Friday, November 6, 2015

Sugar Cookie Cherry Cheesecake



Sugar Cookie Cherry Cheesecake

A sugar cookie crust, a thick cheesecake filling and cherries galore on top! A perfect dessert…that is, once you add some whipped cream of course!!!  Try this cherry cheesecake soon!  Thanks to the sugar cookie crust, this dessert comes together rather easily!  The filling is simple, too! Just be sure to bring your cream cheese to room temp first for easier blending!

Screen Shot 2014-06-22 at 11.45.29 AM
cherry cheesecake cheesecake-slice cheesecake-cherry cheesecake-cherries

Cherry Cheesecake


Sugar Cookie Cherry Cheesecake
Prep Time: 
Cook Time: 
Total Time: 
 
Ingredients
 
The Crust:
  • 1 - 1 lb of Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough, I used the mini cookie dough pieces
  • The Filling:
  • 4 - 8oz. blocks of Cream Cheese..softened
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 can cherry pie filling for the topping
Instructions
  1. Press the cookie dough into the bottom of an 8 inch springform pan and bake at 350 about 15 minutes until almost done.
  2. Let cool.
  3. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar.
  4. Add vanilla and one egg at a time, beating well.
  5. Pour into crust.
  6. Lower oven to 325 and bake 75-90 minutes until cooked through and browned.
  7. Chill overnight in fridge and top with canned cherry pie filling.
  8. Mmmmmmm!


Adapted From Oh, Bite It! Love her blog-check it out!!!!

CHERRYCHEESECAKE




http://hugsandcookiesxoxo.com/2014/06/sugar-cookie-cherry-cheesecake.html



Red Velvet Cheesecake



Red Velvet Cheesecake

Oct 29, 2015 at 1:20 pm | By

Oh, it’s not your typical red velvet flavored cheesecake, it’s creamy cheesecake layered with spongy red velvet cake. You can impress your family and friends with your baking skills. Or you can just eat the entire thing yourself, which I probably will do.

Don’t be fooled by the amount of steps. It make take longer than baking a traditional cake, but it’s pretty easy and well worth the effort.


imgur red velvet cheesecake
Source: Imgur

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Difficulty: intermediate Yield: 12 servings

Prep  mins
Cook  mins
Ready In  mins
One of the best dessert mash-ups you can bake.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1For the cheesecake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set a kettle of water on to boil.
2Using an electric mixer, beat 20 ounces of the cream cheese on medium until fluffy while scraping down the sides of the bowl. Gradually add 3/4 cup of the sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Beat in two of the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the side of the bowl after each. Beat in the sour cream.
3Spray your cake pan with non-stick spray. Cut parchment paper in a circle and line the bottom of the cheesecake pan. Spray the parchment.
4Wrap bottom half of pan in foil.
5Pour cheesecake batter in the cake pan and place that in a larger, oven safe pan. Pour in boiling water in the outer pan to come halfway up side of the inner pan.
6Bake until just set in center, about 45 minutes.
7Remove pan from water. Let cool for approximately 20 minutes. Run a knife around edge and continue to cool completely. Carefully place a plate on top of cooled cheesecake layer and flip it over onto plate. Remove parchment paper. Cover in plastic wrap and freeze. 


8For the red velvet cake: Preheat oven to 350°.
9Sift together flour, remaining white sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and 1 teaspoon salt into a medium bowl.
10Beat 2 eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, 2 teaspoons of the vanilla, and vinegar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined.
11Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
12Divide batter evenly between 2 greased and floured 9" round cake pans and bake 25-30 minutes, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean.
13Let cakes cool for 5 minutes, then invert each onto a plate, then invert again onto a cooling rack. Let cakes cool completely. If needed, level them off with a serrated knife so they are flat. 


14For the frosting: Beat 12 ounces of the cream cheese, butter, and the remaining vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Add confectioners sugar and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 5–7 minutes. 


15Assembly: Place bottom layer on cake stand. Remove cheesecake from freezer, unwrap and place cheesecake layer on top of the bottom layer of the red velvet cake. If the cheesecake is wider than the cake, and it is necessary to trim it, wait about 10 minutes for the cheesecake to soften, then trim it with a knife. Place the top layer of cake on top of the cheesecake, and coat with a generous layer of the cream cheese frosting. 

16Refrigerate approximately 30 minutes, then frost with as much of the remaining frosting as necessary.
17Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake from Mr. Food


Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake









  


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What You'll Need:

  • 2 (21-ounce) cans apple pie filling
  • 1 (16.5-ounce) box yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup cinnamon chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
What To Do:


  • Preheat oven to 350 F.  Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon pie filling into baking dish.
  • In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, cinnamon chips, walnuts, and cinnamon. Sprinkle dry mixture evenly over pie filling, then drizzle with butter.
  • Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm or cold.
Notes
Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
 Serves 12
Cook Time  45 Min. 

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Earthquake Cake




Earthquake Cake

This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer!
Hold on to your seat because things are about to rumble – it’s the Earthquake Cake!
I’m not really sure how this cake got its name, but it’s rich with german chocolate flavor,  pecans, coconut, and the secret ingredient – a powdered sugar, cream cheese, and butter swirl layer. It’s amazing and a lot of you agree with me based on your comments!
This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer!

How to assemble the cake..
Layer #1 (on the left) – chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut, and layer #2 (on the right) german chocolate cake mix

This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer!

Layer #3 – the swirled butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar goodness.

This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer!

I think I overcooked mine slightly because the end result is suppose to be a bit more gooey and not completely cake-like, so be sure to watch your cooking time! But nevertheless this earthquake cake was phenomenal and was the talk of the night at our pot luck.

This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer! This is a must try and one of our most popular recipes! German chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and a secret swirl layer!


http://thefirstyearblog.com/earthquake-cake/




Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Wrapped in Crunchy "Spiderwebs"



Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse wrapped in Crunchy "Spiderwebs"

Technically, many brandy snap recipes do not actually have brandy in them. These for example were made with rum….. potAto, potaato. Many have no alcohol at all and they all work just fine… once you get the hang of these crunchy critters.

I like doing this kind of thing around Samhain as they remind me of spiderwebs, hence the name.

Spiders have a strong mythological connection to time and esoteric wisdom. In some traditions this connection to time also means history, memory and past patterns. Once woven into the tapestry of the loom of creation and no longer active as the shuttle works its way back and forth across the strands of life, the Weaver remembers and as Samhain approaches and the veil between thins once more, this is an excellent time to join Her in that remembering.

For the “brandy snaps” you will need:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. lemon zest and you can use orange as well
1 – 1 1/2 tsp spice, more on that below
1 Tbsp. rum
5 Tbsp. flour

Deep breath in and hold for a moment, release, repeat. “Spinning your magic with glittering strands. I work with like power through loving hands. A home and a hearth I hold here in Love, with you at my window ensconced above. Wisdom, protection, I ask you to share. I return blessings that well may you fare. Grandmother Weaver please act as my guide, as forth on my journey I stumble and stride. Show me sight true, that clear I might see, with harm to none So Mote It Be” Begin..

DSCN2218 

Melt the butter in a small pot and add the sugar, zest, rum, maple syrup and mix well. Add the spice and flour and mix again until the batter is smooth.

I have made these with cinnamon and ginger and pumpkin pie spice and I think the real question to help you decide is, ” what filling am I putting inside?”. I use 1tsp. of ginger and am happy with the flavour but that might be too much for another persons pallet.

DSCN2220 

Now comes the fun part. If you have not made these before or it has been awhile, I would suggest that the supplies for making a second batch be available. That is not to say they are difficult but they do require watching and if you get pulled away, as I did, and don’t set the timer, as I didn’t, it is very possible to loose focus and burn the first tray in the oven, as I did.

Drop by tablespoon fulls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. I would suggest that you do not do more than four cookies at a time and definitely fewer on the first run through. You might also need to spread them out with the back of the spoon a little bit.

The colour of your tray will make a difference in the baking time. Dark trays will bake product more quickly. Your oven may have a slightly different temperature so the length of time needed to bake might need adjusting by a minute or two and these are cookies that you can loose with a minute too long in the oven.

DSCN2226 

Other things can affect the baking time as well. If for example you were to substitute honey for the maple syrup you will find the cookies spread more and the baking time will shorten. Remember that once the tray comes out of the oven, the cookies will continue baking. Try for darker edges with a little lightness still in the center.

DSCN2227 

I baked these at 350 degrees for 5 minutes and then let them sit out for 90 seconds before taking them off the cookie tray. You want them to be hard enough to hold their shape and soft enough to be able to affect their shape. If the cookies get too hard, it is possible to put them back in the oven for a short time to “re-soften” the cookie before trying again.

I used a wide handled whisk to roll the cookies around but anything that will give you a 3/4 – 1 inch center will do the job. Once each cookie is rolled allow to cool and harden.

Refill the cookie tray and bake the next batch. This recipe gave me nine cookies and they will store in an airtight container for over a week, so this is something you can do in advance and then leave the filling till just before serving if you want your spiderwebs crisp or about an hour before serving, if you would like them a little softer.


For the pumpkin cheesecake filling you will need:

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
6 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
1 cup whipped cream (already whipped)

Place the unwhipped whipping cream in a container and beat until firm peaks appear.

DSCN2237 

Place all the other ingredients in a bowl and whip at a high enough speed to completely blend the ingredients smooth.

Fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture and cool for at least one hour. Over night will not harm it all.

Just before serving, pipe filling into the cookie. A piping bag is helpful. You can pipe from both ends or hold the cookie vertically so the mousse will continue to fall further into the cookie as you continue to pipe. Just make sure you keep an eye on what is happening at the other end.

In my original recipe I used double the amount of Greek yogurt before I realized I didn’t need to make the full batch. I found it too soft (as you can see below) and too tangy for my taste so I cut the yogurt in half in the recipe above.

DSCN2279 

If you are celebrating Samhain or Día de Muertos together as a family, here is a suggestion for taking these treats to another level.
Cut little strips of rice paper in 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch strips or there about. Using a food colouring edible marker, write the name of an ancestor at one end. If the name comes up more than once in order to put a name in each dessert, that is absolutely fine.

Just before serving, gently push the strip into the filling, leaving the name outside the filling as a tag. Place the filled spider webs with the names upside down on a serving plate so that no one can see who they are choosing. (I used black here so you could see the names in the picture but ideally, use a yellow or something light.)
Have everyone tell a story or something they remember about the person they chose. It does not have to be personal experience, it can be a retelling of a family legend or an acknowledgement of an heirloom or physical trait received, or just a funny story that has become part of your families memories.

Samhain is a fire festival. In native traditions Grandmother Spider is credited with bringing fire and sun to the people, making Her stories quite apropos for this time of the year. Her adventures teach, determination and preparedness through the skills of pottery and weaving.

In other traditions, She teaches that each of us has a place in the loom of creation and that each choice we make is important.

DSCN2349 cropped 

Please check out our selection of kitchen wands, spurtles and tea towels. After Samhain comes Yule, in no time at all!

 http://mykitchenwand.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-mousse-wrapped-in-crunchy-spiderwebs/

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Rolled Italian Meat Loaf



Rolled Italian Meat Loaf

 
Rolled Italian Meat Loaf
  • Prep Time 15 min
  • Total Time 1 hr 40 min
  • Servings 8
Not much harder to make than plain meat loaf, this dressed-up version is nice enough for company.

Ingredients

1 1/4 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
3/4 lb bulk Italian sausage
1 egg
1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce
1/4 cup Progresso™ Italian style bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded 6 cheese Italian cheese blend (8 oz)
2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach leaves

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix ground beef, sausage, egg, 1/2 cup of the pizza sauce, the bread crumbs and pepper. 
  2. On foil, pat mixture to12x8-inch rectangle. Sprinkle evenly with cheese; gently press into meat. Top with spinach. Starting at short end, roll up tightly, using foil to start roll and tucking in spinach leaves; seal ends. Place seam side down in ungreased 12x8-inch (2 quart) glass baking dish.
  3. Bake 1 hour. Spread remaining pizza sauce over top. Bake 15 minutes longer or until thermometer inserted in meat loaf reads 160°F. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
 
 Meat Loaf Recipe
 
 

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Slice Of Heaven Cake



A SLICE OF HEAVEN CAKE!
1 package devil's food chocolate cake or german choc. cake mix
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar caramel topping
1 8oz tub cool whip
4-5 snickers bar (my preference) you can use skor, heathbar, or mini reeses


Bake the cake according to directions in 9x13 inch pan. 


Cool for 5 minutes, using the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes into cake, then let cake cool for a bit about an 1/2 hour til warm. 

Slowly pour sweetened milk over cake, letting it soak into holes, then drizzle caramel over the cake.

Let cake cool completely (you may refrigerate it to cool faster just cover well). 


Top cake with cool whip, decorate with candy & drizzle with caramel!!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Cinnamon Apple Rings




FRIED CINNAMON APPLE RINGS
 

4 large apples (I used gala)
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
vegetable oil for frying 


For the cinnamon sugar topping
⅓ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon 


Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside. In a small bowl combine the egg and buttermilk. In a third dish, make your cinnamon-sugar topping by combining the ⅓ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set that aside too. Next, slice the apples into ¼-inch thick slices, and use circle biscuit cutters in graduated sizes to make rings out of each slice. Discard the center circles containing the apple core. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat to 350°F. Combine the contents of the first and second dishes as the oil warms up. This will be your batter. Dip the apple rings in and out of the batter one at a time, removing any dripping excess by tapping the rings against the side of the bowl. Fry the rings in small batches, turning them to ensure browning on both sides. 


Once the rings are golden and crispy, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towel for a few seconds. 

Quickly transfer the apple rings, one by one, into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat evenly. Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm. 

Notes Apples can go a long way in the recipe, so if you don't get to all 4 apples, don't worry. Make as much or as little as you like.




Friday, September 4, 2015

Apple Dump Cake


3-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake

 
3-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake
  • Prep Time 10 min
  • Total Time 60 min
  • Servings 8
Fresh apples, Betty Crocker yellow cake and melted butter combine in this easy-to-make, and easy-to-eat, dessert.
 

Ingredients

4  Cups chopped apples
1  Box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ yellow cake mix
3/4  Cup butter, melted
 

Directions

  • 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
  • 2 Place chopped apples in pan. Top with dry cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
  • 3 Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until bubbly. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Betty Crocker


Potato Tot Enchilada Casserole - From Mr. Food



Potato Tot Enchilada Casserole

 
We gave a family-favorite a tasty and modern makeover by adding a crispy, potato tot topping that's so good everyone will want to dig in right away! They'll be surprised to find such a tasty, gooey, cheesy, and meaty filling in this amazing Potato Tot Enchilada Casserole. 
What You'll Need:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
  • 3 cups frozen potato tots
  • 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 scallion, thinly sliced
What To Do:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 2-quart casserole or 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef, onion, and garlic 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned; drain off excess liquid. Stir in taco seasoning; mix well. Add enchilada sauce and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Spoon mixture into casserole and top with potato tots.
  4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until potato tots are golden. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and cook 5 more minutes, or until cheese is melted. Garnish with scallion slices and serve.

Read more at http://www.mrfood.com/Casseroles/Potato-Tot-Enchilada-Casserole#yBrt3FYvjScw37Dk.99

Mr. Food




Thursday, September 3, 2015

Caramel Apple Dump Cake


Caramel Apple Dump cake recipe with 4 ingredients 



•2 cans of apple pie filling (you can also use cherry, blueberry, etc.)
•1 box of yellow cake mix
•2 sticks of butter, melted (1 cup)
•1/2 cup caramel sauce (like you would put on ice cream)
•1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
•1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
•Whipped cream for garnish (optional)



Instructions
1.In a greased 9x13 dish, mix apple pie filling and caramel sauce.
2.You may add in the 1/2 tsp cinnamon if desired.
3.Spread evenly in pan.
4.Pour dry cake mix directly on top of the pie filling and spread evenly.
5.Top with melted butter and pecans (optional).
6.Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
7.Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.