Smile & Say Cheesecake

A dishy recipe to Pin Up on your fridge — perfect for Summer, the No-Bake Cheesecake

Cheesecake — which Webster defines as "photography displaying especially female comeliness and shapeliness" — is said to have gotten its name when, in September 1915, a newspaper photographer, George Miller, noticed a visiting Russian diva, Elvira Amazar, just as she was debarking her ship in New York. Miller asked the opera singer to hike up her skirt a little for the sake of the picture. 

Later, the photographer's editor, something of a gourmet, is supposed to have exclaimed, "Why, this is better than cheesecake!"--Kevin Freeman [MutoWorld.com June 2004]

Prep Time: 30 Min | Ready In: 2 Hrs 30 Min

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

• 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
• 1 (12.5 ounce) can cherry pie filling (or other filling of your choice)

Directions

1. Mix together graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated and crumbly. 
2. Press into a pie plate, going up the sides as much as possible.
3. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. 
4. Whisk whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth. 
5. Pour cream cheese into prepared crust. 
6. Smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. 
7. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top, and refrigerate until serving.

Cheesecake had always existed in the realm of pin-up, but it wasn't until the 1940s and 50s that it really took off. Cheesecake is a style of pin-up characterized by playful expressions, story line themes, and over the top poses; in short, "hamming it up". Cheesecake images were used throughout WWII: painted on the noses of airplanes, decorating both magazine pages and GIs' lockers, not to mention advertising for countless companies." [DallasPinup.com]

Nutritional Information
Servings: 12 | Amount Per Serving Calories: 296 | Total Fat: 18.5g | Cholesterol: 48mg
source: AllRecipes.com

Monkeying Around with everyone's favorite food

Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread

Everyone loves pizza; this is not news.  But this recipe is a new way to serve it -- monkey bread style, meaning in pull-apart fashion.  It makes for a playful snack at your next holiday get-together; and also is a nice departure from the turkey, ham and fixin's flavors.  So what are you waiting for, grab a piece and dunk!

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 lbs pizza dough (I used 2 balls of Trader Joe's fresh dough)
• 6 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes (about 48 pieces)
• pepperoni (about 48 slices)
• 2-3 cups marinara sauce for serving

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat garlic and butter over medium heat until garlic begins to brown. Remove from heat and allow to sit. Brush the inside of a bundt pan with the garlic butter.
2. Pull off large marble-sized balls of dough and flatten. Place a slice of pepperoni and a piece of cheese on each, folding the dough around the cheese and pepperoni and pinching well to seal.
3. Brush the pizza ball with the garlic butter and place in the prepared bundt pan. Continue until all dough has been used.
4. Cover and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400F and bake for 35 minutes, until top is browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto a platter and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

from Confections of a Foodie Bride

Kahlua & Chocolate Pecan Pie.... oh my!

(from http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pies/chocolate-pecan-pie-with-kahlua/)


Ingredients

• Pastry for Single-Crust Pie (see below)
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup light-color corn syrup
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup coffee liqueur
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• Coffee Whipped Cream (optional)
• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate pieces, melted
• Pecan halves, toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare Pastry for Single-Crust Pie. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edge into a 12-inch circle. Wrap pastry circle around rolling pin; transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry. Sprinkle with the 3/4 cup chocolate pieces.
2. For filling: In a medium bowl, combine eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, coffee liqueur, flour, and vanilla. Stir in the 1 cup chopped pecans. Slowly pour filling over chocolate pieces in crust, spreading evenly.
3. Cover edge of pie with foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake about 10 minutes more or until edge is puffed and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill within 2 hours.
4. If desired, prepare Coffee Whipped Cream before serving. Garnish pie with the melted chocolate and the pecan halves. Spoon the whipped cream on top of each serving (if using). Makes 8 servings.
5. Pastry for Single-Crust Pie: In a medium bowl, stir together 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of flour mixture; toss gently with a fork. Push to side of bowl. Repeat with additional cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time (4 to 5 tablespoons total), until all is moistened. Shape into a ball.
6. Coffee Whipped Cream: In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup whipping cream and 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.

Creme Brulee that's not a Crime

by Anajak (http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1255845)

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 3 T castor sugar
• 1 t vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180C or 350F.
• Lightly beat the egg in a bowl. 
• Add and combine milk, sugar and vanilla 
• Place 2 ramekins or small cups into a medium sized casserole dish 
• Pour the mixture evenly into the two small dishes and then carefully pour an inch of hot water into the casserole dish
• BE CAREFUL not to splash any water into the ramekins or cups
• Bake for 35 mins or until a knife comes out clean...
• YUM and not too bad for a decadent dessert 

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 2
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 148.6
• Total Fat: 4.6 g
• Cholesterol: 103.3 mg
• Sodium: 77.9 mg
• Total Carbs: 18.8 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.0 g
• Protein: 6.8 g