New York Cheesecake

Ingredients:
For the crust:
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus 1 additional tbsp., melted for greasing the pan
4 oz (approx. 8 whole) graham crackers, broken into rough pieces and processed into fine, even crumbs  Its a good idea to weigh them on a kitchen scale if you have one.
1 Tbsp sugar

For the cheesecake:
2 1/2 lb (5 8oz pkgs) cream cheese, cut into 1 inch chunks, at room temperature
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg yolks plus 6 large eggs, at room temperature

Directions:
to make the crust, adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 325 F.  Brush the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan with 1/2 tbsp. of the melted butter.  In a medium bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, 5 tbsp. melted butter, and sugar.  Toss with a fork until the crumbs are evenly moistened.  Transfer the crumbs to the springform pan and use the bottom of a ramekin to firmly press the crumbs evenly into the pan bottom.  Bake until fragrant and beginning to brown around the edges, about 13 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack while preparing the filling.

Increase the oven temperature to 500F.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese at medium-low speed to break up and soften it slightly, about 1 minute.  Scrape the beater and the bottom and sides of the bowl well with a rubber spatula ; add the salt and about half of the sugar and beat at medium-low speed until combined, about 1 minute.  Scrape the bowl; beat in the remaining sugar until combined, about 1 minute.  Scrape the bowl; add the sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla.  Beat at low speed until combined, about 1 minute.  scrape the bowl; add the egg yolks and beat at medium-low speed until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute.  Scrape the bowl; add the remaining eggs 2 at a time, beating until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute, scraping the bowl between additions. 

Brush the sides of the springform pan with the remainng 1/2 tbsp. melted butter.  Set the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills in case the pan leaks.  Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake 10 minutes; without opening the oven door, reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees and continue to bake until the cheesecake reads to about 150 degrees on an instant read thermometer inserted in the center, about 1 1/2 hrs.  Transfer the cake to a wire rack and cool until barely warm, 2 1/2-3 hrs.  Run a aring knife between the cake and the springform pan sides.  Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours. 

To unmold the cheesecake, remove the sides of the pan.  Slide a thin metal spatula between the crust and the bottom of the pan to loosen then slide the cake onto a serving plate.  Let the cheesecake stand at room temperature about 30 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve. 

Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle

Ingredients:
10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 pints strawberries, sliced
2 pints blueberries
for cream filling:
6 Tb fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups cold water (I used milk)
1 pkg sugar free white chocolate pudding mix
12 oz fat-free frozen whipped topping

Directions:
Whisk the condensed milk and water in a bowl. Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; fold in the whipped topping.
Arrange half of the cake in the bottom of a 14 cup trifle dish. Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Spread half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread. Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then add more blueberries and top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a pretty pattern. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Strawberry-Lime Cupcakes

My niece suggested we try this recipe. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to try it out and I am so glad I did. These were soo delicious. The lime cupcake was good by itself but when the strawberry was added, oh my--I was in heaven. I adapted the recipe a little bit because I didn't like some of the reviews for the original recipe so this is a combination of the food network recipe with a recipe off of Allrecipes. Also feel free to make lemon cupcakes by replacing all things lime with all things lemon.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp lime zest
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sour cream
Strawberries

Frosting:
3 Tbsp butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp lime zest
1 Tbsp milk

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lime peel and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream (batter will be thick). Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups with 1/4 of batter. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. For frosting, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add lime juice, vanilla, lime peel and milk; beat until smooth.

To assemble: Cut and remove a strawberry (coned) shape portion of cupcake from the top of each cupcake, leaving abotu 1/2 to 1 inch of cake in the bottom. Stuff each cake with a strawberry and cover with a little piece of cake. Frost.

Strawberries n Cream mini muffins

I saw this recipe in People magazine and immediately wanted to try them. They were in an article that went along with Will and Kate's Royal wedding and included English recipes. So when my niece and I decided to have a Royal wedding viewing party this is what I wanted to contribute. They were very good. I don't know if it's an issue with all mini muffins or this recipe but half the muffin stuck to the muffin cup. I'd like to try these as full size in the future.

Ingredients:1 cup strawberries diced into quarter-inch pieces
1 squeeze of lemon juice
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 tsp. powdered sugar

Directions:Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 24 cup mini muffin tin with paper baking cups.
Put diced strawberries into a bowl, spritz lemon juice on them and stir gently to combine.
In a medium-size bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder.
In a small bowl, beat together oil, sour cream, vanilla and egg. Pour mixture over dry ingredients, stirring to combine with a wooden spoon. Fold in strawberries.
Divide batter evenly among the paper cups in the mini-muffin tin. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Place tin on a wire rack and leave for 5 minutes. Take out the muffins and continue cooling them in the paper cups on the wire rack. When muffins are completely cool, place the powdered sugar in a small sieve. Shake sieve lightly to dust the muffins with sugar. Serve.

Note: If making regular sized muffins it makes 12 and will have to bake for about 17 minutes

Strawberry Cake

I've been wanting to find a good strawberry cake recipe. This was the top rated recipe on allrecipes. It was very good but like many of the reviews said, it was a little dense. The denseness didn't bother me but it did bother my kids. The cool whip frosting was very good.

Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
1 (3oz) pkg strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs (room temp) separated
2 3/4 sifted cake flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup whole milk, room temp
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries
1 cup strawberry puree to put between layers of cake

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each. Take the egg whites and whip them unitl soft peaks form. Fold them in the batter at the end. Conbine the flour and baking powder, stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Fold in the egg whites. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Alow cakes to cool in their pans for at least 10 minutes before tapping out to cool completely.

Cool Whip Frosting
Ingredients:
8 oz cool whip, thawed
1 3.5 oz vanilla pudding mix
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

In medium bowl combine pudding mix with milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth, gently fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over cake.

Strawberry Jello Cake

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix (yellow works too)
1 container Cool Whip
1 large package strawberry jello
1 box frozen sweetened strawberries, thawed and drained
sliced fresh strawberries

Directions:
Prepare cake mix as directed. Bake in 9x13 cake pan as directed. Remove from oven and poke holes in the cake with fork. Every two to three times you poke the cake; turn the fork so as to make bigger holes (If the holes are not big enough, the Jello will not seep down into the cake.) Make sure you poke all the way to the bottom if possible. Prepare jello using one-half the amount of water. Pour jello over the top of the cake covering it completely. Place in refrigerator to cool. Add thawed sweetened, drained strawberries to the cool whip. Place in refrigerator. Once the cake has completely cooled frost with the cool whip mixture and top with fresh sliced strawberries.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

This is such an easy thing to make and so so good. My 10 year old made these by herself. When I'm trying to lose a few pounds this is the one treat I allow myself to have--I figure it's relatively healthy since dark chocolate is good for you now and strawberries always have been. If you want to make them look fancy, just melt some white chocolate and put it in a Ziploc bag with a tiny part of one of the corners cut out and drizzle it on top of the chocolate.

Ingredients:
Strawberries, washed and dried
4 oz ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate chips
1 Tbsp canola oil

Directions:
Spread strawberries on a working surface with wax paper covered tray nearby. Place chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on high in microwave for 30 seconds. Take it out and stir. Put it back in for another 30 seconds. Take it out and stir. That should have melted all of the chunks out of the chocolate but if not you can repeat again. One at a time take a strawberry by the stem and dip into the chocolate. Place the strawberry onto the wax paper and continue with the remaining berries. When done place in refrigerator until chocolate has set and serve. They can be refrigerated for up to 24 hrs.

Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert

I got this recipe from my sister, Kathy a long time ago. This is a super easy dessert that tastes really good. I particularly love the salty sweetness of the crust.

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/4 cup crushed pretzels
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted margarine or butter

Mix together pretzels, sugar and melted butter and press into bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 10 min. cool.

Center:
8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
8 oz cool whip

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and cool whip until creamy. Spread over cooled pretzels.

Top:
16 oz frozen, sweetened sliced strawberries
6 oz strawberry gelatin mix
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups hot water

Dissolve gelatin in the hot water. Add fruit and chill. When soft set pour over cheese mixture. Chill until firm (3-4 hours)