Cook This Not That ...Cheesecake

Back in March, my friends Matt & Sam got me one of my favorite cookbooks. It is from the Eat This Not That line of books. One of my favorite recipes from it, is their Ricotta Blueberry Cheesecake. It is oohhhh so good, and you dont feel so guilty about eating cheesecake. Who doesn't love that!?!? Each serving has 360 calories. Not diet food, but better than compared 700.

Happy Thanksgiving Pie!

Eat up! Thanksgiving is a busy day for me. I'm really looking forward to it. In the morning, my sister-in-law has a "cinnamon roll - Macy's day parade party", then I have lunch at my in laws, then dinner at my parents, then after dinner drinks at my aunts. Whew, busy day. But lots of family and lots of fun. I love thanksgiving. I'm a sucker for the mushy family holiday stuff. I got off pretty easy this year since I have nothing going on at MY house. I was the pie lady apparently. I went through the crazy Costco day-before-Thanksgiving rush to get a pumpkin pie and pecan pie for my family dinner. Costco wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be, being the day before Thanksgiving and all. For my in-laws lunch I was asked to make a "Williams-Sonoma" pecan pumpkin pie. My mother in law gave me all I needed to make it.

I just took the Pecan Pumpkin butter from Williams-Sonoma then added eggs and cream.

I bought two Pillsbury pie crusts and used one to cut out little leaf and acorn shapes.

Once I added the filling to the pie and cooked it for 20 minutes, I added the rest of the crust and cooked for another 45 minutes. 

By the way.... I am in LOVE with Pandora.com. You type in a song or artist you like and it customizes a radio station to fit exactly what you like. You can give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to a song. If you give it a thumbs up it will pick more songs like that one, or if you give it a thumbs down it will never play that song again or ones like it. I was listening to Christmas music half the day - mainly by Harry Connick Jr. *sigh.

After the first part of baking, I took it out and added the rest of the cut-out crust to it. Then I put it back in the oven for 45 more minutes. I took a shower, painted my toes, and just relaxed on the couch. It was a great Thanksgiving eve day. =)

  Then it was all done. Just a tad crispiness to part of the edges. Lesson learned.

I hope everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving full of family, food and good memories.

I found this prayer over at lifeingrace.blogspot.com by Eddie. I think it is amazing and a great prayer of thanks...

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. Lord God, heavenly Father, You have created me and endowed me with all that I am or have as a pure gift of Your fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. You sustain me from day to day with the gifts of daily bread in the food that I eat, the family that surrounds me, the friends I enjoy, the country where I live, and countless other benefits that I constantly receive from Your open hand. On the Day of Thanksgiving, cause me to gratefully remember the good gifts that You shower upon me. Deepen in me the knowledge of Your goodness, and awaken my heart to praise You for all of Your gifts, especially the forgiveness of sins that You have purchased and won for me and the whole world in the atoning death of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Keep me mindful of Your mercies every day, and grant that I may thank, praise, serve, and obey You not only with my lips but also with a life dedicated to the service of my neighbor. To You, O Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, praise and thanksgiving, now and forever.
Amen."

Happy Halloween

 Happy Halloween!!!

My sister Kacey came over yesterday and after a trip to the grocery store we started baking while listing to a lil' Harry Connick Jr. We made some Swiss Chocolate cupcakes with sugar frosting. It was a fun day.

 My cupcakes are the messy ones. The ones that look good - well those are my sisters. I've never claimed to be an artist. =)

 

  

  

We also dressed the pups up in their Halloween costumes...

Sadie Bella was NOT happy with me.

 

  

But I think Rocky really liked his, he wore it all day almost. He loves it. I always call him my little pumpkin anyways...

 

 Tomorrow I'm dressing up as this crazy spider covered ghost lady. It was pretty much the cheapest thing at the Halloween store that didn't include the word slutty (sorry) its its description. 

Last year I was Kat Von D from Miami Ink (pre- LA Ink).

Great Weekend with Family

I hope you had a great weekend! I can't think back to when I had a better one. Friday night we had my husbands family over, and Sunday afternoon we had my family over for a birthday BBQ! It was a great weekend.

Theres Stephanie, (Ryan's sister) Me, Grandma Juanita, and Misty (my sister in law) and Jerri (Ryan's mom).

Sunday was my older sister Kacey's Birthday, and Thursday was my little sister's birthday. On Sunday we all got together and BBQ'd. It was a great day. I made (well out of a box) cupcakes and a bday cake. Everybody loves Funfetti! That's what I'm hearing at least.





Time to cut the cake.
My sisters Love each other... play nice ladies.

My lovely mom (and attached at all times, dog) and my wonderful husband Ryan.

It felt great to have everyone over in one weekend in our new house. (okay well its actually pretty old, 62 years to be exact).

Blueberry Bliss

I love a good muffin on a Saturday mornin'.
Shout out to Fiber One from Betty Crocker! I LOVE how great and easy their fiber muffins are. All you do is add eggs, water and vegetable oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes. They are super good, super easy, and super low in fat and calories... and of course "High in Fiber"! They come in Blueberry and Apple Cinnamon, Mmmmm. Its my usual morning breakfast (with coffee of course and sometimes a good scrambled egg or two, if I have time).

Just a little note to those who follow Weight Watchers- these are only ONE point. Yes- just 1pt. Believe it.