Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop: Day One

Welcome to the Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop!  Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a Valentine's Day card for someone special in their life, whether it be a husband, boyfriend, child, friend, teacher, parent, etc ...  Each participant is also posting a recipe for a decadent dessert that you might want to make for someone sweet in your life!

This is a two-day blog hop with some participants posting projects on both days.  So, please be sure to stop by tomorrow also! 

For today's project, I made a card using some stuff from my stash. I found some cute Doodlebug cardstock stickers that I thought would be perfect for this theme. The alpha stickers are also by Doodlebug. I love that font! This was a pretty easy card to put together. Sometimes, it's nice to do a quick project. =)

The decadent dessert recipe I'd like to share is :

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

(yes, that is a picture of the actual cheesecake I made!)

Why cheesecake?  Well, cheesecake is my honey's absolute favorite dessert, so it's only fitting that I chose to share my recipe for this hop.   I, too, enjoy a slice of cheesecake with some coffee from time to time.  And, let's not forget about cheesecake ice cream!  YUM-O!!!  

Before I share the recipe, I'd like to share a few tips:

• Be sure to bring all of your ingredients to room temperature. 
• Use a water bath.  If you are not familiar with this method, I would suggest checking YouTube.  In fact, before I attempted to make my first cheesecake, I watched a bunch of different YouTube videos! 
• It's best to bake your cheesecake well in advance of when you actually want to eat it.  It needs time to set completely.  It's best to make it a day ahead, but I will admit to having a slice half a day later (baked in afternoon and had a slice very late at night because I couldn't wait... LOL)
• If you end up with any cracks in your cheesecake, just throw some fruit or fruit sauce on there! LOL!
• 
  

RECIPE:

Crust: 
2 cups graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
pinch of salt


Filling:
5 packages of cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 eggs PLUS 2 yolks (be sure to add one at a time)
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp. flour
1/4 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. lemon zest (for me, usually about two lemons)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla


1)  Mix the crust ingredients and press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Let cool to room temperature.
2)  Mix cream cheese until smooth.  
3)  Add sugar and mix at medium speed until well blended (approx 5 minutes).
4)  Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time.  
5)  Add remaining ingredients and blend well.
6)  Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.  Then, lower heat to 250 degrees for 1 hr. and 15 mins.  
7)  Cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate.

I know a lot of people think that cheesecake might be difficult to make.  It's really not!  I remember being nervous the first time I made it, but it was perfect!  =)  If I can do it, anyone can do it!  If you try my recipe, I'd love to hear how it turned out!  Please hop on over to Anita's blog next to see what she has to share with you!

The complete blog hop lineup is below:

1. Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2. Anita : http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com
3. Janet : http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com
4. Nicolette : www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com
5. Jearise : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com
6. Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
7. Kerri : http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/
8. Melissa:http:..www.timeweavers.wordpress.com
9. Kristy - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com 
10. Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com