Friday, February 3, 2012

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!

17 comments:

  1. Oooooo Cheesecake! I am going to save tis recipe and one day I will make it for my son! He loves cheesecake!
    Love your project, sometimes for me all the time simple projects are the best!
    Aloha,
    Shar

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  2. You card is super sweet and Strawberry and cherry cheesecake are my favorite. Thank you for the recipe. janiceaeschliman.blogspot.com

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  3. Beautiuful card love the little cakes on your card. Now who dosen't like It looks so yummy. TFS!

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  4. love your sweet card Dena! great V-days card...
    cute cupcakes...
    Yummo on that cheesecake - looks to good to indulge..
    TFS - but I was never fan of this cake and so is my family.... boo hoo hoo for me.....
    Have a super weekend.....
    huggies~

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  5. Yummy it looks sooooo good!

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  6. it looks so yummy!

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  7. Hi
    I love your card and the cheese cake looks so good. I found you from the hop and I am now a follower and I cant wait to look at your other designs. TFS!

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  8. Adorable card! I'm going to have to make one now! Also happy to become your 201st follower :)

    Kim
    http://uscrap2.blogspot.com/

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  9. Great hop!! Will be back for day 2! Christina

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  10. Mmmmmm, cheesecake! THANKS for recipe!!

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  11. YUM-OOO is right!! For both the cheesecake and card :-) I have not made cheesecake for so very long and your card may have been quick, but it sure is cute!

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  12. great card and I love cheesecake..yum,mmmmm

    cathie
    scraphappycat@gmail.com

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  13. Your card & cheesecake look picture perfect! I'm making one next weekend for a huge dessert party so perhaps I'll give it a try!
    TFS New follower!
    Stop by please & say HI!
    Creative Wishes,
    Claire
    www.scrapmyway.blogspot.com

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  14. I love your card!! It's adorable and your cheese cake looks sooo yummy. Thanks for sharing.



    http://racincrafts.blogspot.com/

    p.s. sorry about the first comment please delete it!!

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  15. Hey Dena! I love simple projects like this and your card turned out so sweet! As much as I LOVE cheesecake, I've never made one. I'm the only one in my house that eats it, so when I feel the craving, I just buy a slice from the market! But yours definitely looks delish! TFS!

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