Christmas 2011

!2 days until Christmas.  What will this year bring?  Last year was a disaster....too much wine and not enough love.  This year, I'm hoping for more love, more peace, more communication, less anger, less stress, and less wine!  I'll keep you posted...

If you can't run with the big dogs...stay on the porch.

Ok.  I think I tore up my other knee.  I'm finally too old to run.  :( 
I really wanted to be able to run with Bill this summer.  I know he likes to run, but it looks like I'll have to walk or ride my bike. 
I don't have time to get an MRI and then go to PT.  But I guess I'll have to make time or walk like an old woman.

Blogging for Books - Reviews

Blogging for Books - Reviews

Mardi Gras on the Net - Did You Know? Fun Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras on the Net - Did You Know? Fun Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras

High/Low Food/Drink: {Easy Entertaining} Halloween Baby Shower

High/Low Food/Drink: {Easy Entertaining} Halloween Baby Shower: "Happy Halloween everyone! Remember that baby shower I was prepping for with our DIY cupcake wrappers? Well, it happened yesterday and ..."

This one is next!

~SNICKERS CHEESECAKE~ (guaranteed to put a smile on your face!)

Crust

1 cup chocolate chips

24 chocolate wafer cookies

(about 1 1/2 cups), finely ground

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons dry roasted peanuts, chopped

1 tablespoon sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch spring form pan with cooking spray.

Wrap outside of pan with foil. In bowl set over pot of hot water melt chocolate; keep warm. Combine remaining ingredients.

Press into bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan; refrigerate 10 minutes. Bake 5 minutes; cool.

3/4 cup granulated sugar

24 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)

3 tablespoons flour

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 cup sour cream

6 (2 ounce) Snickers bars, cut into 1/4-inch slices

In bowl with mixer at medium speed beat cream cheese until fluffy.

Beat in flour and remaining sugar until combined.

Beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Pour half of mixture into another bowl.

With mixer on medium speed beat 1/4 cup of the sour cream and reserved chocolate into batter in bowl. Beat remaining sour cream into remaining batter.

Pour white batter into crust; arrange 2/3 of Snicker slices over top.

Pour chocolate batter over.

Place in baking pan on oven rack; fill pan with water. Bake 55 minutes.

Turn oven off; let stand in oven 1 hour. Remove from water; remove foil.

Cool on rack 30 minutes; cool completely in refrigerator 3 hours or overnight.

Top with remaining Snickers.

Cheesecake Anyone?

Cheesecake Anyone?
This is my new business I'm starting with my friend Colleen.  We both love to bake and are very excited about working together to make some extra money and supply cheesecake to our friends and family .  Our cheesecakes are made with farm-fresh ingredients since Colleen lives on a farm.  Did I say she has 6 kids!  She is amazing and I'm proud to be considered her friend. 
Some of our cheesecakes are:  Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Chocolate Chip, Lemon, Deep Dark Chocolate, and Taste of Heaven, which is a cheesecake for people who don't like cheesecake.  Our speciality cheesecakes are, Irish Cream, Amaretto Peach, Chocolate Truffle, Almond Joy, Creamsicle and anything else you can imagine.  We make our crust with graham crackers along with cookies, nuts, dried fruits, and more.  Let's not forget the sauces:  strawberry, raspberry, triple berry, lemon, pineapple, pear, and of course chocolate.  Did I mention my friend lives on a farm so of course the sauces are natural and organic.
I'll keep you posted as to the success of theis venture.  I have a cheescake in the oven right now that is soon to come out.....

Breakfast Polenta: Two Ways

Breakfast Polenta: Two Ways

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Slow Cooker Taco Soup