I did it again....another dessert....this time you will kiss me for it!

Easter weekend..one word.....FOOD.
We prepare all week for it and yes, I made the dessert and a few other things, but the dessert was my very favorite part, even John agreed! This cheesecake is so good you will want to kiss me for giving this recipe to you. You will use it all summer (since it is a NO-BAKE - yes my friends a no-bake recipe) All my Las Vegas friends will appreciate it since it is probably getting close to the 90's now (ha ha!). For you small families or trying to not gain 10 lbs this week, you can half the recipe (just the filling part) and just have a smaller version, but you will be a happy person for trying it.


No-Bake Cheesecake
adapted from Martha Stewart and my kitchen cafe

FOR THE CRUST
Vegetable oil cooking spray -for pan
2 packages of honey graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

FOR THE GANACHE
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (I used Ghirardelli's Bittersweet Chocolate)
1/2 cup heavy cream

FOR THE FILLING
32 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, cold

Make the crust: Coat a 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Mix crackers, sugar, butter, and salt in a medium bowl. Pat mixture into pan, pressing firmly into the bottom. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to fill.

Make the ganache: Place chocolate in a food processor or cut with knife to small pieces. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, then pour over chocolate. When chocolate begins to melt, stir or turn on food processor. Spread the chocolate sauce evenly on bottom. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to fill.

Make the filling: Beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and slowly add sugar and salt. Raise speed to medium-high, and beat until very fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla.

Whisk cream until medium-stiff peaks form. Whisk 1/4 of the whipped cream into cream cheese mixture, then fold in remaining whipped cream. Pour filling into crust, and spread evenly. Gently tap bottom of pan on counter to release air bubbles.

Cover, and freeze for at least 1 hour or overnight or just place in fridge and have a more softer cheesecake. Unmold cheesecake, garnish with chocolate shavings if desired, and serve immediately.

Free online book from Stephanie Meyers

This is not APRIL FOOLS!!!
Stephanie Meyers has written a new book and here is some info on it!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. She began this story a long time ago—before Twilight was even released. Back with editing Eclipse, and in the thick of the vampire world. She was thinking a lot about the newborns, imagining their side of the story, and one thing led to another. She then started writing from Bree's perspective about those final days, and what it was like to be a newborn.

This is what S.M. says on her new book:
There was one thing I asked for: since this story had always been an extra for me, and was meant to be released with the Guide, I wanted to be able to offer it to my fans for free. You all have bought a ton of my books, and I wanted to give you this story as a gift. My publisher was awesome and embraced this idea. We still wanted to also produce a physical book with a cool cover that you can add to your set if you like, but starting at noon on June 7th until July 5th, it will also be available online at

http://www.breetanner.com/


So from June 7th to July 5th we can read it online for FREE!! Cool!

Check out her website:

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

Dessert again

I swear I don't make desserts every night....okay you got me, about every other night. But here is one that I could believe! It has mountain dew in it - yes mountain dew. Don't be shy and try it, I think you will be so surprised that it will knock your socks off!


Apple Dumplings
(see pictures on her website if needed)by pioneer woman
Prep Time: 10 Minutes. Cook Time: 40 Minutes. Difficulty: Easy. Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 whole Granny Smith Apples
• 2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1 cup Sugar (it originally asks for 1 and 1/2 cups and I cut this down, I think you will want to too)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Cinnamon, To Taste
• 1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda

Preparation Instructions:
Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.
Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40-43 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

WARNING: Prepare this dish at your own risk. It is beyond imaginable.

Rice Pudding

I know I don't have pictures with my recipes and I am sorry. I don't have my camera with me when I cook up at the main house and so no pictures - but this one I hope you know how it is suppose to look like.

Rice pudding. We (my sis, mom and niece) have tried many recipes. None have turned out. They were gross - so for my sister's and her husbands 20th (yes that is correct!) 20th Anniversary, we made Steve's favorite dessert. I was a little worried, but I went to a recipe blog I have used and everything has turned out great (my kitchen cafe). And found one to try, it just took a lot longer to cook here in Oregon than wherever the blog-lady is from. But it turned out so good, I wish I make more. Add, vanilla ice cream or cream or chocolate shavings on top - yum!

Rice Pudding
adapted from Martha Stewart and my kitchen cafe

3/4 cup Arborio rice, rinsed
6 cups whole milk (didn't have and used 3 cups 2% and 3 cups half-n-half)
1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped (as we all know, vanilla beans are pricey so if you don’t want to splurge, you can substitute 1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract)
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup heavy cream (used half -n-half)

1. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, milk, vanilla bean and seeds, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until rice is tender and liquid has absorbed, about 45-60 minutes.

2. Remove vanilla bean if using; stir in heavy cream. Rice pudding may be served warm, at room temperature or chilled (personally I prefer it slightly warmed).

New Pictures!

Here is my big 4 year old - 42.6 lbs and 3'11" tall! Yes, huge and 100% adorable.

(Piper is so fluffy - and looks very nervous in this picture!)

Our 6th year anniversary picture. We got the WHOLE night to ourselves. We dropped the kids off with the grandparents and went to sushi and dessert. Rented a movie and enjoyed our night free of responsibility. Loved every minute!

6 years and loving it!

Today is my 6 year anniversary! I am so lucky and blessed to be in love with my best friend. John has been my comfort, my love, my everything. I love him with all that I have and can't image my life without him. I love this gospel so much to know that I have him and my family forever. Happy Anniversary John!

Every year we take a picture of us to document what we did and how we look like, so in 10, 20 + years we can look back and see us age, but also remember what we did. I have an Anniversary Photo Album/Book to keep all this in.

Year 6: Picture to come!

This is year 5 - Activity: Dinner and Temple.

This is year 4 - Activity: Dinner and Movie and hugely pregnant with Izzie.

This is year 3 - Activity: Dinner and a Las Vegas Show (we almost forgot to take 'the' picture so this is right before bedtime.)

Year 2 - Activity: Having a baby -Matthew

Year 1 - Activity: Dinner and a Las Vegas Show.
This isn't the picture on that day - We took that picture on film and not digital, but here is a picture of us that year.

Marriage date March 12, 2004 - Portland Oregon Temple for time and all eternity.

One of our Engagment Photos:

Matthew is now 4!

March 11th is my boys birthday. I can't believe he is 4. It seems like yesterday I was huge and pregnant and heading to the hospital to have this almost 10 lb baby. He has been my sunshine and loving boy. And he is still my big boy always bigger than normal - 44 lbs and the same size as most 5 year olds. He is so happy all the time and so willing to forgive and tell you he loves you. Since he is my first born, I dare say he gets all the experimental ways to raise a child, sorry Matthew! However, I am grateful to be his mommy.

For this 4th Birthday we had an at home party with family and my BFF family. Spider Man was the theme and Matthew couldn't have been happier. Pizza, three cakes and ice cream later, he told me he was glad it was his birthday. Happy Birthday my boy!