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


Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

Yet another Oreo cheesecake..

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
5 eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
15 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped, divided




  • Combine butter and cookie crumbs; press evenly into the bottom of a greased 10-inch springform pan; set aside.


  • Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.


  • Beat in sugar, then eggs.


  • Stir in sour cream, flour, vanilla, and salt.


  • Gently stir in 5 chopped cookies.


  • Pour mixture into springform pan; top with remaining chopped cookies.


  • Bake on the top rack of a 325 degree oven for 75 minutes.


  • Turn off the oven, prop the door open several inches, and allow cake rest in oven for 1 hour.


  • Refrigerate overnight.


Notes: All ingredients should be at room temperature before preparing for best results.

Coconut Macaroon Cheesecake

Coconut Macaroon Cheesecake

CRUST:
1 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup ground almonds
2 T Butter

FILLING:
3 8 oz packages cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 T amaretto or 1/2 tsp almond extract
3 eggs
2/3 cup toasted coconut

TOPPING:
3 egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
6 T sugar
1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tsp shortning

  • Preheat oven to 350 * F
  • In a small bowl combine 1 cup toasted coconut, ground almonds and melted butter
  • Press mixture onto bottom of a 9 in spring form pan
  • In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and amaretto or almond extract
  • Beat until smooth
  • Add whole eggs all at once, beat on low until combined,
  • pour over crust
  • Place pan in shallow baking pan
  • Bake 40 minutes
  • Sprinkle with 2/3 cup toasted coconut
  • In a large glass bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar
  • Beat on high until soft peaks form
  • Slowly beat in 6 T sugar, one T at a time until stiff peaks form
  • Spread over cheesecake within 1 inch of edge
  • sprinkle with 1/3 coconut
  • Bake an additional 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned
  • cool on wire rack for 15 minutes, loosen cheesecake and cool an additional 30 minutes before removing side.
  • Cover and chill for 12-24 hours
  • Before serving combine shocolate and shortning cook on low until melted, stirring constantly
  • Drizzle over cheesecake
  • Let set before serving

Savory Herbed Cheesecake

Savory Herbed Cheesecake

CRUST:
4 oz. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 C. dried bread crumbs
1/2 t. minced fresh rosemary
1/3 C. unsalted butter, melted

FILLING:
10 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1/3 C. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. creme fraiche or sour cream (1 cup)
3 eggs
3 T. all-purpose flour
1 t. salt, plus extra to taste
2 T. minced fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
1 T. minced fresh chervil
1 T. minced fresh basil
1 T. minced fresh oregano
1 T. minced fresh sage
1/3 C. finely diced red bell pepper
1/3 C. finely diced carrot Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 egg whites, at room temperature
Additional herbs and/or vegetables, for decoration

  • Mix Parmigiano-Reggiano, bread crumbs, rosemary and butter in a small bowl.
  • Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Refrigerate while you make the filling.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Place the unpeeled cloves of garlic in a small ovenproof dish and drizzle with the olive oil.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft when tested with the tip of a knife.
  • Remove and set aside to cool slightly.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
  • Squeeze the roasted garlic out of the skins and mash or chop the garlic, along with the olive oil, to a puree.
  • Combine the garlic puree, cream cheese, creme fraiche, whole eggs, flour and salt in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
  • Process for 2 minutes.
  • Add the parsley, chervil, basil, oregano and sage and process for 1 minute.
  • Pour the cream cheese mixture into a large bowl.
  • Stir in the red bell pepper and carrot.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
  • Blend a spoonful of egg whites into the cream cheese mixture, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
  • Pour the cheesecake batter into the chilled crust.
  • Line a baking pan with foil and set the springform pan on top of the foil (to catch any drips).
  • Place the cheesecake in the oven and bake for about 45 minutes.
  • When done, the cake will have risen and the center will be almost set.
  • Turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to remain in the oven for 1 hour longer, without opening the door.
  • Don't worry if the cake is cracked.
  • Remove the cheesecake and set it on a rack to cool for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Remove the outer ring of the springform pan.
  • Loosen the cheesecake from the bottom of the pan, using a knife, and slide it onto a serving plate.
  • Refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving and allow it to come to room temperature.
  • If desired, decorate the top of the cheesecake using herbs and/or vegetables.

Lemon Cheesecake

Lemon Cheesecake

CRUST:
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar

FILLING:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
12 ounces heavy cream
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 eggs, beaten 1 (3 ounce) package lemon pudding mix (not instant)
1/2 cup sugar
zest of 1 lemon

  • Prepare crust and press into a springform pan.
  • Beat creamcheese until fluffy.
  • Add sugar until well mixed.Beat in cream.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time and lemon juice.
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake at 300F for 60-75 minute
  • Top with cherrries or favorite jam after cooling for at least 4-5 hours.

Blueberry Cheesecake Trifle

Not a true cheesecake, but sounds yummy nonetheless. The original recipe calls for sugar free stuff, but I changed it. It sound really easy.

Blueberry Cheesecake Trifle

1 pint freshly washed blueberries
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 package lemon gelatin
2 (8 ounce) containers Cool Whip
8 ounces angel food cake, cubed (1/2 of a round cake or a whole loaf-shaped)

Beat together the 2 pkgs of cream cheese and the lemon jello.
Lightly beat in 1 container of CoolWhip.
Layer 1/2 of the angel food cake cubes on the bottom of a trifle bowl.
Top with 1/2 the cream cheese mixture, 1/2 the blueberries, and 1/2 of the CoolWhip.
Repeat, reserving a few blueberries for garnishing on the top.
Let it sit for a few hours before serving.

Orangesickle Cheesecake

Orangesickle Cheesecake

Crust:
2 cups flour (all purpose)
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter, softened

Filling:
2 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup unsweetened orange juice concentrate

Topping:
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup sugar

  • Cream together butter and sugar, add yolks, zest, vanilla and then the flour.
  • Press into bottom and sides of 10 in spring form pan.
  • Bake 8 minutes at 400 degrees, let cool.
  • Beat cheese, sugar, vanilla for 1 minute or until combined.
  • Add concentrate, flour, salt and zest.
  • Beat eggs and yolks in one at a time.
  • Do not over beat.
  • Pour filling into pan.
  • Bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours.

Bavarian Apple Cheesecake

This one sounds like it's to die for, I love apples....

Bavarian Apple Cheesecake

CRUST:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

FILLING:
8 ounces cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar

TOPPING:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups peeled Granny Smith (or other tart cooking) apples (1/8" thick slices)
1/2 cup strained apricot preserves

  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Butter 9" spring form pan.Cream butter, sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy.
  • Add flour and salt.
  • Blend and spread in prepared pan.
  • For filling beat cream cheese until fluffy.
  • Add sugar, egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
  • Spread evenly over dough.
  • For topping combine sugar and cinnamon.
  • Dip each apple slice in mixture and arrange slices over filling in two overlapping arches.
  • Warm apricot preserve and brush over the apples.
  • Bake 45-55 minutes until golden.
  • Serve warm (not too hot) or cold.

YUM!!!