NEW YORK Cheesecake for the holidays

Would it be too presumptuous for a midwest farmer's daughter to post New York Cheesecake?

I mean, outside of a few airport stops, I have never been to New York.

I'm not even sure how New York Cheesecake got its name.

I just know it is very good, and it would be a great addition for New Year's Eve.

Every time my husband's niece Jennifer is here for the holidays, I make it.

Top it with cherries.

I'm so disappointed that I didn't take a picture before I cut it.

In fact, this was the very last piece from Christmas.

Perhaps I should have set the table for one.  It would have made for a better picture.

Oh well.  I'm a work in progress.  Always room for improvement.

Here is the recipe:

Crust - 2 c. graham cracker crumbs (I use the box version now.  So much easier than mashing your own.)
            1/4 c. sugar
            1/3 c. melted butter
Combine all of the above and pat into a springform pan halfway up the sides.  (I only go about a quarter up the sides, and I make the crust as thin as possible.  I would rather eat cheesecake than crust, just my preference.)

Cheesecake - 3 x 8 oz pkg of cream cheese
                      2 c. sour cream
                      4 extra large or 6 large eggs
                      1-1/2 c. sugar
                      2 Tbl lemon juice
                      1 teas vanilla
                      2 Tbl cornstarch or flour

Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add sugar  a little at a time while mixing.  Beat in eggs one at a time on low. Add remaining ingredients.  Beat on low for a couple minutes.  Pour into crust and bake for 1 hr at 350 degrees on mid to lower rack.  Turn oven off and let cheesecake set in the oven for another 30 minutes.  Remove and let cool completely.  Take sides off pan and slide cheesecake onto a plate.   Refrigerate.

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Those are the directions as given to me, and the way I did it for years.  First of all, I have yet to be able to slide the cheesecake off of the pan without some sort of mishap, so I take the sides off and chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator with the bottom portion of the pan still intact.  Then I cut the cheese cake in individual slices, similar as shown in the picture.  I can usually get 12 slices easily.  Cut using a very sharp knife, rinsing the knife under very hot water with each cut.  Another problem area is the crack.  There is always a crack when you don't really want to see a crack.  (Isn't there a life lesson in here somewhere?)

I now bake the cheesecake in a water bath which reduces cracking.  I first cover the bottom and up the sides with tin foil, and then place in another outer pan with water.  The foil is supposed to provide a more even temperature of baking and also cooling down.   Make sure you check your pan sizes ahead of time.  I made the mistake of not checking and spent 15 minutes looking for something the springform pan would fit into while the cheesecake was sitting in the crust.  My pan is about 9-1/4" in dia.  I used to have an 8-1/4" diameter and this recipe filled it up to the top.  Scary.  Now I have a little more breathing room.  (Important when the good oven is downstairs and I have to take it down a flight.)

 Another thing I do differently is add the eggs last.  I make sure the cheesecake is well mixed, and then I mix the eggs in a separate bowl and slowly add them to the mixture.  Do not overmix after eggs have been added.  That introduces air, and when the air needs to escape, it produces a crack.  Does that make sense?  Doing it this way, I'm no longer getting that unsightly crack in the middle.

 Oh, one last thing.  Whatever you do, DO NOT spray the springform pan with something like PAM with olive oil.  It gives the crust a horrible taste.  Ooops.  I made this mistake at Christmas.  I have never done this before in my life and why I chose to do it this time?  I have no clue.  Good thing my husband was tasting the left overs from my knife cleanings when I was cutting the slices.  He politely gave me the bad news that it "tasted funny" with a crinkled up nose.  Do you know how embarrassing it was to say, "eat everything but the crust".  Oh well, like I said, work in progress.    If you have ways for me to improve (in any area), I welcome your suggestions.

I'm linking up at 36th Avenue with Desiree's Share Awesomeness Thursday.  You can check out other great ideas for New Years Eve here and get some more awesomeness, so come over and party.

Cindy Lou

 I've known Cindy since 1988.

We were both taking a history class through our local college.

Part of the requirement was to travel to Europe for 3 weeks.

 I don't remember her in class

therefore,

I always say that we met in London.

It was pouring down rain and everyone was standing out in it

to watch the changing of the guard.

I went back to the bus.

No more rain for me, thank you.

Cindy had the same idea,

and we have been friends ever since.

I remember when we came home,

 she used to drag me to all the thrift stores in town, 

and I mean draaaag.

Even when we were in Europe,

she was sporting a green plaid raincoat that she proudly

stated was purchased at a thrift store for mere pennies.

(OMG - I have a picture  - green plaid on left,

me on right)

Every time I saw her, 

she would have the cutest outfit on,

and she would proudly tell me what thrift store she found it,  

and how much.  

She was very talented in the great finds 

and putting it all together.

She kept trying to make a believer out of me, 

and I kept digging in my heels.

Fast forward 23 years ~

my how things have changed.

Now I WISH I would have paid more attention back then.

Do you realize the treasures I might have accumulated?

She now lives in the south with her husband, 

raising two children to say "yes maam"

and coming back north every Christmas to see her parents.

So of course, when she called 

and said she was in town,

"do you want to go to some thrift stores with my mom and I?",

I jumped at the chance.

We went to one of her favorite places

in her hometown.

The Hope Chest, 

which helps support the domestic violence program for Ogle County.

You can see a 35 sec You Tube video here

 Lots of really good stuff.

 She found some amazing buys for her entire family.

One was a super cute Abercrombie ribbed shirt for her teenage son,

and several cami's for her daughter.

They loved them!

She has been doing this all of her life,

it's a thrill to find amazing stuff at amazing prices,

and she is teaching her children to recycle and reuse.

We had a great day, 

and I always enjoy spending time with her

and her family.

 Her mom always has an amazing tree with different decorations each year,

and coordinated wrapping paper.

She shops for all of her decor for the next Christmas 

the day after Christmas for the best prices.

This was her main tree after presents.

Here is the "kids" tree.

One year at the height of popularity of Beanie Babies,

this was filled with just the bears.

It was so cute.

 And the window treatment?

She made it.

That Roman Shade is phenomenal.

Cindy has a very talented mother as well.

And we are both Lou's.

How cute is that?

Connie Lou on left and Cindy Lou on right

So glad we are friends. 

Christmas at Sheila's

Merry Christmas!

We spent the day at my sister-in-law's today.

Everyone was home for the holiday.  So cool.

House was packed, but that was okay.

They have a full basement that could be another apartment so it was all good.  

We had the traditional Mexican food since my husband and his siblings are 1/4 Mexican.  I have never been a huge fan of Mexican food but I have learned to acquire a taste over the years, and they are very good about saying "this is the mild stuff". 

Her house was beautiful!

She has very simple decorations, but elegant.

Here is her main tree in the living room.

These are the mercury ball ornaments that Jennifer and I both wanted to sneak out and take home with us.  Cassie said she saw them at Gordman's and TJ Maxx.  Really?  

The angel statue on the mantel is in honor of their mother who passed away in 2003.  In fact, this was her house, and Sheila bought it so the kids continue to come "here" for Christmas.  

This tree was in between the double sink in the bathroom.

Very hard to take a picture when there is a mirror the whole length of the wall.  

Dining room tree.  

This tree was sitting in her kitchen on top of her black pie cupboard.

This tree was in the basement.

My husband's great nieces & nephews.  The first two girls are twins and their brother.  They are from the suburbs.  

This is their cousin from Nashville.  To hear him say "Tennessee Titans" just cracks me up.  His grandparents continue to shower him with Chicago Bears clothes and accessories, to no avail.

This is their oldest cousin, almost 12.  He loves playing with them and lets them do anything they want. Right now he is jumping over his dad. 

Memories are being made for sure.

And the story of the night.  Here is the littlest one.  His grandma Sheila gave him a green peppermint candy cane.  (What was she thinking?)  He opened it up and proceeded to eat it, getting green all over him.  Of course, as soon as this was discovered, his grandma snatched him up.  I guess she didn't think green would look very nice on all of her white furniture.  

Hope you all had children at your Christmas.  They make it so much more special.  

Tending the Flock

A dog tending the flock.  


This picture was taken by Norman, on his way to Gillette, Wyoming.


He said there was no one around, and no ranch for miles.


Best he could determine was that the rancher dropped off his dog, and gave him instructions to tend the flock until he returned.


Norm was hoping the dog wouldn't move while he was taking the picture (he didn't), and he could only get half of the sheep in the shot.


Thought I would share this extraordinary moment.


Thanks Norm.


(Norm and I have known each other since first grade.  After high school, he moved to Alaska, and is now living in Wyoming, and I have been out of touch with him since graduation.  Facebook is wonderful thing.)

Venturing out tomorrow for some shopping 

beCause

  

Excitement is in the air 

with the anticipation 

of Christmas morn.

Picture from Pinterest.

Cute, huh?

Great colors.

Milestone Birthdays & Merry

So I have been busy this week at work.  


End of the year push to get capital projects moving, either get them started on the books, or get them finished.  Grueling.  


For milestone birthdays, the office always celebrates.


A very good co-worker of mine, Jules, turned 50 today. 

We celebrated yesterday because she took today off.

This is her window to the world.


She emphatically told me NO BLACK.


Ooops. 


So I mixed it up with some purple.


Really, someone needs to tell her you can't find 50th stuff in a sunny, cheery yellow.


Hopefully this cheered her up.

A sucker bouquet

arranged in a nice, vintage ironstone bowl.

After the suckers are gone, she can sell it in her booth at the antique mall.


I thought a sucker bouquet is a great idea


An idea from Pinterest - see my inspiration?

Now I can proudly wear the banner that says


"Today I am going to make something from Pinterest".


Jules bouquet was actually my second one.


My boss turned 40 in September. 


(I know, he's a youngin') 

Here's the first one I made, packed in a U of I bucket.


Very appropriate for an Illini engineer.

Of course, he had to explain to his 5 year old son what "40 sucks" means.

Ooops


I can't help it he didn't take the tag out before he went home.


Why do you think I put it in there separately?


Then I heard about it from his wife.


Ooops  

(There goes the Harry and David gourmet Christmas present this year.)


Speaking of Christmas, this is my Merry banner I have hanging in my office in the back window.

I made it from Jen Rizzo's great tutorial that can be found here.


She strung hers with roping and had the eyelets about a 1/4 in on either side. My eyelets are on the corner and it is strung with red curly ribbon.  I like hers better but I don't think this was too bad for my first time.


BTW, where's the Christmas?


(Yes, many people asked me.)


Bye for now.  Back to online shopping.

Week in Review

December 10th already

Month is flying by.

The first ~

 open house at one of my favorite home decor stores. 

The second ~

lunch with my best friend at

The third ~
a little more decorating for Christmas

(Mom worried no one would take care of it 
after she was gone.)
The fourth ~
besides church,

and a great home made meal.
The fifth ~
making Jen Rizzo's "MERRY" banner 
that you can find out how to do here.
She has a great tutorial on "how to"
that EVEN I was able to make it.
(sorry, forgot to take pic)
It's hanging in my window at work.
Looks great!
 The sixth ~
 removing ALL of the gray,
or the attempt to do so........

The seventh ~
Advent Dinner by Candlelight

The eighth ~
Holy Day
Immaculate Conception

The ninth ~
Bed early to rise and shine Saturday morning.
Ready to take on the weekend of work and fun.
Have a good weekend!