Turtle Cheesecake

I have to admit, it took about 3 times to get this right. And I hope I can remember how to do it right next time! The original recipe is below.

But, I found that the chocolate layer dries it out way too much, so I left it all plain cheesecake last time.

I also lowered the baking time to about 65 minutes, even though I wasn't sure if it was cooked. It still sets during cooling. A bit like brownies do.

Lastly, cool it slowly so the center doesn't fall. I drape a clean dish towel over mine, and set it on the stove burner with the exhaust so it stays a bit warm.

Ok - REALLY lastly...make this for a party, because you don't want it sitting around your own house. You have been warned.

Ingredients

CRUST

1 3/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted                               

FILLING

3 pkgs. (8 oz. each)cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 oz.)NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 largeeggs

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (9 oz.)NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

2 tablespoons NESTLÉ NESQUIK Chocolate Flavor Syrup

2 tablespoons caramel syrup or ice cream topping

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 300° F. Grease 9-inch springform pan.

FOR CRUST:
COMBINE crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of prepared pan.

FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in large mixer bowl until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, lime juice and vanilla extract; beat until combined.

MICROWAVE 1 1/2 cups morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Stir 2 cups of cheesecake batter into melted morsels; mix well. Alternately spoon batters into crust, beginning and ending with yellow batter.

BAKE for 70 to 75 minutes or until edge is set and center moves slightly. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; run knife around edge of cheesecake. Cool completely. Drizzle Nesquik and caramel syrup over cheesecake. Sprinkle with nuts and mini morsels. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of pan.

Classic Tiramisu

Being highly uncultered, I had never tried Tiramisu. So for a recent girls day at the pool, I wanted to give it a try. Sorry - I have no pictures, but trust me, it's worth making.

Original Recipe can be found here: All Recipes

Mine? Below

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups mascarpone cheese substitute (8 oz cream cheese 2 tsp of sour cream and 2 tsp of heavy cream combined)                                                       
• 1 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 (12 ounce) packages ladyfingers split in half
• 1/3 cup coffee
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting

Directions

1. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the top of a double boiler (I used a saucepan), over boiling water. Reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and whip yolks until thick and lemon colored.
2. Add mascarpone to whipped yolks. Beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold into yolk mixture and set aside.
3. Split the lady fingers in half, and line the bottom and sides of a large glass bowl. Brush with coffee. Spoon half of the cream filling over the lady fingers. Repeat ladyfingers, coffee and filling layers. Garnish with cocoa. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.               

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have a few recipes to share - this one I just discovered & tried today. I have wanted to share some in the past, but have just been to lazy unmotivated busy to do so :)

These came out delicious if I must say so myself. And I will. They are delicious.

This is the original recipe from Gold Medal Whole Wheat Recipes

But what is a recipe without a little tweaking? My version is below.

Muffin Ingredients

1 2/3	cups Gold Medal® whole wheat flour
2/3	cup sugar
1	teaspoon baking powder
1/2	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4	teaspoon salt
1	cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)
3	eggs
1/4	cup canola oil
1/4	cup fat-free (skim) milk
1	teaspoon vanilla
2/3	cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Topping

1/4 cup	sugar
1/2	teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 =  Heat oven to 375°F. Spray bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or line with paper baking liners

 2 = In large bowl, mix flour, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and salt.

3 = In medium bowl, beat bananas, egg whites, oil, milk and vanilla with fork until smooth. Stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

4 =  In small bowl, mix topping ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over batter in cups

5 = Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove muffins from pan to cooling rack

Oh, To Be Truly Beautiful

1 Peter 3:3-4

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

~Story Time~

Briiiiing Briiiiing

I couldn't help but think of my dearie Trisha when I read this article....

You should read it to :)

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank

What Do You Think Of Me?

What do you think of me?

From baby steps and finger paints
and learning how to read,
I proudly asked the world’s advice,
“What do you think of me?”

With trophies, grades and honors
I quickly began to see
the world applauds success and fame-
“What do you think of me?”

“You look great,” “I love your smile,”
“You’ve lost some weight, I see.”
With high school comes the dating game-
“What do you think of me?”

For boyfriends and promised love,
I traded my purity,
and choked back tears and silently asked,
“What do you think of me?”

The world’s applause was my reward
when I sought to please,
but the clapping stopped when I missed the mark-
“What do you think of me?”

And now I stand before his throne
burdened by sin and shame.
Beaten and battered by the world,
I call upon his name.

I hold back tears and try to speak,
but utter a silent plea.
With downcast eyes, I finally ask,
“What do you think of me?”

I catch my breath as he draws close
In fear, my knees grow weak.
My heart grows faint as I wait on him
And then I hear him speak:

“My child,” he said, the time has come
when you ask the same of me.

For so long you’ve sought the world’s advice—
What do you think of me?

Now, here we are, my turn has come,
the chance to finally say
exactly what I think of you,
so allow me, if I may.”

Gently, he takes my chin
and raises my face to see.
“My child,” he said, “You’re beautiful-
for you’re made in the image of me!

The world was quick to judge your deeds,
but failed to tell the rest-
there was nothing you could do
to make me love you less.

Before you ever drew a breath,
My name was on your heart,
the author of your hidden frame
before your life did start.

You entered this life with pomp and fare
And I held my breath to see,
if those I allowed to care for you
would teach you all about me.

An innocent child, your journey began
in this life to find your place.
The world was quick to take your hand
and thus began the race.

In quiet moments throughout your life
I whispered in your ear,
tender pledges of my love-
I prayed someday you’d hear.

But the world could offer nothing
to fill your inmost need,
and release you from the bondage of sin
and love you eternally.

My Son was sent to tell the world
of my unfailing love -
A covenant pledged to all mankind
and written in the heavens above.

My boy was nailed to a rugged cross,
For you, he agreed to die.
As a sacrifice for your sin and shame,
“It is finished,” he finally cried.

The world could never match my love,
the price was far too high-
for if you were the only one,
My Son would choose to die.

I’ve gone to desperate lengths, my child,
to prove my love to you.
I loved you then, I love you now-
Will you love me too?”

“My child,” he said, “The choice is yours.
What will your answer be?
It’s your turn now — the question is,
What do you think of me?”

(c) Vicki Courtney, 1999

Your Girl addresses the negative influences facing young women in today’s culture and what mothers can do to counteract the cultural influences and raise Godly daughters. Vicki Courtney addresses the times our daughters live in, the high calling of motherhood, and the necessity to enter the battle to counteract the influences

What's On Your Mind?

Be blessed with supernatural strength to turn your eyes from ,worthless, and evil things, and to shout out the demeaning and the negative. Instead, may you behold the beauty of things that God has planned for you as you obey His Word. May God bless your ears to hear the lovely, the uplifting, and the encouraging. May your mind be strong, disciplined, balanced, and faith filled.

Micheal W. Smith ~ A Simple Blessing: The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Prayer

Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

~ Proverbs 17:24

What you fill your mind with is a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magnificent truths of God, and they will create in you a noble character that brings glory to God.

~Henry Blackaby