OK!
Go here for the tutorial. I love Ruffles and Stuff!
Here's what I whipped up for my little lady last night ...
Quick, cute and perfect for my sweet girl!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Banana Spiced Cheesecake
Last fall I had a strong hankerin' for cheesecake. Partly because I wanted to eat it, but mainly I wanted to make it. I also had a ton of bananas that needed to be used somehow, STAT.
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
1-¾ cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
½ teaspoons Cinnamon
½ teaspoons Salt
4 Tablespoons Melted Butter
For the Filling:
3 whole Ripe Bananas (overly Ripe Is Best)
24 ounces, weight Room Temp Cream Cheese (light Works OK, But Full Fat Is Best)
3 whole Large Eggs
1 whole Large Egg Yolk
¼ cups Sour Cream
1-½ cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
¼ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla
For the Ganache:
½ cups Heavy Cream
½ Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
¼ teaspoons Cinnamon
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
For the Whipped Cream:
½ cups Heavy Cream, Very Cold
¼ teaspoons Cinnamon
1-½ Tablespoon Sugar
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″ springform pan with cooking spray.
Crust:
Combine dry ingredients with the melted butter and combine with fork until the mixture is moist throughout. When the mixture is crumbly but will hold together when squeezed, it’s ready to be pressed into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake the crust for 8 minutes, then let cool completely.
Filling:
Place a roasting/baking dish LARGER than the springform pan in the oven and fill halfway with water. While you’re preparing the filling, the water will heat to the perfect temperature. Wrap the bottom of your springform pan with a double layer of aluminum foil to safeguard from water getting in the pan.
In a bowl, mash the bananas and set aside (note-the texture is better the more you mash. This is why overripe bananas work best).
Add the cream cheese to a separate bowl and beat until smooth. Dump in the bananas and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, mixing thoroughly before adding the next. Add the sour cream and mix until combined. Finally, add the sugar, spices and vanilla and beat until well mixed.
Pour the filling into the crust. Place the pan in the oven, inside the roasting pan filled with water and bake until the cheesecake has a light golden color and the center is set (but can still have a slight jiggle). This will take anywhere from 80-90 minutes.
Cool the cheesecake to room temperature in the pan, then cover and place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least four hours).
Ganache:
When the cheesecake is cooled completely, heat the heavy cream and corn syrup over medium low heat. Add the cinnamon and pull off the heat. Add the chocolate chips and mix. When the mixture is slightly cooled, remove the sides of the springform pan and add the ganache to the top to the edges of the cake. Since the cheesecake will be cold, smooth the ganache quickly to prevent it from hardening up. It looks lovely when the ganache drips over the sides.
Whipped Cream:
Whip the cream, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl for around four minutes, or until they form stiff peaks. Add to a decorating bag fitted with a tip and decorate as you’d like. Or just lop some on the top and call it good. You worked hard on this!
Eat!
Put your hands together, my friend.
This thick banana cheesecake has a smooth texture — and is VERY filling! It's topped with a thin layer of thick chocolate ganache and cinnamon whipped cream ... guys, it's so tasty!
I'm not going to lie, though. It's in-depth. Don't let that dissuade you. It's WORTH IT!
For the Crust:
1-¾ cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
½ teaspoons Cinnamon
½ teaspoons Salt
4 Tablespoons Melted Butter
For the Filling:
3 whole Ripe Bananas (overly Ripe Is Best)
24 ounces, weight Room Temp Cream Cheese (light Works OK, But Full Fat Is Best)
3 whole Large Eggs
1 whole Large Egg Yolk
¼ cups Sour Cream
1-½ cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
¼ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla
For the Ganache:
½ cups Heavy Cream
½ Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
¼ teaspoons Cinnamon
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
For the Whipped Cream:
½ cups Heavy Cream, Very Cold
¼ teaspoons Cinnamon
1-½ Tablespoon Sugar
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″ springform pan with cooking spray.
Crust:
Combine dry ingredients with the melted butter and combine with fork until the mixture is moist throughout. When the mixture is crumbly but will hold together when squeezed, it’s ready to be pressed into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake the crust for 8 minutes, then let cool completely.
Filling:
Place a roasting/baking dish LARGER than the springform pan in the oven and fill halfway with water. While you’re preparing the filling, the water will heat to the perfect temperature. Wrap the bottom of your springform pan with a double layer of aluminum foil to safeguard from water getting in the pan.
In a bowl, mash the bananas and set aside (note-the texture is better the more you mash. This is why overripe bananas work best).
Add the cream cheese to a separate bowl and beat until smooth. Dump in the bananas and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, mixing thoroughly before adding the next. Add the sour cream and mix until combined. Finally, add the sugar, spices and vanilla and beat until well mixed.
Pour the filling into the crust. Place the pan in the oven, inside the roasting pan filled with water and bake until the cheesecake has a light golden color and the center is set (but can still have a slight jiggle). This will take anywhere from 80-90 minutes.
Cool the cheesecake to room temperature in the pan, then cover and place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least four hours).
Ganache:
When the cheesecake is cooled completely, heat the heavy cream and corn syrup over medium low heat. Add the cinnamon and pull off the heat. Add the chocolate chips and mix. When the mixture is slightly cooled, remove the sides of the springform pan and add the ganache to the top to the edges of the cake. Since the cheesecake will be cold, smooth the ganache quickly to prevent it from hardening up. It looks lovely when the ganache drips over the sides.
Whipped Cream:
Whip the cream, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl for around four minutes, or until they form stiff peaks. Add to a decorating bag fitted with a tip and decorate as you’d like. Or just lop some on the top and call it good. You worked hard on this!
Eat!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
This Girl
Is the little girl light of my world. To say I love her is to say the sun is SORT of warm.
She is ... so beyond wonderful.
And dramatic.
And sassy, independent, mouthy, headstrong, willful, certain, confident and beautiful.
Smart. Funny. Loving.
My girl.
I love you more than words. To the moon, my dear.
She is ... so beyond wonderful.
And dramatic.
And sassy, independent, mouthy, headstrong, willful, certain, confident and beautiful.
Smart. Funny. Loving.
My girl.
I love you more than words. To the moon, my dear.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Zee Party
We had our little girl's birthday party this weekend and it was a hit! Everyone had a great time. I made these, which were a HUGE hit.
But her cupcakes were awesome!
I used a plain white cake mix, then dyed the layers in 6 different colors. They turned out so cute! I was going to used store-bought icing, but I went with my favorite buttercream instead.
Happy birthday, to my little belle.
But her cupcakes were awesome!
I used a plain white cake mix, then dyed the layers in 6 different colors. They turned out so cute! I was going to used store-bought icing, but I went with my favorite buttercream instead.
Happy birthday, to my little belle.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Gumdropapalooza
In preparation for my daughter's birthday party this weekend, I've been doing two things:
1. Stressing out.
2. Making a mess.
Number two is directly related to number one. Or is number one directly related to number two? Either way, it's been crazy.
Last night I attempted to make gumdrops. I should say I attempted to make them WELL, as I did succeed in making them, but also, number two.
I wish I'd taken pictures.
Have you ever made gumdrops? If so, have you ever made them in too small of a pan? I have. And let me tell you, the results were disastrous.
I have a flat-top stove and the four cups of sugar and six packets of gelatin boiled out of the too-small pan and all over my stove. Black clouds billowed from my burner where the burned sugar crystallized on top.
Ya'll, it got crazy.
But, the end result, minus number 1, was this:
Goodie, goodie, gumdrops.
I made my husband try all of them except the blue. The yellowish color is lemon, the red is orange (I know, weird.) and the blue is peppermint. I've been told I was too light-handed with the extracts. So use more than you think you should.
Everyone likes them. Now we wait for them to crystalize and get ready for my little gumdrop's 3rd birthday party.
Goodie, goodie!
1. Stressing out.
2. Making a mess.
Number two is directly related to number one. Or is number one directly related to number two? Either way, it's been crazy.
Last night I attempted to make gumdrops. I should say I attempted to make them WELL, as I did succeed in making them, but also, number two.
I wish I'd taken pictures.
Have you ever made gumdrops? If so, have you ever made them in too small of a pan? I have. And let me tell you, the results were disastrous.
I have a flat-top stove and the four cups of sugar and six packets of gelatin boiled out of the too-small pan and all over my stove. Black clouds billowed from my burner where the burned sugar crystallized on top.
Ya'll, it got crazy.
But, the end result, minus number 1, was this:
Goodie, goodie, gumdrops.
I made my husband try all of them except the blue. The yellowish color is lemon, the red is orange (I know, weird.) and the blue is peppermint. I've been told I was too light-handed with the extracts. So use more than you think you should.
Everyone likes them. Now we wait for them to crystalize and get ready for my little gumdrop's 3rd birthday party.
Goodie, goodie!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
And Runnin', Runnin'
I started the couch to 5K program last Friday and so far, it's been pretty good!
I actually ran at 6 on the treadmill (10-min mile), which, if you know anything about me, is RIDICULOUS. Of course, that was last week. I ran Friday and Saturday, then Zumba on Sunday. I took an off day yesterday then ran again today between 4.8-5 because my asthma wanted to kill me. I was not as quick-footed as last week.
The plan for this week:
Wednesday - Zumba
Thursday - Run
Friday - Bike
Saturday - Run
Sunday - Zumba
Saturday is also the little lady's THIRD birthday party! I'm doing a sweets-themed bash and am making gumdrops, banana/nilla sandwiches, melon skewers, chocolate and peppermint meringue drops and rainbow cupcakes. I was going to have a cookie bar for the kids to decorate their own treats, but there are only 8 kiddos coming, so I'm just going to let them sprinkle their own cupcakes.
Big week coming up!
I actually ran at 6 on the treadmill (10-min mile), which, if you know anything about me, is RIDICULOUS. Of course, that was last week. I ran Friday and Saturday, then Zumba on Sunday. I took an off day yesterday then ran again today between 4.8-5 because my asthma wanted to kill me. I was not as quick-footed as last week.
The plan for this week:
Wednesday - Zumba
Thursday - Run
Friday - Bike
Saturday - Run
Sunday - Zumba
Saturday is also the little lady's THIRD birthday party! I'm doing a sweets-themed bash and am making gumdrops, banana/nilla sandwiches, melon skewers, chocolate and peppermint meringue drops and rainbow cupcakes. I was going to have a cookie bar for the kids to decorate their own treats, but there are only 8 kiddos coming, so I'm just going to let them sprinkle their own cupcakes.
Big week coming up!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Ruffle Tank Top!
I made a quick little ruffle tank top for my little girl tonight. Took about a half an hour -- but if you're more experienced, it would probably take a LOT less.
Have you been to WalMart lately? They have super cheap tanks -- $2.50. Earlier this summer, I MAY have bought one ... of each color.
I've done a few things to several of them, but I still have a few left that are plain. With summer coming to a close soon (soon, right? Yes? Please?), I wanted to doll up the rest since they won't fit my little weed next year.
I started with this:
Just a plain tank with a piece of scrap fabric (7" long x 5" tall) and cut in in half longways. Then I used my sewing machine to sew a strip down the center of each piece like this:
Then, I gently pulled the bottom string to ruffle the material. Make sure you don't pull the thread all the way out from the other side or you'll have to redo this step. One, two or three frustrating times.
Sew each side down after ruffled to keep it in the shape you want:
Then I sewed each ruffled strip to the sleeves along the center ruffle strip and across the bottom hem.
And I finished with buttons! I've loved these buttons and am sad to see them go. I think the bag was $4.99 at HobLob, but I got them 50% off. So in total, the shirt cost about $5 if you had to buy all the items. But you could easily use any scrap material on had and any shirt. If you didn't want to use them across the sleeves of a tank, you could decorate the bottom of the shirt with longer strips or across the front of the shirt.
I think she'll like it! Quick and easy -- love those types of projects!
Have you been to WalMart lately? They have super cheap tanks -- $2.50. Earlier this summer, I MAY have bought one ... of each color.
I've done a few things to several of them, but I still have a few left that are plain. With summer coming to a close soon (soon, right? Yes? Please?), I wanted to doll up the rest since they won't fit my little weed next year.
I started with this:
Just a plain tank with a piece of scrap fabric (7" long x 5" tall) and cut in in half longways. Then I used my sewing machine to sew a strip down the center of each piece like this:
Then, I gently pulled the bottom string to ruffle the material. Make sure you don't pull the thread all the way out from the other side or you'll have to redo this step. One, two or three frustrating times.
Sew each side down after ruffled to keep it in the shape you want:
 |
Then I sewed each ruffled strip to the sleeves along the center ruffle strip and across the bottom hem.
And I finished with buttons! I've loved these buttons and am sad to see them go. I think the bag was $4.99 at HobLob, but I got them 50% off. So in total, the shirt cost about $5 if you had to buy all the items. But you could easily use any scrap material on had and any shirt. If you didn't want to use them across the sleeves of a tank, you could decorate the bottom of the shirt with longer strips or across the front of the shirt.
I think she'll like it! Quick and easy -- love those types of projects!
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