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


Impossible Cheesecake

I have been looking for an impossible cheesecake recipe. I have been improvising, and none of them have turned out satisfactory. This one looks like it might work.

Impossible Cheesecake

2 eggs
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup Bisquick
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
16 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes, then softened

  • Grease pie pan and heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Put all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Beat with electric mixer 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl constantly, using high speed.
  • Pour into greased pie pan.
  • Bake just until puffed and center is dry, about 30 minutes.
  • Do not overbake.
  • Spread topping carefully over top.
  • Cool; refrigerate at least 3 hours.
  • Can serve plain or with fruit on top.

Topping:

1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix together and spread on top of Impossible Cheesecake.

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

Ingredients:
1 (10 ounce) package brownie mix, any variety (8x8 inch pan size)
3 (8 ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
3 eggs

Directions:

  1. Prepare and bake brownie mix as directed on package for 8 inch square pan in well greased 9 inch springform pan.
  2. Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
  3. Blend in sour cream.
  4. Add eggs, mixing on low speed just until blended.
  5. Bake at 325 for 60 to 65 minutes or until center is almost set if using a silver springform pan. (bake at 300 for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set if using a dark nonstick springform pan.)
  6. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan.
  7. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Blueberry Macadamia Cheesecake

Blueberry Macadamia Cheesecake

1 cheesecake
1-1/4 hours 15 min prep


CRUST
3 1/2 ounces macadamias, crushed in blender
1 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup sweet butter, softened

1ST LAYER
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
4 eggs, room temp

2ND LAYER
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

TOPPING
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water


Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  2. For crust, combine crust ingredients and mix well.
  3. Press on bottom of 10-inch springform pan.
  4. Bake 10-15 minutes.
  5. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
  6. For 1st layer, crumble the cheese in large bowl; add vanilla extract, sugar and eggs.
  7. Beat on high speed with electric mixer until well blended and smooth,4 minutes.
  8. Pour mixture over crust.
  9. Bake at 40 minutes until set (not completely firm).
  10. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes.
  11. For next layer, combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract.
  12. Spread over cake.
  13. Bake for 5 minutes and let cool.
  14. To make topping, mix cornstarch with cold water forming smooth paste.
  15. Stir in the berries and cook until thickened. Let cool and then spread on cheesecake.
  16. Cool 1 hour before serving.

Golden Raisin Cheesecake

Golden Raisin Cheesecake
Makes 1 - 9 inch cheesecake

Ingredients:
1 (6-ounce) package crushed zwieback toast
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/2 pounds cottage cheese, creamed
1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 eggs, separated
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Grease a 9 inch spring form pan with olive oil, and dust with zwieback crumbs.
  3. In a large bowl, combine remaining zwieback crumbs, 1/4 cup white sugar, almonds, and olive oil.
  4. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for
    7 minutes.
  5. Cool.
  6. Process cottage cheese in food processor until smooth, or press through a fine sieve.
  7. In a mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, 1/2 cup white sugar, flour, salt, egg yolks, sour cream, lemon peel and juice.
  8. Beat at medium speed, scraping the bowl often, until smooth and well blended.
  9. In a clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
  10. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup white sugar, and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
  11. Fold into the cheese mixture.
  12. Fold in the raisins.
  13. Spread batter evenly into the crust.
  14. Bake for 90 minutes.
  15. Cool in the pan.

Two Easy Cheesecakes

Easy Sour Cream Cheesecake
Makes one 9-inch pie

Ingredients:
1 (9-inch) prepared shortbread pie crust
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Cream together cream cheese and sugar.
  3. Add eggs one at time, blending well.
  4. Add vanilla and sour cream.
  5. Pour into shortbread crust.
  6. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 60 to 70 minutes.
  7. Or until top is lightly browned and cracked.
  8. Let cool on counter, then place in refrigerator.
  9. Serve chilled.





Easy Lemon Cheesecake:


Makes one 9-inch pie


Ingredients:
1 (9-inch) deep dish pie crust
1 (4.5-ounce) package cook and serve lemon pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:

  1. Prepare pudding mix according to package directions for pie filling.
  2. When pudding begins to boil, turn heat to low and mix in cream cheese and sugar.
  3. Stir until cream cheese is completely blended into mixture.
  4. Pour mixture into crust.
  5. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake


Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended.
  3. Using an electric mixer blend in eggs on medium speed. Do not over beat.
  4. Remove one cup of batter and set aside.
  5. Add pumpkin and spices to the batter and stir gently.
  6. Pour the 1 cup of the reserved batter into the pie crust then gently pour the pumpkin batter over the top.
  7. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
  8. Cool then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
  9. Top with whipped topping before serving.

Basic Creamy Cheesecake


Basic Creamy Cheesecake
Makes one 9-inch cake

Ingredients:
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust
16 ounces cream cheese
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Beat softened cream cheese slightly.
  3. Add eggs, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. Beat until light and fluffy.
  4. Pour mixture into crust.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until firm, about 25 minutes.
  6. Let cheesecake cool then top with cherry or blueberry pie filling, if desired.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.