Turtle Cheesecake

     I was asked to make a dessert of some sort for a particularly picky eater.  What I really wanted to make were brownie cupcakes with mint frosting.  He doesn't like mint.  Then I thought of dark chocolate cupcakes with strawberry frosting.  He doesn't like frosting...weird I know.  I found a really yummy looking coconut caramel cookie recipe that I've been dying to try.  He doesn't like coconut.  Cue the turtle cheesecake.  Caramel?  Check.  Chocolate?  Check.  Cheesecake?  Check.  Whew.

     The recipe I found the other day sounded like it'd be really good.  I did tweak it a bit, but I'll put the original recipe and instructions on here with my changes.

Ingredients:

24 Oreos, finely crushed (about 2 cups)

6 Tbsp oleo, melted

1 pkg (14oz) caramels

1/2 cup milk

1 cup chopped pecans  *I skipped these...picky eaters :)*

3 pkg (8oz each) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla

3 eggs

2 oz Baker's semi-sweet chocolate

     Heat your oven to 325°.  Reduce the temperature to 300° if using a dark pan.

     Mix crushed Oreos and melted oleo.  Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan and up 2 inches of the side.  *I just put the Oreo mixture on the bottom of the pan.  Mistake.  Put it up the sides or the caramel will leak out and burn on the bottom of your oven....for a couple of days if you forget to clean it.  Whoops*

     Microwave caramels and milk on high for 3 minutes or until caramels are completely melted.  Stir after each minute.  Stir in pecans.  *I skipped these.*  Pour half of mixture onto Oreo crust.  * I poured some onto the crust and then swirled the rest of the half into the cheesecake batter.*  Refrigerate for 10 minutes.  Refrigerate remaining caramel mixture so you can use it later.

     Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low after each until just blended.  Pour over caramel layer in crust.

     Bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until center is almost set.  *Mine baked for about 1 hour and 12 minutes.*  Run a knife around the edge to loosen cheesecake.  Cool before removing the rim.  Refrigerate 4 hours.

     Microwave reserved caramel mixture 1 min, stir.  Drizzle over cheesecake.  Melt chocolate as directed on package.  Drizzle over cheesecake.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  *Or if you're like me, sleep in because you set your alarm for PM not AM, run to the kitchen, dump the caramel on the cheesecake and spread with a spoon very quickly, microwave chocolate while trying to get ready to leave the house, pour into a bag with the corner cut out, drizzle chocolate on cheesecake while getting it all over your hands, and run out the door to your truck.  But don't speed, cuz that'd be bad ;)*

Looks pretty yummy to me :)

     This was delicious.  Caramel, chocolate, and cheesecake. Sooooo good.  Mmmm.  A bit messy, probably because I was rushed and didn't refrigerate the cheesecake after pouring caramel on it, but delicious none the less.  Enjoy!

Happy baking friends!

     -Katie

The Perfect Baked Potato

     Okay so I don't really have a recipe for this, but it's super simple so it totally doesn't need one.  First, preheat your oven to 425°.  Next, scrub your potatoes really well...nobody wants to eat dirt.  Now get all the frustration out that you may have stored up this week by stabbing the potatoes with a knife.  Make sure the holes are pretty deep.

     Get out some olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a jelly roll pan.  Pour a *little* bit of olive oil on each potato.  Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Rub into the potato to coat the entire thing.  Hope ya don't mind getting your hands dirty ;)

     Place each of the potatoes on your jelly roll pan.  No need to grease it, you've already got plenty of olive oil on the spuds.

     Bake for 45 to 60 minutes.  No specific baking time, it depends on the size of the potatoes.  If you have ginormous ones, it'll take a little longer.  Just bake them until they are tender inside.  I always check them by poking them with a butter knife.  If it goes in easily, they're usually good!

     Yum yum yum!  They have a perfectly crisped skin and nice tender insides.  Delicious :)

Happy cooking friends!

     -Katie

Mr. Potato Head Quiet Book Page

     When I was a kid, I loved Mr. Potato Head.  I thought up endless ways to create my own potato person and kept myself entertained for ages.  So I thought, why not make a quiet book version?  I made my patterns and set to work :)

     First step, trace pattern pieces on newspaper.

     Next I cut out the pattern pieces and grabbed lots of felt.

     Then I cut my background piece of felt down to the size I wanted it like I did with my other pages ( Football Page Long-neck Dinosaur Page and the Matching Game Page).

     I pinned down the potato piece and the arm pieces to my background piece and sewed them down.

     Now the page itself is done and all that's left is to customize your Potato Head :)

     I also made girl pieces like a flower for her head, a purse, heels, etc.  I forgot to take a picture though before I gave it to its new owner.  Whoops.  You can make as many pieces as you want for lots and lots of options :)  That's all there is to it, super simple!

Happy sewing friends!

     -Katie