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 ROYALE CHEESECAKE

CHOCOLATE ROYALE CHEESECAKE

1-1/2 cups crushed Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (about 18 cookies)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (8 squares) Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
1/4 cup hazelnut liqueur (optional)
4 eggs
1 Tbsp. sifted powdered sugar
1/3 cup mixed berries

  • Preheat oven to 325°F if using a silver 9-inch spring-form pan (or to 300°F if using a dark nonstick spring-form pan).
  • Mix crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan.
  • Bake 10 minutes.
  • Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, flour and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
  • Add melted chocolate and liqueur; mix well.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
  • Pour over crust.
  • Bake 55 minutes to 1 hour or until center is almost set if using a silver spring-form pan. (Or, bake at 300°F for 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes or until center is almost set if using a dark nonstick spring-form pan.)
  • Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan.
  • Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
  • Top with powdered sugar and berries just before serving.