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


Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sugar, plus
1 tablespoon sugar
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
whipped cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and 1 T sugar in a medium bowl.
  • Stir well enough to coat all of the crumbs with the butter, but not so much as to turn the mixture into paste. Keep it crumbly.
  • Put foil partway up the outside part of an 8-inch springform pan.
  • Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the springform pan.
  • You don't want the crust to form all of the way up the back of each slice of cheesecake.
  • Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then set aside until you are ready to fill it.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 C sugar, and vanilla.
  • Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.
  • Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and continue beating until smooth and creamy.
  • Pour the filling into the pan.
  • Bake for 60-70 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool.
  • chill
    When the cheesecake has chilled, remove the pan sides and serve.