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


CRUSTLESS CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

CRUSTLESS CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
16 oz cream cheese, softened
3 eggs1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 pkg Jell-O Chocolate Pudding

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Place all ingredients in a bowl; blend for 15 minutes. (Or use food processor, mixer or blender and alter time as appropriate to mix completely.)
  • Pour mixture into 9 inch non-stick pie pan.
  • Bake 1 hour.
  • Turn off oven; allow cake to remain in oven 1 additional hour.
  • Refrigerate until chilled, then cut and serve.
  • Store, covered with plastic wrap, in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake Recipe


33 graham cracker squares, crumbled
4 ounces unsalted butter, melted, plus additional for brushing the pan
1 tablespoon sugar
20 ounces cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
1/3 cup heavy cream


  • Preheat oven to 300 degree F.
  • Brush some of the melted butter around a 9 by 3 inch cake pan.
  • Adhere parchment to the bottom and the sides.
  • In a small bowl,combine crumbled graham crackers, the remaining melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
  • Press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the parchment lined pan.
  • Place remaining crumbs on a sheet pan and bake both the crust and remaining mixture for 10 minutes.
  • Reserve the additional crumb for sides.
  • In a mixer with a paddle attachment, beat sour cream for 10 seconds.
  • Add the cream cheese and sugar and mix on low for 30 seconds.
  • Scrape the bowl.
  • In a separate container, combine vanilla, eggs, yolks and heavy cream, with the mixer on medium.
  • Slowly pour the liquid mixture in.
  • When half of it is incorporated ,stop and scrape.
  • Continue adding the mixture until the rest of the ingredients are incorporated.
  • Once completely combined , pour into the cooled crust.
  • Shake the pan a little to get rid of all the bubbles.
  • This will prevent any cracks.
  • Lower temperature to 250 degree F.
  • Place cheese cake into a preheated water bath, in the oven for 1 hour .
  • Turn the oven off and open the door for one minute.
  • Close the door for one more hour with the oven turned off.
  • Remove cheese cake from the water bath and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours to completely cool before serving.
  • When ready to serve, place the entire cake pan into a hot water bath for about 15 minutes
  • Unmold onto an cake round or serving dish.
  • Take the remaining graham cracker mixture and press onto the side of the cake.
  • To slice, place your knife into a hot water bath and wipe dry each time you make a pass through the cake.

PEPPER CHEESECAKE

PEPPER CHEESECAKE

2 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 c. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
1 pkg. taco seasoning
3 eggs
1 (16 oz.) sour cream
1 (4 oz.) green chilies, chopped
1/2 c. sweet red pepper, diced
1/2 c. salsa2 avocados, prepared guacamole
Garnishes: Fresh tomatoes, ripe olives

  • Combine cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and taco seasoning; beat well at high speed.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Stir in half of sour cream.
  • Fold in chilies and red pepper.
  • Pour mixture into greased 10 inch springform pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until set.
  • Combine remaining half of sour cream and salsa.
  • Spread evenly over cheesecake.
  • Bake an additional 5 minutes.
  • Let cool in pan on a wire rack; cover and chill for at least 8 hours.
  • To serve: Carefully remove sides of springform pan.
  • Spread with guacamole.
  • Garnish, if desired.
  • Serve with tortilla chips.
  • Makes one 10 inch cheesecake.

Orange Butterscotch Cheesecake

Orange Butterscotch Cheesecake

1 1/4 c. old fashioned or quick oats; uncooked
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 c. margarine, melted
3 -8oz. packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. light corn syrup
1/4 c. margarine melted
1 tsp. vanilla


  • Combine oats, brown sugar, flour and margarine.

  • Press into bottom of 9-in. springform pan.

  • Bake at 350 for 15 mins.

  • Combine cream cheese, sugar, peel and vanilla.

  • Mix at medium speed until well blended.

  • Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

  • Pour over crust.

  • Bake at 325 for 1 hour 5 mins.

  • Chill before removing pan.

  • Combine brown sugar, corn syrup and margarine in saucepan.

  • Bring to boil, stirring constantly.

  • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.

  • Chill until slightly thickened and spoon over cheesecake.

HOLLYWOOD CHEESECAKE

HOLLYWOOD CHEESECAKE

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons margarine -- melted
16 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs -- separated
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Combine crumbs, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring form pan.
  • Bake at 325 degrees F. for 10 minutes.
  • Combine softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, rind, and vanilla, mixing with electric mixer until well blended.
  • Blend in egg yolks.
  • Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites; pour over crust.
  • Bake at 300 degrees F. for 45 minutes.
  • Combine sour cream 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla; carefully spread over cheesecake.
  • Continue baking 10 minutes.
  • Loosen cake from rim of pan.
  • Cool; remove rim.
  • Chill.

UPSIDE DOWN NO BAKE ORANGE CHEESECAKE

UPSIDE DOWN NO BAKE ORANGE CHEESECAKE
2 envelopes Unflavored Gelatin
2 cups unsweetened Orange Juice (divided)
1 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar (divided)
2 cups fresh Orange sections
4 (8-oz.) packages Cream Cheese, softened
2 tsp. Orange Zest, grated
1 cup Whipping Cream, whipped
1 cup Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
2 Tbs. Butter or Margarine, melted

  • Soften one envelope of unflavored gelatin in 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened orange juice in a small saucepan over a low heat setting.
  • Add one cup of the sugar, and stir until dissolved.
  • Refrigerate the mixture in the saucepan until it is slightly thickened, but not set.
  • Arrange the orange sections on the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan.
  • Pour the orange-gelatin mixture over the orange sections; chill until thickened again but not set.
  • Soften the second envelope of unflavored gelatin in 1/2 cup of unsweetened orange juice in a saucepan with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, stirring over low heat until dissolved.
  • Combine the cream cheese with the orange zest, mixing at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended, light and fluffy, about 10 minutes, yes, 10.
  • Gradually add the gelatin mixture to the beaten cream cheese, mixing until well blended.
  • Chill until slightly thickened.
  • Whip the cream and fold into the cheesecake mixture.
  • Refrigerate while you prepare the crust.
  • Combine chocolate cookie crumbs with the melted butter or margarine.
  • Sprinkle over the chilled cheesecake, then lightly press the mixture into the bottom of the cake.
  • Refrigerate, covered, until it's time to serve dessert.
  • To serve, loosen the rim of the spring form pan and invert the cheesecake onto a serving plate.
  • Gently remove the rim of the pan, then pull off the pan bottom.
  • Slice to serve.

Ricotta Cheesecake

Ricotta Cheesecake


1/4 C fine dry bread crumbs
2 15 oz cartons ricotta cheese
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C milk
2 T flour
4 egg yolks
1/4 C golden raisins
2 T diced candied orange or lemon peel
1 tsp finely grated lemon peel
4 egg whites

  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Butter bottom & sides of an 8 in spring form pan
  • sprinkle bread crumbs over side to coat shake remaining crumbs over bottom
  • in large bowl combine ricotta, sugar, milk, & flour
  • Beat with electric mixer until smooth
  • add egg yolks all at once, beat on low speed until just combined
  • stir in raisins, candied orange peel and lemon zest
  • in anothr bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form
  • fold beaten whites into ricotta mixture
  • spoon into prepared pan
  • place pan in shallow baking pan
  • bake about 70 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken
  • cool on wire rack for 15 minutes
  • loosen cheesecake
  • cool for 30 minutes
  • remove side of pan
  • cool
  • cover and chill overnight