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


Herb & Wheat Beer Cheesecake

Herb & Wheat Beer Cheesecake

1 1/4 C flour, civided
2 tsp salt, divided
1 T plus 2 tsp fresh tarragon, chopped
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
6 T butter cut into T size
3/4 C + 3 T wheat beer
3 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
5 oz goat cheese, softened
1/2 tsp pepper
5 lg eggs
1/2 C Pamesan cheese, grated
3 T fresh dill
3 T prepared pesto
2 T chopped chives
2 T lemon juice

  • Spray an 8 in spring form pan with cooking spray
  • In a food processor combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp tarragon and lemon zest, pulse tmbine
  • Add butter, pulse until butter is the size of peas
  • In a small bowl, mix 3 T wheat beer with yolk of one egg, whip lightly,
  • Add to food processor
  • Pulse until mixture is crumbly
  • Press in the bottom and up the sides of prepared pan
  • Place pan in freezer
  • Preheat oven to 425* F
  • In a large bowl put cream cheese, goat cheese, 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt and pepper beat with electric mixer until smooth
  • Beat in 4 remaining eggs, and white of other egg, Parmesan cheese, dill, pesto, and chives,
  • Stir in remainig 3/4 C wheat beer and lemon juice
  • Remove pan from freezer pour filling into crust
  • Bake cheesecake 20 minutes, reduce heat to 325*F
  • Bake an additional 40-45 minutes until otp is lightly golden and filling is set
  • Remove cheesecake from Oven
  • Cool on wire rack
  • Refrigerate over night, remove from pan
  • Transfer to serving plate
  • Garnish with fresh dill
  • Serve with crackers