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


Lemon-Yogurt Cheesecake

Lemon-Yogurt Cheesecake

Crust:
1 cup graham-cracker crumbs
1/2 cup gingersnap crumbs
1/3 cup crushed walnuts
1/3 cup canola or corn oil
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Cheesecake:
2 cups yogurt cheese (see Tip)
8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened
4 eggs at room temperature, well beaten
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 cup low-fat yogurt (8 ounces)

Mixed Fruit Topping:
4 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh cherries, pitted
12 strawberries, quartered lengthwise

Directions:

  1. Butter and chill a 9-inch spring-form pan.
  2. Mix all ingredients together.
  3. Press into the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the pan.
  4. Chill at least 15 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  6. Beat together yogurt cheese, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, lemon juice and peel with an electric mixer.
  7. Stir in yogurt.
  8. Spoon mixture carefully into the crust-lined pan.
  9. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until the center sets.
  10. Cool in the over with the door ajar for 1 hour.
  11. Refrigerate 3 hours or more and unmold.
  12. Combine 2 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in small saucepan.
  13. Blend well, add blueberries and boil gently 2 to 3 minutes until mixture clears.
  14. Remove from heat and cool.
  15. In a separate saucepan, prepare cherries in the same manner, with the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons honey.
  16. Spread a layer of cherries around the outside edge of cheesecake.
  17. Spread blueberries over the rest of the cheesecake, leaving a circle in the center of cake bare.
  18. Arrange strawberries in a flower pattern in the center and brush lightly with 1 teaspoon honey.