8. Add amaretto and vanilla.
  9. Stir in eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition.
  10. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  11. Pour mixture into prepared spring form pan.
  12. Place pan in another pan at least one inch wider than cake pan and add warm water to the outer pan to create a water bath for the cake (this prevents cracks in your cheesecake).
  13. Bake on the center rack of oven for 70 minutes.
  14. Turn oven off and allow to cool with oven door open for one hour.
  15. Remove cake from water bath.
  16. Chill at least 3 hours before removing from spring form pan.