No Bake (Cherry) Cheesecake

Yesterday, I reverted back in time.  I pulled out a recipe for a dessert that I started making way back when I was probably about Sassy's age ~ 8th grade.  This use to be my favorite dessert, and I still find it delicious.  No Bake (Cherry) Cheesecake

You start with a graham cracker crust.  You can purchase one, but they are so easy to make that I always make mine.  

Just melt 1/4 cup of unsalted butter

Add in graham cracker crumbs and a little sugar and mix it all together.  

Firmly and evenly press the crumb mixture into a 9" pie plate.  Microwave the crust for 1 1/2 minutes - 2 1/2 minutes.  This depends on your microwave.  I only cook my crust for about 1m 45s. Take it out and let it cool while you make the filling.

Onto the delicious, creamy filling....

Start with 8oz of softened cream cheese

beat it until it is light and fluffy.

Then add in sweetened condensed milk

Lemon Juice 

and Vanilla

Mix again until the filling mixture is smooth and creamy.

Pour the filling into the prepared crust (I dare you to try to refrain from licking the spoon).

Pop it into the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours.

Top the cheesecake with 1 can of cherry pie filling.

Serve and ENJOY!

No Bake Cheesecake

Crust:

1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)

1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 Tablespoons sugar

Mix together.  

In a 9" pie plate, firmly press mixture in evenly. 

Microwave for 1 1/2 - 21/2 minutes

Cool.

Filling:

1 8oz package cream cheese, softened

1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup lemon juice from concentrate

1 tsp vanilla extract

In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk.  Then add in lemon juice and vanilla.  Mix until smooth and creamy.

Pour in to graham cracker crust.

Put in refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours.

Topping:

1 can cherry pie filling

Pour and spread evenly over top of cheesecake

Spicy, Sweet, Moist, Yummy Carrot Cake

Our 13th wedding anniversary was a couple of weeks ago.  It happened to fall on a Tuesday night.  A Tuesday night that was also booked with basketball practice for Action and Volleyball games for Sassy.  That meant a quick dinner at home before the activities began.  Being the um... the wonderful wife I am, I made a few of hubby's favorites for dinner.  The main course was penne with prosciutto an easy pasta dish that the both of us like.  But dessert, dessert was something I haven't made in a very long time.  Something I know the hubs likes.  A dessert I made for him while we were dating.  Carrot Cake.

This is a recipe I got from my mom.  Where she got it I have no idea, but I do know, the resulting cake in this recipe is delicious.  You absolutely should try it.  I mean it has carrots in it people, so it has to be healthy.  Right?

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

First, the cake

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sugar

2 Cups Flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

pinch of salt

4 eggs

1 1/2 Cups vegetable oil

3 Cups grated carrots

Directions:

1.  Sift the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.

2.  Make a well in the middle and pour in oil and un-beaten eggs.

3.  Beat 

4.  Add grated carrots and mix well.

5.  Pour into a 9x13 cake pan (I always spray mine with non-stick cooking spray)

6.  Bake at 350° for 40-60 minutes

And now, the icing on the cake.... Actually, cream cheese frosting

(don't frost the cake until it has cooled completely)

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup margarine, room temperature

3 oz cream cheese, room temperature, (not fat free/low fat)

2 1/4 Cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Chopped ~ as finely as you so desire ~ Nuts (I use walnuts)

Directions:

Cream together the margarine and cream cheese.  Once smooth, add in powdered sugar and vanilla.  

Frost cooled cake, then sprinkle with chopped nuts

There you have it an easy, yummy, dessert!

And I totally got sidetracked eating a piece of this delicious cake and forgot to take a picture of it!  I guess you'll have to make it yourself to see the yummy carrotty inside! 

Caramel, Rice Krispies and Hunting?

A couple of weeks ago we went on a little road trip for an annual family get together.  Every year in October we get together with lots of family and enjoy a weekend of pheasant hunting.  When I started dating hubby, this was a tradition I was introduced to.  I had never been on a pheasant hunt before.  It is fun, I go for the exercise of walking in the fields trying to scare up the birds.  I don't carry a gun.  Our kids have grown up doing the same thing.  However as Sassy gets older the idea of carrying a gun becomes more and more appealing to her, as it does with Action, but he has a bit more time to wait.

Anyway, like I said, this is a weekend when lots of family comes to town.  And that means lots of food and of course, treats are needed ☺.  The last couple of years I have been asked to bring these:

Caramel Krispie Bars

Warning, they are rich and full of ooey, gooey, yumminess.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Butter or Margarine
1 bag (about 14 oz) caramels (unwrapped)
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
16 oz bag mini marshmallows
9 cups Rice Krispies

Directions:

1.  Using a microwave, heat 1/2 cup butter, the caramels and sweetened condensed milk on low until melted. Stirring every few minutes.

2.  In a large sauce pan on the stove, heat the remaining 1/2 cup butter and marshmallows until melted (do not over cook!) stir frequently.  Once melted, remove from heat, stir in cereal and mix well.

3.  Spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick spray.  Pat 1/2 of cereal/marshmallow mixture in bottom of pan.  Pour the caramel mixture on top and spread evenly.  Then place the rest of the cereal/marshmallow mixture on top.  Spread out and smooth evenly.

4.  Chill until cool.

ENJOY!

Today's Creative Blog

O{pin}ions

Another week has gone by and I've been able to try a few more pins from my boards.

Here's what I thought about a few of the things I've pinned.

First:

"Sassy Water"

(Original via A Sweet Simple Life)

Take some plain 'ol water, add lemon, cucumber and mint ~ voila a "natural detox"  or so some pinners said.  I don't know about the whole detox effect, but it tasted pretty good (the kids didn't like it at all so more for me ☺). I do feel like I drank more water when I had this in the fridge.  And really who doesn't need to drink more water?  Sure I'll make this again.

Next

Stir Fry Green Beans with Shrimp and Garlic

(Original via Food and Wine)

This was yummy, easy to make, the ENTIRE family liked it, and YUMMY... oh wait, I already said that....  Anyway, I served it with rice and the only thing I would do different would be to make more!  No really, I doubled the recipe and my family devoured it!  Definitely a re-maker!

Finally

Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

(Original via Kraft Foods)

I'll admit, I didn't actually make this.  You see, last Friday was my birthday and one of my friends surprised me with it when she came over to celebrate.  She was sneaky and checked out my "sweet treats" Pinterest board for ideas and this is what she decided on.  I thought it was good.  She couldn't find the sponge cake that the recipe called for, but used pound cake which was listed as an alternate choice.  And, I'm not sure if she added the strawberry jam, or if it soaked into the cake and she made whip cream instead of purchasing "Cool Whip".  Like I said, it was good and I think everyone else liked it as well.  However, that being said, I think I still prefer my cheesecake and strawberry shortcake separate from each other.  But, I may just have to try it again, just to be sure :)

Well, time for the question of the day..... What have you been pinning?

Ready for my o{PIN}ions?

Alrighty, welcome to another installment of my o"PIN"ions.
(you can find and follow me on Pinterest here)

First on the list ~ a book.

Seriously, what's better than relaxing with a good book in the summer ~ I pinned this one awhile ago, hoping it would be good.

Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 

(via)

Here's what I thought:  This book isn't my typical read. There were "ghosts", "monsters" , action, adventure, and suspense. Lets not forget the love story plot line. This book grabbed my interest right away in the beginning and held it for the entire book. It's about a boy (Jacob) whose grandfather dies at the hands (paws perhaps, or maybe claws) of a wild animal. Well, that's what the authorities say anyway. But when Jacob finds his Grandfather lying down, dying on the forest floor, his Grandfather whispers his last words to him. What these words mean is a puzzle, one the Jacob is determined to figure out. And he does figure it out. Along with many twists, turns and a world you couldn't imagine.

I would definitely recommend it.

Ok, now onto the "good stuff"  I'm talking food and drinks!

First up, a beverage ~ Kalimotxo

If you're like me you're saying "Huh, Kalimo..... what?"  Basically it's a combo of red wine and coke (as in soda)  (24oz red wine and 16oz Coke) You can find the original recipe/post here.  

My opinion ~ gross!  I like wine and I like coke, but not together.  Not at all.  Hubby though, he drank it.  He said it wasn't "that bad".  I disagree.  It was "that bad".   Definitely deleting this one from my Pinterest board.

Do you like spinach artichoke dip?  I definitely do, so when I saw this recipe, I knew it was one I would be making ~ Spinach Artichoke Pasta, via A Life of Flavor

I liked this.  Hubby liked it, but as with all recipes I make that don't contain meat, he replied, "It's good, but it would be really good if it had some chicken in it."  Personally, I didn't miss the meat, but it would be really good with a little chicken or crab in it.  This is a "remaker."

Another pasta recipe ~ Ultimate Macaroni Salad via Hungry Couple

I found this to be a pretty tasty, creamy macaroni salad.  Sassy agreed.  No one else raved or crabbed about it, so I'll take that as they thought it was good, not great, but good.  I will probably make this again.  Just know it makes a huge batch, I will definitely halve it the next time I make it for just my family.

Finally a dessert.  A dessert posted by the Pioneer Woman.  Seriously, how could I go wrong?  I made her version of a Deep Dish Fruit Pizza.

I made this to share with a group over the 4th.  It was delicious and a definite hit!  I will absolutely make it again.  Mmm Mmm good!

That's it for now! What have you been pinning?

Impromptu

I am working on creating a gift for some family members.  Last week I piled the kids in the car and we headed to Ikea to get  picture frame that I had seen there before.  We drove 35 minutes, arrived, Action and Smiley checked in to the daycare.  Sassy and I had 45 minutes to shop without "help".  We had fun wandering around the store, unfortunately they didn't have the frame I was in search of.   We ended up purchasing one of each of these:

CHOSIGT Ice pop maker ~ $1.99

Side note ~ we've since made these "pudding pops"  that I pinned on Pinterest

(original website here)

so easy ~ milk, cool whip and chocolate instant pudding ~ mix and freeze

the kids.... (hubby and I included) loved them!

cold, creamy, chocolatey.....

Back to the story:

Since Ikea was a bit of a bust, and we were 35 minutes from home, I decided to have an impromptu healthy Burger King picnic at one of our favorite places.  The falls.  The weather was perfect, sunny, warm, yet not hot.  We had a delightful, unplanned afternoon!  And perhaps you'll notice, this was a couple of days before Action took on a new look :)

(helping "baby bird" finish her lunch)

After Burger King and walking around a bit, we decided to get some ice cream :)  Here they are enjoying their treats.

It was a perfectly unplanned day
A day full of beauty and unexpected surprises.

Like finding a heart in the bottom of your ice cream cone.