Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Gingerbread Crust

This has to be one of my absolute favorite recipes for fall. I have been making it for years but it seems that whenever the autumn season hits I can not pump out enough of these cheesecakes for my friends and family. Your loved ones will rave over this fabulous recipe. Garnish it with some freshly whipped cream and a sprinkling of cookie crumbs and I assure you it will be a major success... Enjoy! 

Ingredients for the crust:
12 oz. Gingerbread men 
1 cup pecans
1 stick butter, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350

Lightly spray a 12 inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside.

 Place the gingerbread men and the pecans in a food processor and grind until they form coarse crumbs.  

Place in a bowl and slowly add the butter while mixing with your hands ( As soon as you can pack the mixture without it falling apart, it is ready )

Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.  

Bake for 15 minutes then  place in the refrigerator until cool.

Ingredients for the filling:
2 lbs cream cheese ( softened )
1 cup light brown sugar
6 eggs (Farm fresh is best!)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup flour (All purpose, I prefer unbleached, sifted ) 
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla (the real stuff!)
2 cups pumpkin puree

Place the cream cheese in a kitchen aide using the paddle and blend until smooth.

 Add the sugar and blend until smooth; scrape down sides of bowl.  

one at a time, add the eggs making sure they are thoroughly blended before adding another then slowly pour in the heavy cream, flour, cinnamon, five spice and salt one at a time blending after each ingredient.

  Add the vanilla and pumpkin then blend completely, scraping down the sides and making sure there are no lumps.  

Spray the pan, with the pre-baked crust, again with cooking spray.  

Pour the mixture (it will be pretty liquid) into the pan and place in the middle of the preheated oven.  Bake for about 1 hour 20 minutes, checking frequently after 1 hour.

 The cake is finished when it is browning around the edges and top, and is mostly set; the center might still be slightly wobbly. 

 Remove from the oven and carefully cut around the edges of the cake with a very sharp knife ( this will prevent the cake from cracking as it cools )  

Allow to cool completely ( roughly 6 hours or overnight )

Garnish with some whipped cream and serve along side a nice cup of hot cocoa and a good book. Enjoy everyone and happy Autumnal equinox everyone! 

Crock Pot Style Apple Butter

Soon it will be time for brightly colored pumpkins, fuzzy scarfs, crunchy leaves, and the aroma of sweet apples filling the crisp autumn air. What better way to start off the autumn season then breaking out the crock pot and filling your home with the supple & sensuous smell of apples and cinnamon. The aromatic effects of this recipe are reason enough to make it but it's not the only reason you should. This recipe offers a wonderful opportunity to create a memory with your loved ones. Spend some bonding time with the family or significant other picking, peeling, and preparing apples when you bring love into the kitchen wonderful memories will always be had... Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 
5-10lbs Apples ( about a grocery bag full, peeled and diced ) 
1 quart water
1/3 cup White Sugar 
2 1/2 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp. Salt 
1/4 tsp. Allspice
2 tbsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract 

Place all ingredient in a crock pot, stir well so that everything is evenly distributed. 

Cook on low for 10 hours, stirring occasionally.

using an emulsion blender, puree apples. 

If you choose to can it, do it at this time. If not serve up the warm apple butter in a bowl, sprinkle with granola and a scoop of icecream for a fun take on apple pie sundaes! Enjoy! 

Our first contest!

Who can resist an oatmeal raisin cookie? Add some chocolate and they are virtually irresistable! The creaminess of the white chocolate pairs with the fruity component of the raisins and the earthiness of the oatmeal. These cookies are just fabulous and something everyone can enjoy! The only thing that would make this recipe more awesome is a fun name to go along with it! And that is where you come in my friends! BadToTheScone is hosting our very first contest! Submit your entries for a fun and unique name for these cookies in the comment section and the winner will receive a fabulous little homemade gift made by me ( and who doesn't love free stuff! )... Enjoy! 

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon (or more as desired)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup oil (Canola Oil)
1 tbsp molasses
1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp Water)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375

In a large mixing bowl combine honey, oil, vanilla, egg, and molasses. 

In a seperate bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and oats. Mix well. 

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet. once mixed fold in the raisins and white chocolate. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and lay on a baking sheet. 

Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. 

Best served with a tall glass of milk and a nice book... Enjoy! 

Make your own edible food paint for pastry!

I was making a pie the other day for my friends birthday and I wanted to add a little pizazz to it! I still had a bunch of my egg wash left over so I added a few drops of food dye into it and viola! here you have it! a fun and super easy way to add a little color to your pastry... Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

1 egg

2 tbsp water

food dye 

directions: whisk egg and water togethor, add a few drops of food dye to reach desired color, mix well. Using your finger or a paint brush, paint desired design onto pastry. Bake and enjoy! 

My heart is Sherlocked on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ever since it was recently brought to my attention that BBC had come out with a Television Series based around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous Criminal Investigation books, Sherlock Holmes. I have been excited yet skeptical to see it. The Sherlock Holmes books have been a childhood favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. These books were the reason I once aspired to become a homicide detective, that is before I found a career path a little less bloody (only slightly). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books were written with beautiful elegance and his plots were brimming with anticipation and suspense. So you could imagine my skepticism when I found out someone was once again trying to remake my favorite pieces of literature. The Pilot started with an Episode titles, a study in pink. A play off of Sir Arthur's First Novel, the introduction to Sherlock Holmes; A Study in Scarlette. Now when I first saw this I was not only thrilled as A Study in Scarlette is one of my favorites of the series but also perplexed because I couldn't fathom why they would change the name to A Study in Pink. As I watched the Episode I noticed that it was based in modern time london which gave it a rather unique appeal. However, The story line did not match up with novel and therefore made me feel not only a bit frustrated but also sad at the same time. 

A Study in Scarlet is one of the most beautiful tales of love, passion, and struggle I have yet to come across. Set in the Mid-West America's, Utah to be specific. It is a tale of a lone nomad and a precious little girl, survived by her 2 parents who perished in the extreme desert sun from dehydration and starvation. 

 The lone nomad rescues the young girl and decides to raise her as his own. He carried her in a travel sac for miles until he could go no more, set and ready to die by the desert sun, he clutched the girl in his arms and rested what he imagined to be his final rest. Just in the nick of time they are rescued by a convoy of travelling Mormons who rescue to the two on the sole condition that they will take hold of their religion wholeheartedly. Left with little choice the man agrees and begins to build a life with in the Mormon community. 

This man raises the small girl into a fine young woman. It is only when she finds love outside the Mormon community that troubles arise. In a terrifying decision, the family abandons their religion and runs for freedom in a struggle between life and death... 

This was a something that was never even hinted upon in the Pilot of the show. It was what I felt to be, the most beautiful part of this story. Instead the show reflects the man to be a psychotic serial killer with a God complex.  I will not deny that the show was very intriguing and I did in fact absolutely love Benedict Cumberbatch as the character of sir Sherlock Holmes and the fact that it was based in modern day was a concept I instantly fell in love with. All in all I think the show will turn out to be quiet wonderful as long as I am willing to set my pickyness aside and enjoy it for what it is, another one of what I am sure will be Steven Moffat's masterpieces. 

Creole bean stew

So simple, so easy, and so delicious! The best way I can describe this soup is that it will make you wanna "giddy'up" on somebody after you've finished a bowl! This soup would be perfect for a cold winters day, however I was dumb enough to make it in the middle of august on one of the hottest days of the year. It was still equally delicious and totally worth the 12 degree shower I had to take afterwards just to cool down. I hope you love this ragin' cajun dish and much as I did... Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 
21/2 cups 17 bean soup mix ( Just the dried beans, soaked in water overnight ) 
4 carrots ( chopped ) 
1 medium walla walla sweet onion ( chopped ) 
4 cloves garlic ( minced ) 
1 quart chicken stock 
1 quart vegetable stock 
1 tsp. salt & white pepper 
1 tbsp. Creole seasoning 
1 tsp. oregano 
2 tbsp. sriracha sauce 
1 tsp. paprika 
1/4 cup flour 
1/4 cup butter 
1/2 tsp. chili garlic paste 

In a large crockpot, add beans, carrots, onion, garlic, stock, spices, and sriracha. 

Cover with lid and cook for 6 hours on high. In a small pan melt butter and chile garlic paste. 

Stirring constantly add flour until smooth to form a rue. 

Cook rue for a minute or two to cook out the flavor of the raw flour. 

Scoop some of the broth into the rue to thin it out a bit and pour the rue into the beans. Cook the beans a few minutes longer to thicken the stew up and serve alongside a nice buttery biscuit or some good old fashioned cornbread, an ice cold glass of ice tea, and of course a good friend to share it all with. 

If you want to add some extra protein to this dish, some smoked ham (cut into cubes) would make a great addition!  

Poppin' Paper Bag Popcorn

This is such a great trick for those movie nights with friends. Make individual popcorn bags! These are great for the slumber parties for the kids, movie nights with friends, or even a simple snack to take to work. It provides easy clean-up and best of all you won't have to worry about the harmful chemicals brought on by microwave popcorn... Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 
1/4 cup popping corn 
1 brown paper lunch bag 
small piece of tape


Directions: 

Open the brown paper sack, fill with popping corn and fold the edge over on the bag then tape it shut. 

Microwave for 1:30 - 3 minutes, depending on microwave and how long it takes to pop most of it. Remove from microwave when popping slow's down to 1- second intervals. Remove from microwave, peel off the tape, open the bag and enjoy! 

Best served with your favorite topping, a nice cold beverage, and a great movie!