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


PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

3/4 cup finely crushed chocolate wafers
2 tablespoons melted butter (no substitutes)
1 tablespoon sugar
12 chocolate kisses
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1 teaspoon shortening

  • Heat oven to 325 degree F.
  • Line twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with foil liners.
  • Combine crushed wafers, melted butter, and the 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl.
  • Divide among lined cups; press into bottoms.
  • Place one chocolate kiss, point up, in each cup.
  • Beat cream cheese and 1/3 cup sugar in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
  • Beat in eggs and vanilla just until blended.
  • Beat in peanut butter.
  • Carefully spoon about 1/4 cup mixture over kiss in each cup, making sure to keep the kiss centered on bottom of cup (cups will be full).
  • Bake about 25 minutes or until filling is set.
  • Cool for 30 minutes in the pan on a wire rack.
  • Heat chocolate pieces and shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.
  • Remove cheesecakes from foil cups.
  • Drizzle melted chocolate over cheesecakes.
  • Chill 1 hour or until chocolate is set.
  • Makes 12 servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Cover and chill up to 36 hours. Or, to freeze, do not remove from cups. Freeze up to 1 month. Let thaw in the refrigerator; drizzle with chocolate.