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


Smoked Salmon And Onion Cheesecake

Smoked Salmon And Onion Cheesecake

5 T Parmesan Cheese - fresh grated
28 oz Cream cheese - room temp.
2 T Bread crumbs - fine dry
4 Eggs - large
3 T Butter
1/2 C Whipping cream
1 C Onions - chopped
1/2 lb smoked salmon - chopped
1 C Green pepper - chopped
1/2 C Gruyere cheese - grated

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  • Butter 8" diameter springform pan with 2 1/2" sides.
  • Mix 2 tablespoons Parmesan with bread crumbs.
  • Sprinkle into prepared pan.
  • Turn pan coating with crumb mixture.
  • Wrap foil around bottom and 2" up the side of pan.
  • Melt butter in a heave skillet over medium heat.
  • Add onion and bell pepper and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Cool.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, eggs, and cream in a large bowl.
  • Fold in the onion mix, salmon, Gruyere and remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Place cheesecake in a large baking pan.
  • Add enough boiling water to the large pan to come 2" up the side of the cheesecake.
  • Bake until firm to touch, about 1 hour 40 minutes.
  • Remove cheesecake from water bath.
  • Turn oven off.
  • Return cheesecake to oven and let stand 1 hour.
  • Transfer cake to rack and cool at least 2 hours.
  • Serve slightly warm or at room temp.

Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake

Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake
1 graham cracker crust
1 cup chopped pecans
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
3 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 can prepared lemon pie filling
8 oz. sour cream
1 tsp. lemon zest
Fresh raspberries & blueberries

  • Crumble the pie crust into a mixing bowl and combine with pecans and butter.
  • Press into a springform pan and bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
  • In a bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar and beatuntil fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time.
  • Reserve 1/2 cup of the lemon pie filling and add the rest to the cream cheese mixture along with the sour cream and lemon zest.
  • Blend and pour into crust.
  • Bake at350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes, adding a pan of water to the oven to minimize cracking.
  • Remove cheesecake from the oven; run a knife gently around the sides of the pan.
  • Cool and refrigerate covered overnight.
  • Before serving, spread reserved 1/2 cup lemon pie filling over top of cheesecake.
  • Serve with fresh berries.

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Graham Cracker-Pecan Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs fine
1/2 cup butter melted
1/4 cup pecans finely chopped
Filling:
24 ounces cream cheese softened
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs3 egg yolks
3 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 cup whipping cream
1-1/2 cups sweet potatoes, mashed


  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Combine crust ingredients well and press into a 10-inch springform pan.
  • Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth; beat in flour, cinnamon and ginger.
  • Beat cream and well-mashed sweet potatoes in on medium speed of a hand held mixer just until well-combined.
  • Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
  • Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 275 degrees F and bake 1 hour more.
  • Turn heat off and leave in the oven to cool for several hours, or cool on a wire rack.
  • Serve with sweetened whipped cream or caramel topping.

Tiny Cherry Cheesecakes

Tiny Cherry Cheesecakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup cold butter
2 tablespoons cold water
FILLING:
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 can (21 ounces) cherry or strawberry pie filling


  • In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar and cocoa; cut in butter until crumbly.
  • Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball.
  • Shape into 24 balls.
  • Place in greased miniature muffin cups; press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of each cup.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
  • Beat in milk and vanilla.
  • Add egg; beat on low just until combined.
  • Spoon about 1 tablespoonful into each cup.
  • Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until set.
  • Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.
  • Carefully remove from pans to cool completely.
  • Top with pie filling.
  • Store in the refrigerator.

Coffee Cheesecake

Coffee Cheesecake

CRUST:
1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
1/2 C chocolate cooking crumbs
1/2 C ground hazelnuts
3 T sugar
1/4 C butter melted

FILLING:
3 8 oz pk cream cheese
1 C sugar
3 T flour
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 C coffee liqueur or cooled espresso

  • Preheat oven to 375 F
  • grease bottom & sides of 8 in spring form pan
  • in small bowl combine cracker crumbs, cookie crumbs, hazelnuts, & 3 T sugar
  • stir in melted butter
  • press mixture in bottom and 2 inches up side of pan
  • in large bowl combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour, & vanilla
  • Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth
  • stir in eggs and liqueur
  • pour mixture into crust lined pan
  • place pan in shallow baking pan
  • bake for 45-50 minutes or until center is nearly set
  • cool on wire rack for 30 minutes
  • remove side of pan
  • cool cheesecake
  • cover & chill overnight

Taco Cheesecake

Taco Cheesecake

3 teaspoons cornmeal
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup salsa
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded pepper Jack cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
1/2 cup chopped ripe olives
TOPPING:1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
Assorted crackers




  • Sprinkle bottom of greased 9-in. springform pan with cornmeal; set aside.
  • In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add the taco seasoning, sour cream and salsa.
  • Stir in the eggs, pepper Jack cheese and chilies.
  • Fold in olives.
  • Pour over cornmeal.
  • Place pan on a baking sheet.
  • Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until center is almost set.
  • Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
  • Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool for 1 hour.
  • Refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove sides of pan.
  • Spread sour cream over top and sides of cheesecake.
  • Arrange olives, onions, tomato slices and jalapeno slices on top.
  • Serve with crackers.
  • Yield: 18-20 servings.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE IN A GLASS

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE IN A GLASS

1 pint basket strawberries, stemmed and sliced
3 tablespoons currant jelly or 2 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons skim milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup light whipped topping
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

  • In bowl, toss strawberries with jelly; cover and set aside.
  • In mixer bowl, beat cheese, milk, juice and sugar until smooth; fold in whipped topping.
  • Spoon 2 tablespoons crumbs into each of four 8- to 10-ounce stemmed glasses;
  • top each with about 1/4 cup of the strawberries, 1/2 cup of the cream cheese mixture, then the remaining crumbs and strawberries, dividing equally.
  • Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 6 hours.
  • Makes 4 servings