Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake with Ganache

Originally, I had seen this recipe on Barefoot Contessa (The Food Network).  But since then, it has been added to several recipe sites.  Nevertheless, it's amazing!

Ingredients
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (10 crackers)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the filling:
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee
1 3/4 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
For the ganache:
1/4 pound semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the crust:

Place the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until combined. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, chop the bittersweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the espresso and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.

To make the filling:

Cream the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extracts and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.

Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door opened wide for 1 1/2 hours. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature, until completely cooled.

For the ganache:

Finely chop the semisweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the cream and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.

Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving. Drizzle the ganache over the top of the cheesecake.

Asian Slaw with Teriyaki Chicken

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  This quick, easy and makes a bunch.  I personally like packing it for lunch the next day  :)
  
  
  
  
  
  3/4 cup La Choy Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce, divided
• 8 boneless skinless chicken breasts (8 breasts = 2-1/2 lbs)
• 2 tablespoons  Vegetable Oil
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 pkgs (14 oz each) tri-color coleslaw mix
• 1 can (11 oz each) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 can (5 oz each) Chow Mein Noodles
  
  
  Directions

  1. Combine 1/4 cup teriyaki marinade and chicken in large recloseable food storage bag; close bag. Turn bag several times to coat chicken. Marinate in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.
  2. To make peanut dressing, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup teriyaki marinade, oil, vinegar and peanut butter in small bowl until blended; set aside.
  3. Toss together coleslaw mix and oranges in large bowl; set aside.
  4. Preheat grill according to manufacturer's directions. Grill chicken about 7 minutes per side or until no longer pink in centers (165°F); discard remaining marinade and bag.
  5. Toss slaw with peanut dressing; divide equally between 8 plates. Slice each breast and place over slaw. Sprinkle with chow mein noodles.
  
  

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

I came across these in a Cooking Light magazine and my love for "anything-almond" drew me to try these delicious looking treats...Oh My!  These are simply amazing! I've made them with regular (non-low fat) ingredients as well as the low-fat ones and it turns out beautifully both ways.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray 
•  all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups) 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar 
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened 
• 2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavoring)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg 
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream 
• 1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk 
• 3/4 cup finely chopped Gala apple
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 
• Streusel:
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, chilled 
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• Glaze:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons 2% reduced-fat milk 

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. 2. Place muffin cup liners in 12 muffin cups; coat with cooking spray.
3. 3. Place (about 1 1/2 cups) flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6.75 ounces flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, cream cheese, and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add amaretto, vanilla, and egg to sugar mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Combine sour cream and 1/4 cup milk in a small bowl; stir with a whisk until well blended. Combine apple and 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl; toss well.
4. 4. Add flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until blended. Fold in apple mixture. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
5. 5. To prepare the streusel, combine 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal; stir in almonds. Sprinkle streusel evenly over cupcakes. Bake at 350° for 27 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack, and remove the cupcakes from pan.
6. 6. To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and 4 teaspoons milk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over cupcakes.

Note:

If you don't want to use the amaretto, replace it with 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

Lorraine Fina Stevenski, Clearwater, Florida, Cooking Light 
OCTOBER 2009

Cream of Wheat and Silly Songs

Ever wonder what your kids will remember from their childhood?

I don't mean things like brush your teeth after every meal, close the door when you go to the bathroom (mother's of boys...Heaven help us) and don't talk with food in your mouth.

I mean memories.

Sure they will remember the big stuff, like moving into a new house, the death of a family pet and a family vacation.

But what about the little stuff? What kind of things are going to stand out in their minds, so much so that they reminisce and tell their children or grandchildren about it? What about their life gives them security, makes them feel loved or even makes them laugh when no one else is around?

I can look back and remember the way my dad smelled when he walked in from work every evening. He worked at the Post Office and chewed Trident Gum (the blue kind). You may not realize this but the Post Office has a distinct smell..maybe it's the glue on the stamps ;) -I don't know but whatever it is, my dad smelled like it. Whenever I go in to mail a package, I think of my dad. It warms my heart and makes me miss him all at the same time. He died when I was only 17 and I still miss him just as much as I ever did. (It amazes me how you can miss someone so much even after 20 years of them being gone)

I remember holding my moms hot, black coffee every morning on the way to the babysitter (my great-aunt who had lots of dogs and fed me tuna sandwiches with carrot sticks EVERY day). I remember having horrible ear infections and my mom snuggling with me on her lap to try to ease my pain.

I remember spending the night at my grandparents' and all the little things that made me feel special and so very loved...like spending the day with them, grocery shopping at Kroger and grandma saying, "If you see something you want, just get it, Doll." I remember how my grandma would put about an inch of water in the tub (seriously one inch) and help me scrub up and then let me wear her pajamas. After my bath, we'd sit on their carport watching the cars go by, playing with their little dog and just talking until dark. In the morning, we'd eat Cream of Wheat and drink ice cold Tang out of her colorful frosted glasses.

 

 

I can close my eyes and remember my papa getting out his guitar and singing for me. He would sing silly songs and his eyes would get really big which made me laugh. Grandma would smile and just shake her head.

I wonder... What kind of memories MY kids will have.

What will stick out in their mind?

Will they remember their Mama's silliness...

Their daddy singing funny songs...

I wonder if I am giving them good memories, godly examples and something to pass on to their children.

Parenting on Purpose-A Series in the Making

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it's soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her." -JR Miller

A Date With My Fellas

Every now and then, I have a special day with one or two of my children.

Today, it was time to take my boys out for a " Mommy and Boys Date".

They are simply a joy and so appreciative... I'm a strong believer in developing the character of gratefulness in your children.

There's not much more that grates on my nerves more than spoiled, whiney, bratty, ungrateful children.

I don't think it is something that just happens but you must intentionally develop this...INTENTIONAL parenting...yes, a rare concept, I know.

Perhaps it is something that you have to mature into, I don't know.

But, I do know this- it is something that I strive towards.

...And am trying to teach to my daughters so that when it's their turn to have children, they will get THIS concept early on.

...and now, back to this date night...

I didn't go out and blow $60 on my boys and make it a natural expectation of a "special day".

For goodness sakes- even if I could, I don't think that would be profitable for them!

No, I splurged a whole $5 on a Little Caesars pizza and dug out 2 year old gift cards they had from a birthday and we "lived it up" like nobody's business! It was cheap, sweet and I guarantee it was memorable for them.

It doesn't take money to make your child feel special, it just takes some intentional parenting! ;)

...and ultimately my goal is to tie those heart strings

and bind their hearts to mine.

Apples, Woodsmoke and Sunshine



My Sister

As tradition goes, we spent another beautiful Autumn day at the Apple Festival at Graves Mountain Lodge. While some may go for the apples, yummy treats, bluegrass, hayrides, crafts and such, we go for some other reasons...

The Girls Chatting with Papa

Memaw with the Girls

Kenna

We go to spend time with the grandparents, enjoy the beautiful mountainside and get PLENTY of pictures.  
 After-all, every family day is a photo shoot- just ask my kids! ;)



Elaina

The weather was grand!

The sun was shining, the leaves gave up their gorgeous colors for all to marvel and...thanks to memaw,

we came stocked with overflowing picnic baskets.



Brittany and Joshy being silly

We found a beautiful spot by the lake for our picnic and enjoyed the bounty.

Once lunch was over, we went out to explore...



Papa took the boys out walking around the lake and all of us girls explored the old houses and canning sheds.



My Abby



Kenna



Once we had taken all the pictures that could be endured, we set out for the festival grounds.



 

 

 

 

There was bluegrass in the background, the smell of woodsmoke cooking up fresh apples, turning them into dark, rich apple butter and children running from hay bale mazes and pony rides.



Apple Butter- The Old Fashioned Way

 

 

Overall, we had a wonderful day and enjoyed enough memories to last for years to come. 

My Mom