Sunday, April 20, 2008

Lion House Cheesecake


{sorry i couldn't pick which one looked yummier!! -kristen}

This is the world's best cheesecake! I tweaked it a little bit for Liz's birthday luau but the basic recipe is from the Lion House restaurant in Salt Lake City.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 T sugar
6 T butter or margarine, melted
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 t vanilla

Directions:
Mix graham cracker crumbs, 3 T sugar and melted butter. Press into 10-inch deep-dish pie pan or 10-inch springform pan. Set aside.
Start the filling by beating the cream cheese on high for a couple minutes in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup sugar a little at a time, followed by 3 eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well. Pour filling into the crust and bake for 55 to 60 minutes at 300 degrees.

How I tweaked it:
a) My family always adds 1/2 t almond flavoring or extract. Gives it a little something extra. And I always use Neufatchel cheese instead of cream cheese. It's really pretty much the same texture and flavor, maybe even a little fluffier, but with a lot less fat. Cause I like to have my cake and eat it too! ;)
b) The luau version was topped with fruit and an apricot glaze. It looks fancy but it's super easy! Go nuts w/ the fruit....the glaze goes like this: In a small sauce pan dissolve 3 heaping tablespoons of apricot preserves and 4-5 tablespoons of sugar into 1/2 cup water over high heat. Let it bubble until thickened and drizzle over the top!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

caramelettos...

or possibly better know as caramelitas? whatever the name, they are to die for!
(the deliciousness on the right)
32 caramels, unwrapped
5 Tbls milk
3/4 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp b. soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 c chopped walnuts (optional:i didn't use them)

Mix butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, b. soda and salt. put half in a 9x9 pan; flatten. Bake at 325 until light brown, about 12 minutes.

Melt caramel in milk over low heat. Once the crust come out of the oven, immediately sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts on top. Pour melted caramels/milk over that. Then crumble remaining, unbaked crust mix on top. Bake 10-12 minutes longer.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Chocolate Strawberry Panini


I know this is supposed to be a dessert, but it's also the perfect combination to go with quiche and OJ at a girls brunch or baby shower. If you don't have a panini grill, don't be afraid to bust out the ol' Foreman for this one. This is Giada DeLaurentis's recipe from Everyday italian.


1/4 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)

12 slices store bought pound cake (approx. 1/2 in. thick)

6-8 fresh strawberries thinly sliced*

Butter flavored cooking spray


1.) Heat panini grill or Foreman grill

2.) Spread Nutella over one side of the pound cake slices. Arrange the strawberries over 6 of the slices. Cover the remaining cake slices chocolate side down.

3.) Place the sandwiches on the cooking surface and grill for about 2 minutes or until golden brown grill marks appear on both sides. Cut in half to serve.
*bananas would also be screaming with the strawberries or without!