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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Peaches & Cream Cheesecakes

Peaches & Cream Cheesecakes 

Hi everybody :)

When I saw this recipe on Jane's blog, I knew it would be great make ahead dessert. She also have it in her cookbook, I'm so glad I won a copy.

I wanted something peachy for another peach post in August. It's pitiful to have only one peach recipe for Peach Month so I  played around with the flavor of this recipe a little.  I used a gingersnap crust because it would go so well with the peach schnapps and preach preserve. I also downsized the recipe for my small family, so feel free to double it.

Peaches & Cream Cheesecakes adapted from Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms

Ingredients
















The Crust:
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons gingersnap, crushed
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2  teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt (not in picture)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
















The Filling:
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon peach schnapps
1 large egg
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar

Topping:
Peach Preserve or Peach Jam

A Day Ahead
1.  Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Line 6 jumbo muffin cups with paper baking cups.  Set aside.

2.  In a small bowl, mix the gingersnap crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter.
Crumb Mixture


















Reserve 2 tablespoons of crumb mixture for garnish, set aside.  Place 2 tablespoons of the crumb mixture in each muffin cup.  Press down on the crumbs with something flat to form a  crust.  Set aside.















3.  In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy.  Add the peach schnapps, eggs, lemon juice, and sugar, and beat until smooth. 
Filling Mixture


















 Fill each baking cup with about 3-4 tablespoons of the cheesecake mixture. 
Uncooked
















Bake the cheesecakes for 17 – 19 minutes or until they start to crack on the surface.  Cool the cheesecakes in the muffin pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. NOTE: They will fall in the center slightly while cooling.

Cooked
















4.  Place the cooled cheesecakes (with the paper liners still on them) in a covered container and refrigerate overnight.


Before Serving
Remove the paper liners and top each cheesecake with 2 tablespoons of peach preserve and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Keep covered and refrigerated.

Makes 6 jumbo muffin cheesecakes





















What I Think:
They were SSSSOOO DELICIOUS!!! The creamy filling, the gingersnap crust; MAGNIFICENCE! The flavors blended together perfectly. Make sure to use a fruity jam or preserve with this, I used Smucker's Peach Preserve, great choice.  You all know what this means.... IT'S A REPEAT and REPEAT and REPEAT...!

You can really play with the flavors of this recipe the original call for a graham crackers crust and cherry or strawberry pie filling for the topping.

If you like a more traditional look with a Sour Cream Topping, try this recipe, it can be doubled; from my cookbook collection:

For the Sour Cream Topping  adapted from Calling All Cooks
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Smucker's preserves or jams

Mix all the ingredient except preserves or jams. Spread a small amount on top of each cup. Put back in oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Then remove, cool, refrigerate overnight, and top with preserves or jams when ready to serving.
















ENJOY! Come again....

Linked to  
Something Swanky's Sweet Treats and Swanky Stuff Link Party
Bizzy Bake Recipe Box # 12 ,  
Creative Juice Thursday #87 @ Momnivore's Dilemma
Full Plate Thursday 8-30-12  @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage 
Somewhat Simple Link Party Thursday

Show You Talent Thursday # 22 
Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Link Party Week 60 
Sweets for Saturday @ Sweet As Sugar Cookies 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Herb-Coated Tilapia

Herb-Coated Tilapia



Hi everybody :)

I wanted to do a fish recipe today dealing with tilapia. I love tilapia, but my favorite fish is salmon.

One of major peeve is overcooked salmon. It got to be just right, tender, juicy pink flakes of fish.YUM! I looovvvvvve the way hubby cook it. He surprise me one anniversary, when I was too sick to go out and made a wonderful salmon dinner for us. IT WAS  DIVINE; at times he can really throw down in the kitchen. Ladies, there's nothing more sexy than a man who can cook and clean up afterwards. Uh.. uh.. uh... Well, enough about that, I don't want to be accused of over-sharing :)

While searching through my cookbook collection I came across this simple recipe and decided to give it a try.

Herb-Coated Tilapia adapted from Taste of Home Cookbook

















Ingredients
1/4  cup butter, melted
2/3  cup crushed butter-flavored crackers
2  tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2   teaspoon dried oregano
1/2  teaspoon dried basil
1/4  teaspoon garlic powder
1  pound tilapia fillets

 Directions

1) Place butter in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, combine the crackers, cheese and seasonings.
Crumb Mixture


















Dip fillets in butter, then coat with crumbs.
Fish in Butter




Fish Uncooked


















 












2) Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking  dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 15-20 minutes
or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Yield: 4 servings.
Cooked Fish




What I Did  and/or Think :
The original recipe use cod fillets, but I decided to use tilapia because that's what I had. This turn out to be really good. I did had to press down hard to get the coating to adhere to the fish, so maybe I'll try it next time with egg white in with the butter. I think I'll also play around with the flavors some more, so this is a repeat.
















ENJOY! Come again.....

Linked to: 

Milk & Cuddles Mommy Club Link Up
Bizzy Bakes Recipe Box 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Easy Cheesy Mac & Cheese

Easy Cheesy Mac & Cheese

Hi everybody :)

I would like to share the Eeesssssssasy Mac and Cheese Dish ever! The sauce is what make this so easy. I use Southwestern Mills Cheddar Cheese Sauce Mix, if you can not find it in your area go here. I LOVE this sauce. I talked about it once before here.

This make THE CREAMIEST AND CHEESIEST MAC & CHEESE. The next time you make mac & cheese try this one, you won't regret it, I promise.



















What You Need:
1 pound (16 ounces) Macaroni Noodles
1 package Southwestern Mills Cheddar Cheese Sauce Mix
1/2 cup Sour Cream
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Cheese-Flavored French Fried Onion

Cook noodles according to package. Drain all but 1/2 cup of water. Measure 1cup cold water to mix with sauce mix, mix well and add to noodles along with sour cream, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons butter. Mix well, pour into a greased casserole dish or foil-lined pan. Top with extra cheese and fried onions.

Bake at 375 until golden brown on top and cheese is heated through about 25 minutes.
Before Baking


















BTW,  I'm not being paid by Southwestern Mills producers to say this about their product, this is my own opinion.

ENJOY! Come again...

Shared with: 
Chef In Training's Tuesday Talent Show # 51 
 Milk & Cuddles Mommy Club Link Up

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