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


CHOCOLATE MARBLE CHEESECAKE

CHOCOLATE MARBLE CHEESECAKE

Crust:
1 3/4 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely ground walnuts
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

Filling:
2 pounds cream cheese (four 8-oz packages)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 eggs
2 cups half and half
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

  • Preheat oven to 450 °F (230 °C).
  • Combine crust ingredients and blend.
  • Grease sides of 9" - 10" spring-form pan.
  • Press crumbs on bottom and up sides of pan to top.
  • Reserve about three tablespoons of crumbs for topping.
  • Beat cream cheese and vanilla together until fluffy.
  • Gradually beat in sugar.
  • Add eggs one at a time stirring until just blended.
  • Stir in half and half.
  • Gradually stir 3 cups of batter into cooled melted chocolate and blend.
  • Pour plain batter into prepared pan.
  • Gradually add chocolate mixture using zigzag motion.
  • Batter will be very loose.
  • Top with reserved crumbs.
  • Bake 15 minutes to set batter.
  • Reduce heat to 300 °F (150 °C) and bake 70 minutes longer.
  • Remove from oven.
  • Cool on rack one hour.
  • Chill.
  • Can be frozen.