Breakfast Cheesecake

This breakfast cheesecake recipe has been floating around for several years but it is still a favorite with our family!

Ben is employed at Graceland Fruit and they process many varieties of fruit, one being the cherry! If you have never tried the dried cherry, please consider it...the taste is wonderful and the health benefits are many!

I generally make this cheesecake in a glass 9" x 13" baking dish but when shopping recently I spotted disposable cookie sheets and thought they would be perfect for transporting to Ben's workplace!

Just a shout-out to the many Graceland loyal employee's who go above and beyond...enjoy this treat today and please accept my thanks for all you do!!!

Don't those cherries look divine?

Breakfast Cheesecake:

2 - 8oz. packages if Crescent Rolls
2 - 80z. packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 large egg, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Spread one can rolls in a 9 x 13 pan, pressing perforations together to seal. Combine cream cheese, ONE cup sugar, the egg YOLK, and vanilla, mixing well...spread on top of rolls.
Lay the second can of rolls on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Beat egg WHITE and brush on top of the rolls.
Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar and chopped nuts together and sprinkle over the egg white.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

The above mentioned disposable cookie sheet was more like a jelly roll pan, so I used more crescent rolls but the same amount of filling.

Serve with cherry filling (or any other fruit would work OR it is good just on its own)!

Enjoy!

RED HOT Cherry Jam!!!!

This Cherry Republic Red Hot Cherry Jam was a gift from our little granddaughter, Maggie and I would highly recommend it to you!

Such a happy little girl and we love her to pieces!

Here is a close-up of the card Maggie's Mommy made...so cute and appropriate!

I wish I would have had some nice StoneHouse bread on hand but at least you can see the jam!

The reason it is called RED HOT is because it contains cinnamon oil and what a nice little kick to start your day!

If you are not familiar with Cherry Republic, please follow the link above and become acquainted...you will be pleased, their products are wonderful!

So Excited!

I am so excited to share the news with you...Whipperberry has featured my Valentine Cream Wafers on their site!!!!

Thank you so much Whipperberry and I hope my readers will visit your blog...I love it!

Red Sky At Night!

A red sky at night surely will provide delight...at least according to Sailor's!

The weatherman (Joe) did announce this morning that we were in for a warm-up and won't that be a blessing!!!

Living a very short distance from the Lake Michigan shoreline, we enjoy some beautiful sunsets!

Yes, we still have snow but remember we are one day closer to spring today and robins have been sighted in our area....experiencing four unique seasons is definitely not boring!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is another Coco creation...

Each time Coco and I get together to make cookies, I gain a bit more confidence in the royal icing experience but I have not gone solo yet!

Adorable cookies and they are so yummy!
Thank you, Coco for joining me in making Valentine goody bags!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Lot's-A-Dots!

I just love these cookies, they are so sweet and feminine (although the fella's like them also)!

Thanks to Coco for making the dough ahead of time and then rolling, cutting, and baking them here!!!

Coco also made the modified royal icing and she piped the edges, flooded the cookies and then I helped with the dots!

All packaged up and so sweet!

I've Been Featured!!!

My Green Bay Packers RULE post (February 7, 2011) has been featured on:

Simply Step Back

Please consider visiting Sarah's Blog @ Simply Step Back and see all the wonderful ideas!
Thank you so much, Sarah...I am delighted!!!

Turtle Pretzels

As my family knows, first-hand, "Turtles" make my day!!!

And if you were to add a bit of salt to the mix, oh my! So, pretzel rods with the traditional turtle mixture, adding some nice cashews would be perfect!

These Turtle Pretzels turned out just right and I will be making them again and again!

I made the caramel but you could probably use Kraft caramels and melt them down...just a thought!

Turtle Pretzels:

40-60 pretzel rods (depends on diameter)
Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper
16 oz. cashews, crushed coursely

Caramel:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Combine the above ingredients in a medium or large pan over medium heat, stir until combined and melted. Bring to a boil slowly and stir constantly for a good 5 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately pour into a slim, tall glass container, allow to cool for 3-4 minutes.

Now, begin dipping the rods in the caramel...takes a couple to get the routine down. Attempt to dip the pretzel 1/2-3/4 up the rod and allow excess caramel to drip off. Immediately roll the rod in crushed cashews and place on prepared waxed paper.

Continue dipping until all rods are covered.

After the caramel has set up, it is time to have some fun with some milk chocolate. Melt one bag milk chocolate and place in a decorator bag (or baggie) and begin the drizzling...you could surely use a combination of milk and white chocolate if desired.

Package up the Turtle Pretzels for a fun little table favor, Valentine treat, or a pick-me-up surprise for a friend!

Linked to:
Whipperberry

Heart Cookies

Don't you just love the heart shape of these cookies? And the hot pink icing just seals the deal!

Packaged and ready to go...

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe or visit Coco or Annie's Eats for a new recipe.
The heart is decorated with a meringue icing...you pipe the edges with a firm version of the icing and then add water to flood inside the piping.
While the icing is still "wet" drop a dot of white icing in the middle and then drag a toothpick through the white dot quickly and you will have a fun little white heart!

You can find a meringue recipe on the Wilton site.

Credit to Coco for making the cookies and also the icing...a talented gal indeed and I am so blessed to have her as my daughter! I can only take credit for piping on the dot and dragging the toothpick through to make the heart shape middle.

I have found that you have to experiment with various sugar cookie recipes to find the one that suits you best...and the same holds true for the meringue.

Have fun baking and kindly consider becoming a follower of this blog, would love to have you!

Valentine Cream Wafers

Hundreds of Cream Wafers have been made in my kitchen over the years and our family never tires of them!

It was decided to include these tasty bite size morsels in our Valentine goody bags this year. They pretty much melt in your mouth and eating just one is not easy!

Coco provided the miniature Valentine liners and clear bags for presentation! Since we didn't think one was enough, two were packaged in each bag!

Cream Wafers:

1 cup soft butter
1/3 cup half 'n half
2 cups flour

Mix above ingredients like you would a pie crust. Chill.
Roll dough 1/8" thick on floured surface and cut with cookie cutters...this is actually the first time I have used anything but a small round cutter. The heart shaped cutter worked just fine!
After cutting, dip each cookie in granulated sugar (both sides) and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
****Prick each cookie (top only) with fork 4 times****
Bake at 375 degrees for 7 - 9 minutes.
Remove cookies to cooling racks.

Filling:

1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Food coloring, if desired (paste/gel)

Whip butter, add sugar slowly and then add the vanilla and coloring.
Spread filling between two cream wafers or place filling in disposable decorating bag and pipe a small amount between the wafers.

Enjoy this wonderful cookie!

This post has been linked to the following:

Whipperberry
Every Day Tastes
Somewhat Simple
Inspiring You 2 Save
Sugar and Dots
The Kings Court 4
Paisley Passions
Good Cheap Eats

Spinach Parmesan Dip

Here is a little idea for a quick, easy, and delicious dip...Wind & Willow Spinach Parmesan!!!

If you are not yet acquainted with Wind & Willow, please consider getting to know their products!

Wind & Willow has several dip mixes and this particular one, you mix the contents with 8 oz. cream cheese and 1/2 cup sour cream...mix well in a small sauce pan over low heat...stir until thoroughly combined and warm.

Could it get an easier than that?

Dress the dip up a bit with a few chopped, green onions!

Green Bay Packers RULE!

THE PACK IS BACK!!!
Vince Lombardy no doubt is watching over the festivities with a sense of pride!!!
Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on their Super Bowl XLV win!!!
The final score was Green Bay Packers 31...Pittsburgh Steelers 25 and the game was exciting, especially the second half!

The cupcakes are resting in a Green Bay Packer cheesehead!!!

Congratulations to Mike McCarthy and the Packers on a fine game! And special congratulations to Aaron Rodgers for being named MVP of Super Bowl XLV!

After seeing the cupcake idea on Taste of Home and Hoosier Homemade, this Green Bay Packer fan had to attempt making them!

I made white cupcakes and buttercream frosting for the frosting...tinted green of course. The grass is piped on the cupcake with Wilton tip #233. Coco showed me how to pipe the "grass" and what a difference the right technique is.

I was able to find some black cupcake liners with green dots and they added to the festive look.
I printed the "toppers" on-line and hot glued them to cocktail picks.
The crowning glory...a truffle football!
Use your favorite truffle recipe and form into footballs, place in fridge for awhile and then dip in chocolate and allow to cool in fridge. Finally, using white chocolate or buttercream frosting...pipe football markings.

This particular post has been linked to:
The Girl Creative
It's A Blog Party
Simply Step Back

New Kitchen Gadgets

I just love kitchen gadgets, especially ones that make my "job" easier or more efficient!

On the left there are three magnetic tools (two shredders and a peeler) by Progressive and purchased at SurlaTable. We eat a lot of salad so those gadgets get a lot of use...love them!

Next to the magnetic tools on the left is a Zyliss ergonomic peeler that you could use all day...fits even a small hand, like mine, nicely.
Then the purple ceramic knife, oh my! It is sharp and love the cover! It is by Kuhn Rikon and is a must have!
The purple turner is by OXO and they always have great products and this is no exception...perfect size to turn all those Valentine cookies!
Lastly, the multi-colored small whisk is also a product of Kuhn Rikon and first of all it is adorable but most importantly it is a perfect size for many tasks in the kitchen!
Many thanks to Caribe for the last four kitchen gadgets!