Pumpkin Cheesecake

Recipe comes from the California Pizza Kitchen

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 Tbs. sugar
6 Tbs butter, melted

Filling:
24 oz (3 8 oz pkgs) cream cheese
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 Tbs plus 2 tsp flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
1 cup plus 2 Tbs sour cream
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin puree

Combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar, then add the melted butter and press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350.
In a mixing bowl mix the cream cheese. Scrape down the sides and continue mixing until smooth. Add the brown sugar until mixed thoroughly, scraping down the sides. In a separate bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, then add to the cream cheese mixture until blended scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the sour cream and continue mixing as before. Add eggs one at a time, vanilla and then the pumpkin puree. Mix until thoroughly scraping down the sides. Pour into the springform pan and bake for one hour. You may have to bake for an additional 20 minutes or until cheesecake is set. Allow to cool in oven for 30 minutes and then cool outside of oven until room temperature. Chill overnight in refrigerator.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

(I've used pumpkin puree from my garden and just upped the amount of spices- 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of everything else. I also added 1/2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice.)

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/2 cup Chocolate wafer crumbs
2 T sugar
1/4 cup melted butter

In small bowl combine cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 1/2" up the side of a greased 9" springform pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325.

Filling:
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup whipping cream
3 (8oz) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Remove from heat, add cream and mix well. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add cocoa and beat well. Add eggs; beat on low just until combined. Stir in vanilla and reserved chocolate mixture just until blended. Pour over crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set.

Topping:
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in cream and vanilla, mix well. Spread over filling. Refrigerate overnight. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Just before serving, garnish with whipped cram and miniature chocolate kisses.s

Strawberry Daiquiri Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/2 cup ground Vanilla Wafers
6 T melted butter
1/4 cup sugar

In small bowl, combine wafers, butter and sugar. Mix until crumbly. Press into a 9" spring form pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate.

Filling:
1 Envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. Rum extract
1/3 cup Strawberry daiquiri drink mixer
1/2 cup Lime juice
1 tsp. grated lime rind
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
4 large eggs, separated
2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup heavy cream

In medium saucepan, combine gelatin, sugar, rum, daiquiri mixer, and lime juice. Stir the grated rinds, then add the egg yolks, thoroughly mixing all ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In Large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and light, add powdered sugar until smooth then slowly add the gelatin mixture while mixing. Blend all ingredients thoroughly until smooth. In separate bowl, beat heavy cream until soft peaks form then fold into the cream cheese mixture. In a clean, separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. (The bowl needs to be clean otherwise the peaks won't form.) Fold the whites into the cream cheese mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust and refrigerate overnight.

Topping:
2 limes, thinly sliced
2 lemons, thinly sliced
1/4 cup strawberry daiquiri drink mixer

Just before serving, carefully take a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Remove pan. Garnish with lemon and lime slices. Pour daiquiri mixer over top of cake.

Chocolate Candy Bar Cake

Yields 12 servings
Time: 45 minutes plus time to cool

1 Devils Food Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar of your favorite caramel ice cream topping
2 12 oz pkgs. of heath or skor bits (I've also uses snickers & milky ways)
8 oz. cool whip

Bake your cake, when it comes out of the oven use a handle of a wooden spoon and poke holes all over the top of the cake. Drizzle the milk over the holes and then the caramel too.
Pour 1 1/2 bags of toffee over the top of cake and let it cool completely.
Spread the cool whip on top and then sprinkle the rest of the toffee on top and Enjoy!!!
Refrigerate the leftovers (Ha if there is any!!)

Tartar Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 TBS dill pickle, chopped (or pickle relish)
1 Tbs minced onion
salt and pepper to taste

mix in a food processor and chill for 1 hour. Serve with fish sticks or other sea food.

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup barbeque sauce

Marinate chicken in barbeque sauce, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Chop into pieces and refrigerate.

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1/2 head Romaine lettuce, chopped
3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed
1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated

Combine chicken in large salad bowl with salad ingredients and toss. Serve with Ranch Dressing, additional BBQ sauce and crispy corn tortilla chips. I like to serve it with the Tomitillo Ranch dressing and an avocado would be wonderful in this salad too.

Spanish Rice

1 15 oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
2 chicken buillon cubes
1 1/4 cups rice
1 Tbs Butter
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp cumin

In medium sauce pan combine ingredients. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low and cover for 20 minutes. Or you can just put all the ingredients in a rice maker stir it up good and set it. When rice is done add 1 cup mild cheddar cheese and serve. Yum!!