I'm not the only writer in our group that doesn't cook. It's not that I can't cook or won't cook, but I really don't like to cook - not on a regular basis anyway. I used to of course, when I first got married. And my poor husband suffered through my learning years. My mom didn't bake (unless she stirred a box cake together). She used mostly canned vegetables. I didn't even know you could buy fresh spinach until I was around twenty-five. A lady in line at the grocery store behind me saw me set a couple of cans of spinach on the conveyor. Her wide-eyed comment was "oh, I didn't know you could get spinach in a can!" Oh, really? Hadn't she seen Popeye cartoons?
Eventually, I became a pretty darned good cook and knew the value of fresh over canned foods. And I still occasionally cook when the spirit hits me. I just don't enjoy cooking on a daily basis. Luckily I have a husband and daughter-in-law that love to cook. We moved to a small family farm at the beginning of this year and share our rambling farmhouse with my son and his wife. Yea - two cooks in the house leaves me hands free!
Coming up with a recipe is not easy. I like to ad lib when I do cook. My pot roast usually gets good reviews so here it is. Simple stuff - that's how I like to eat and cook.
Note: The amount you use of the ingredients is dependent upon how many people you want to feed. And I prefer organic. I also prefer a cut of beef that has a touch of fat on it. I'm not a big chuck fan, but this sort of recipe lends itself to the cheapest of cuts so you can keep your cost down. You might want to skim off the fat if you choose too fatty a cut.
One Pot Roast of any size and any cut
Carrots (cut in chunks)
Potatoes (I prefer golden or red) cut in large chunks
Fresh Green Beans (each end snipped off)
One Onion (sliced up)
A clove or two of fresh Garlic (minced or smashed up)
Pepper
Italian Blend of herbs (sage, oregano, basil)
Salt (if you HAVE to! I never use salt but I bet you will)
Put several tbs. of flour on a plate. Add pepper and herbs and mix with a fork. Dredge the meat in the flour. Really gob it on because this will help the juices from cooking get a little thick. Yum. Kind of like gravy.
Poor enough cooking oil in the pan to cover the bottom. Heat and then brown the meat on all side.
Once browned, remove the meat and set aside. Dip at least one side of the potatoes in the flour mixture and brown them. (This is my secret trick and it really makes the whole pot of veggies that much better)
Once all the potatoes are browned, add the remaining vegetables and the roast and enough water to almost cover.
Bring to a boil, cover and lower the heat so it just sort of bubbles. You can leave it on top of the stove or put it in the oven (still covered) at 350 degrees.
The hard part is telling you how long to cook it. The meat should be falling apart and the veggies soft to a fork. I would guess 4-6 hours but you'll have to be the judge for the amount you've cooked. Hint: check your liquids now and then. If you cook a long time, you might need to add a little water.
Brenda
brenda@brendawhiteside.com
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Say It Isn’t So By Margo Hoornstra
Happy day after Thanksgiving Everyone. For those of you who are now 'turkeyed out'. Here's a totally different meat dish to try. Anyone who knows me is well aware I don’t like to cook. In fact, based on many past culinary efforts of mine, my family prefers when I don’t even try. Which is fine with me. I’m a firm believer in the credo; Why make something from scratch when you can buy it already prepared and delicious.
However, to fulfill the recipe requirement of this particular post, here’s one compliments of my late grandmother.
Easy Pot Roast
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However, to fulfill the recipe requirement of this particular post, here’s one compliments of my late grandmother.
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can water
Mix together in a bowl. Pour over roast. Cover and bake at 300 degrees for three hours. This is a great one to simmer all day in the crock pot too.
(Mashed potatoes would be good with this since it makes lots of gravy. You could make them from real potatoes, but I’d go for instant.)
In the excerpt that follows this blurb from my Class of ’85 novel, To Be, Or Not, Barry Carlson is trying to convince Amanda Marsh to accompany him to his sister’s for dinner. As it turns out, she’s making pot roast.
Back Cover Blurb of To Be, Or Not
Barry Carlson had it all, a successful career in professional baseball and the adoration of any woman he wanted. Except one. Forced to retire in his prime, Barry returns to his hometown of Summerville, New York to coach the Minor League Hornets.
Twenty years ago, Barry broke through Amanda Marsh’s trust issues. He melted her ice, won her love, then walked away without a backward glance to survey the wreckage. Now Amanda is the head of public relations for the Hornets and happily single—until Barry slides back into her life.
Still reluctant to trust, Amanda gives Barry another chance. But the announcement of their twenty-fifth high school reunion leads to an asinine bet between Barry and his old buddies, and threatens to ruin their newfound relationship. As scandals of the past and present converge, can Barry and Amanda get beyond their differences to find their second chance at love?
In this excerpt, Barry is still trying to get Amanda to take him seriously.
Sunlight glinted off her long, dark hair like strings of sapphires. Then the wind fluttered a few strands over her face and Barry had to shove both hands in his pockets. It was that or raise one hand to brush the hair away for her. And probably end up kissing her until they were both forced to come up for air.
“So, you doing anything tonight?” he asked. “Going anywhere for dinner?”
“Just home to warm up some cold pizza.” She drew her lower lip between her teeth as her full attention went to digging for her keys. “Or maybe just eat it cold.”
“You’re giving me a complex here.” He produced his most charming smile which was wasted when she didn’t bother to look up at him.
“How so?”
He ticked off the times he’d asked her out and she’d refused. “I’m surprised you haven’t used the excuse you need to wash your hair.” Ducking his head, he tried to study her face. If she felt any remorse at all turning him down so many times, he wanted to see her expression reflect it. Chin directed downward, she took great pains to avoid his scrutiny.
When she glanced up at last, he caught her faint smile. “That’s tomorrow night. You should have asked me last night. Tonight, I have to brush the dog.”
“I didn’t think you had a dog.”
The keys retrieved, she reached for the door handle of her car. “My neighbors do.”
He put his palm flat against the top of the panel. “I asked you to share a beer at Doogan’s with me last night.”
“The team’s in training. You’re not supposed to drink.”
At her next attempt to open the door, his hand slid down to cover hers. “The no booze mandate doesn’t apply to me any more. I’m a coach now.” He closed his fingers over hers. “I’ve changed from when I was a player.”
She lifted a skeptical gaze to him. “Interesting turn of phrase, Barry.” Before he could ask what she meant, she said, “I went to lunch with you last week.”
He shook his head. “Pizza and pop in the upstairs conference room with the admin staff and coaches doesn’t count.”
“We were together,” she teased, and he cherished her weak smile. She was less uptight than the night he drove her home from Doogan’s; he’d consider that a victory.
“With Donaldson and Trudy between us,” he reminded her.
“Together is together,” she insisted while the hesitancy in her voice suggested she’d temporarily run out of arguments.
He pressed his advantage before she could regroup. “As it turns out, today, you’re in luck.”
“Trudy enjoys your company,” she said before he had a chance to tell her what she was in luck for.
“And I like her too,” he agreed, then lowered his voice. “But, I like you more.” When she didn’t offer an immediate response, as in invent another reason to turn him down, he stayed on message. “I get the feeling your recent avoidance of me has to do with not wanting us to be alone.” Though his gut tightened as he verbalized what he hated to admit to, he made himself smile. “Marcy invited me to dinner tonight,” he said and dropped his hand from hers. “Why don’t you come along?”
With the car door now open, she paused before climbing inside. “Thanks, but I don’t want to drop in on her unannounced.”
He had his cell out before she’d finished yet another refusal. “So, I’ll call and announce you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Too late. I already hit speed dial.”
When his sister’s voice mail picked up, he acted as if he actually had her on the line. Desperate times required desperate measures.
“Yeah, Marcy. Hi. It’s me.” He glanced up at Amanda and smiled. “Amanda’s with me. Yeah. We’re just leaving work. I invited her over for dinner like you wanted me to.”
Amanda reached out with one hand. “Let me talk to her.”
Stepping back, he lifted the phone away. “What’s that? Your potatoes are boiling? By all means take care of them first. We’ll be there soon. Bye.” He put the cell in his pocket.
“Are you sure about this?” Though a frown marred her mouth, there was no mistaking the slightest acceptance in her eyes.
To Be, Or Not my final book for the Class of ’85 series, is available at:
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can water
Mix together in a bowl. Pour over roast. Cover and bake at 300 degrees for three hours. This is a great one to simmer all day in the crock pot too.
(Mashed potatoes would be good with this since it makes lots of gravy. You could make them from real potatoes, but I’d go for instant.)
In the excerpt that follows this blurb from my Class of ’85 novel, To Be, Or Not, Barry Carlson is trying to convince Amanda Marsh to accompany him to his sister’s for dinner. As it turns out, she’s making pot roast.
Back Cover Blurb of To Be, Or Not
Barry Carlson had it all, a successful career in professional baseball and the adoration of any woman he wanted. Except one. Forced to retire in his prime, Barry returns to his hometown of Summerville, New York to coach the Minor League Hornets.
Twenty years ago, Barry broke through Amanda Marsh’s trust issues. He melted her ice, won her love, then walked away without a backward glance to survey the wreckage. Now Amanda is the head of public relations for the Hornets and happily single—until Barry slides back into her life.
Still reluctant to trust, Amanda gives Barry another chance. But the announcement of their twenty-fifth high school reunion leads to an asinine bet between Barry and his old buddies, and threatens to ruin their newfound relationship. As scandals of the past and present converge, can Barry and Amanda get beyond their differences to find their second chance at love?
In this excerpt, Barry is still trying to get Amanda to take him seriously.
Sunlight glinted off her long, dark hair like strings of sapphires. Then the wind fluttered a few strands over her face and Barry had to shove both hands in his pockets. It was that or raise one hand to brush the hair away for her. And probably end up kissing her until they were both forced to come up for air.
“So, you doing anything tonight?” he asked. “Going anywhere for dinner?”
“Just home to warm up some cold pizza.” She drew her lower lip between her teeth as her full attention went to digging for her keys. “Or maybe just eat it cold.”
“You’re giving me a complex here.” He produced his most charming smile which was wasted when she didn’t bother to look up at him.
“How so?”
He ticked off the times he’d asked her out and she’d refused. “I’m surprised you haven’t used the excuse you need to wash your hair.” Ducking his head, he tried to study her face. If she felt any remorse at all turning him down so many times, he wanted to see her expression reflect it. Chin directed downward, she took great pains to avoid his scrutiny.
When she glanced up at last, he caught her faint smile. “That’s tomorrow night. You should have asked me last night. Tonight, I have to brush the dog.”
“I didn’t think you had a dog.”
The keys retrieved, she reached for the door handle of her car. “My neighbors do.”
He put his palm flat against the top of the panel. “I asked you to share a beer at Doogan’s with me last night.”
“The team’s in training. You’re not supposed to drink.”
At her next attempt to open the door, his hand slid down to cover hers. “The no booze mandate doesn’t apply to me any more. I’m a coach now.” He closed his fingers over hers. “I’ve changed from when I was a player.”
She lifted a skeptical gaze to him. “Interesting turn of phrase, Barry.” Before he could ask what she meant, she said, “I went to lunch with you last week.”
He shook his head. “Pizza and pop in the upstairs conference room with the admin staff and coaches doesn’t count.”
“We were together,” she teased, and he cherished her weak smile. She was less uptight than the night he drove her home from Doogan’s; he’d consider that a victory.
“With Donaldson and Trudy between us,” he reminded her.
“Together is together,” she insisted while the hesitancy in her voice suggested she’d temporarily run out of arguments.
He pressed his advantage before she could regroup. “As it turns out, today, you’re in luck.”
“Trudy enjoys your company,” she said before he had a chance to tell her what she was in luck for.
“And I like her too,” he agreed, then lowered his voice. “But, I like you more.” When she didn’t offer an immediate response, as in invent another reason to turn him down, he stayed on message. “I get the feeling your recent avoidance of me has to do with not wanting us to be alone.” Though his gut tightened as he verbalized what he hated to admit to, he made himself smile. “Marcy invited me to dinner tonight,” he said and dropped his hand from hers. “Why don’t you come along?”
With the car door now open, she paused before climbing inside. “Thanks, but I don’t want to drop in on her unannounced.”
He had his cell out before she’d finished yet another refusal. “So, I’ll call and announce you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Too late. I already hit speed dial.”
When his sister’s voice mail picked up, he acted as if he actually had her on the line. Desperate times required desperate measures.
“Yeah, Marcy. Hi. It’s me.” He glanced up at Amanda and smiled. “Amanda’s with me. Yeah. We’re just leaving work. I invited her over for dinner like you wanted me to.”
Amanda reached out with one hand. “Let me talk to her.”
Stepping back, he lifted the phone away. “What’s that? Your potatoes are boiling? By all means take care of them first. We’ll be there soon. Bye.” He put the cell in his pocket.
“Are you sure about this?” Though a frown marred her mouth, there was no mistaking the slightest acceptance in her eyes.
To Be, Or Not my final book for the Class of ’85 series, is available at:
For more stories, some to download for free, please visit my blog or website.
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Try something new by Barbara Edwards
 |
| Squash Soup |
Everyone knows the traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu. I’ve
been fighting with my husband to try something new every year for a decade. He’s
very much a stick –in-the-mud.
When my daughter-in-law suggested squash soup, he gagged.
After a lot of bribery, he agreed to try it if I made a
small batch.
Last week I made the following recipe and he LOVED it.
So this is being added to the holiday menu this year.
SQUASH SOUP
Can be made the day before. Like many soups it does taste
better the next day.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 onion, diced
4 cups cubed butternut squash, fresh or frozen
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon fresh minced Ginger
½ cup honey
½ cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Method:
Heat oil in a large soup pot. Add carrot, celery and onion. Cook
until vegetables have begun to soften and onion turns translucent, 3 to 4
minutes.
Peel and cube squash.
Stir in squash, thyme, chicken broth, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until squash is
fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
You can use an immersion blender to purée soup. Or alternatively,
like I did, let the soup cool slightly and carefully purée in batches in a
traditional blender. Add heavy cream and
bring to simmer.
Serve.
 |
| Squash Soup |
The next day I added some left-over sweet potatoes and it was
great.
Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks for all the gifts given to you this year.
I thank God for my husband's survival of his heart attack and continuing recovery and my health and all my family's well-being.
Visit my website, http://www.barbaraedwards.net
for free reads, excerpts from my books and buy links.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Leftover Cranberries?
 |
| Laura Breck |
When hubby saw this recipe in an old family cookbook, he knew we'd have to try it. We made it last night in a clear jar, and it's going to sit on the sideboard all Thanksgiving day as a guaranteed conversation starter.
Cranberry Cordial
Ingredients:
2 packages (12 oz each) cranberries, chopped4 cups sugar
3 cups vodka
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in 2-quart jar or crock. Cover tightly and let stand at room temperature 2 weeks, stirring mixture or inverting jar every day.Strain, pour cordial into bottles and seal. Serve well chilled or over craced ice.
Makes 5 cups cordial.
Cookbook says: After straining cordial, cranberries can be used with water to make an ice ring for a holiday punch.
~ ~ ~ ~
Wow, it's been a long time since I made an ice ring!
I'll let you know in a couple weeks if the cordial turns out.
Do you have a favorite cocktail or beverage recipe that you make during the holidays?
Have a great Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it), and a very lovely week!
Laura
~Smart Women ~Sexy Men ~Seductive Romance
Laura Breck
Dancing in a Hurricane is available in digital and paperback at Amazon and in paperback at Createspace.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Don't Forget the Cranberry Sauce! by Jannine Gallant
Cranberry Sauce
12 oz. bag of cranberries, washed
1 1/2 cups peeled, chopped apple
1 Tbsp. orange zest
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup apple cider
Bring all ingredients to a boil and simmer 30 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and mash. Cool and chill until serving.
Visit me at my Website, or find my books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Recipe for Creating a Fantasy World
I've enjoyed reading all the blogs this month about food. I'm envious really. I love to eat...cooking not so much. Don't worry. I called my sister. She gave me a great recipe for an appetizer—wonderful for the holiday season.
What I can do is create a fantasy world. My creative juices flowed with this series. Now this is something I enjoy. I love writing, but when you write a fantasy, rules that you follow writing other genres are thrown out the window. This world is yours.
Whispers of a Legend saga is an epic fantasy series filled with romance, action, adventure, magic, scary monsters, flying heroes, and a strong female protagonist. Creating a fantasy world comes from an over active imagination flamed by my youth and reading too many fairy tales. My grandmother had a subscription to Reader Digest book club. Does anyone remember book clubs? Do they even still exist? But Grandmother had these condensed fairy tales. They weren't Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, although there was one story with Snow White. It wasn't Disney's Snow White. It was the Grimm Brother's tale of Snow White and Rose Red. I spent a great deal of time with my Grandmother growing up and slept overnights with her. I went to bed reading these stories.
Whispers of a Legend detours a tad from the damsel in distress scenario. I've just released the next installment in the saga, Time of the Nuxvenom. In most of my other series, the books could stand alone. I'll be honest. You can't do that with Whispers. You need to start at the beginning...but the first book is free.
SHADOWS OF THE PAST, THE PATH NOW TURNED, VISION OF DESTINY
Kela Calledwdele was born with a destiny, a Euchoun with only one purpose in life...to protect. Torn between two worlds, Kela soon discovers she is the hope of both. Now she must find the courage to face the destiny fate has dictated to her. Half Witheleghean and half, Sordarin, she knows well her parents gave the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance to live. Yet, in so doing, they have left Kela unprepared to face the dangers that await her. Her instincts are to protect and in this she does, but in so doing it leads her into a world where she knows not whom to trust. In time her power matures and grows stronger when she bonds with a Sordarin warrior, Cono. She learns well why she holds the power. An evil as no other before, Asmeodai, has emerged but all is not what it seems as a dark cloak encompasses her family. Betrayal, distrust, treachery leaves Kela alone. She is torn by her desire for Cono and the purpose, the path, she has been given to follow. And when another emerges within her world, one who seemly wants only to help her along her path, she is pulled further away from her Sordarin.
Part One- Shadows of the Past- FREE!
Part Two- The Path Now Turned. Having proven her ability during the Payelaga Desert battle, Kela believes herself ready to follow her destiny beside her warrior. Fate has another path for Kela. When she discovers all she has long believed is not as it seems, the betrayal leaves Kela torn by her desire for Cono and the path she has been given to follow.
Part Three- Vision of Destiny. Trained for only one purpose, to protect the innocent from an evil that threatens to destroy her world, Kela has never questioned her destiny. The enemy has never been in doubt and her path laid clear before her. Now all is blurred. Left with only one choice, she escapes from Yucca in search of the one known as Seilda the Tvopac, the Guardian of the Past…but Kela learns quickly the Past holds its own dangers.
I won't be back until January. Enjoy the Roses stories coming up for December! Have a happy and safe holiday season. See you in January! Keep reading!
What I can do is create a fantasy world. My creative juices flowed with this series. Now this is something I enjoy. I love writing, but when you write a fantasy, rules that you follow writing other genres are thrown out the window. This world is yours.
Whispers of a Legend saga is an epic fantasy series filled with romance, action, adventure, magic, scary monsters, flying heroes, and a strong female protagonist. Creating a fantasy world comes from an over active imagination flamed by my youth and reading too many fairy tales. My grandmother had a subscription to Reader Digest book club. Does anyone remember book clubs? Do they even still exist? But Grandmother had these condensed fairy tales. They weren't Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, although there was one story with Snow White. It wasn't Disney's Snow White. It was the Grimm Brother's tale of Snow White and Rose Red. I spent a great deal of time with my Grandmother growing up and slept overnights with her. I went to bed reading these stories.
_(72dpi_900x600).jpg) |
| AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE |
Whispers of a Legend saga began with
SHADOWS OF THE PAST, THE PATH NOW TURNED, VISION OF DESTINY
Kela Calledwdele was born with a destiny, a Euchoun with only one purpose in life...to protect. Torn between two worlds, Kela soon discovers she is the hope of both. Now she must find the courage to face the destiny fate has dictated to her. Half Witheleghean and half, Sordarin, she knows well her parents gave the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance to live. Yet, in so doing, they have left Kela unprepared to face the dangers that await her. Her instincts are to protect and in this she does, but in so doing it leads her into a world where she knows not whom to trust. In time her power matures and grows stronger when she bonds with a Sordarin warrior, Cono. She learns well why she holds the power. An evil as no other before, Asmeodai, has emerged but all is not what it seems as a dark cloak encompasses her family. Betrayal, distrust, treachery leaves Kela alone. She is torn by her desire for Cono and the purpose, the path, she has been given to follow. And when another emerges within her world, one who seemly wants only to help her along her path, she is pulled further away from her Sordarin.
Part One- Shadows of the Past- FREE!
Whispers begins Whispers of a Legend saga which follows Kela's battle to embrace her destiny, where as a young woman unsure of her ability and her confidence in facing the challenges before her to where she emerges as a strong leader who learns to lean upon her own strength, to stand not behind, but side by side with her warrior.
Part Two- The Path Now Turned. Having proven her ability during the Payelaga Desert battle, Kela believes herself ready to follow her destiny beside her warrior. Fate has another path for Kela. When she discovers all she has long believed is not as it seems, the betrayal leaves Kela torn by her desire for Cono and the path she has been given to follow.
Part Three- Vision of Destiny. Trained for only one purpose, to protect the innocent from an evil that threatens to destroy her world, Kela has never questioned her destiny. The enemy has never been in doubt and her path laid clear before her. Now all is blurred. Left with only one choice, she escapes from Yucca in search of the one known as Seilda the Tvopac, the Guardian of the Past…but Kela learns quickly the Past holds its own dangers.
The Legend continues…
The Nuxvenom—the time declared by the Arachindaens for their ascension to power…the time of their rule…the time for the annihilation of all who do not submit to their authority. Over the years, the Sordarins have slept well secure in the knowledge that the Great One guards over them and protects them from this Nuxvenom. Now, though, our world has once more been targeted; Asmeodai’s evil looms on the horizon and fear lives in the hearts of the Sordarins for our very existence is threatened.
I, Kela Calledwdele, have been trained for one purpose—to protect my people from this evil threat of Asmeodai. I did not ask for this, but have embraced my destiny. The path before me has never been easy, nor do I expect my tribulations to lessen as I continue my journey, but I hold to this destiny for I hold to my faith in the Great One.
With the acknowledgement as King Edulf’s granddaughter, Kela is swept into a world strange to her. Moreover, Kela discovers the world she now walks harbors its own dangers. For not only does Kela face the looming threat of the evil Cyaika and Arachindaens, she is forced to confront deception and betrayal from within her own ranks. Never have the stakes been greater—never has her world faced a greater danger—never has more been asked of the Euchoun. The time of the Nuxvenom is now!
Oh...before I forget. My sister's recipe for a holiday appetizer.
Laura's Party Dip
1/2 lb. butter Salt to taste
1 c. flour 2 cans crabmeat
2 c. sweet milk 1 lb. cooked shrimp
1 can Pet Milk (small) 1 large can mushrooms
1 tsp paprika 1 bunch green onions
1 tsp pepper 2 c parsley or 1/2 jar dried
parsley flakes
Cut up fine the crabmeat, shrimp, mushroom, onion and parsely. In double boiler, melt butter; add flour gradually, Pet milk and sweet milk slowly, then seasonings. Add remaining ingredients. Serve from chafing dish.
I won't be back until January. Enjoy the Roses stories coming up for December! Have a happy and safe holiday season. See you in January! Keep reading!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Better than Pumpkin Pie? Pumpkin Cheesecake! by Jena Galifany
Nothing says holiday to me
like Pumpkin Pie. I’m not supposed to really have sugar in my diet but I’m
willing to take a chance for Pumpkin Pie. Another great love of mine is
Cheesecake. So imagine my joy when I came across this recipe:
Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake
Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup butter or margarine,
melted
Cheesecake
4 packages (8 oz each) cream
cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not
pumpkin pie mix)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Heat oven to 300°F.
Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with shortening or cooking spray.
Wrap foil around pan to catch drips.
In small bowl, mix cracker
crumbs and butter. Press crumb mixture in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes.
In large bowl, beat cream
cheese with electric mixer on medium speed just until smooth and creamy; do not
overbeat. On low speed, gradually beat in sugar. On low speed, beat in eggs,
one at a time, just until blended. Spoon 3 cups of the cream cheese mixture
into pan; spread evenly.
Stir pumpkin, ginger,
cinnamon and nutmeg into remaining cream cheese mixture; mix with wire whisk
until smooth. Spoon over mixture in pan.
Bake 1 hour 25
minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until edges are set but center of cheesecake
still jiggles slightly when moved.
Turn oven off; open oven door
at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes longer. Remove from
oven; place on cooling rack. (NOTE: I have found that if you don’t want the
cheesecake to crack, leave it in the oven until the oven is completely cooled. The
drastic temperature change is what makes it crack.)
Without releasing side of
pan, run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling
rack 30 minutes. Cover loosely; refrigerate at least 6 hours but no longer than
24 hours.
Run knife around edge of pan
to loosen cheesecake again; carefully remove side of pan. Place cheesecake on
serving plate. Store cheesecake covered in the refrigerator.
I would suggest making this
wonderful dessert the day before. Top it with whipped cream and indulge.
_______________________________
I
hope you will consider checking out my books available from Whiskey Creek Press
and Red Rose Publishing. To see all of my books in one place, and read
excerpts, stop by my WEBSITE.
Clive Hanson
is destined to be a comfort to those traveling the rocky road of life. He does
his best work on Christmas Eve.
Emily Ann
Brewster wishes for one wonderful evening spent with a friend. What she gets is
stuck in an elevator with a strange gentleman. And it's Christmas Eve.
What he
does,and what she needs, is a miracle.
My short holiday story will lift your
heart. At only $.99, it will make a great gift and a great way to begin your holiday
season. Buy it at Red Rose Publishing.
May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed holiday season!
Cheers!
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