Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

Okay...I'll admit it. I am in LOVE w/ cheesecake! Any kind of cheesecake really but this one rocks since it has the brownie on the bottom. That's like the best two desserts put together! Bliss.


4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2-1/4 cups sugar, divided
5 eggs, divided
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla, divided
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream

*Preheat oven to 325°F.
*Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted.
*Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
*Add 1-1/2 cups of the sugar; mix well.
*Add 2 of the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
*Add milk and 1 tsp. of the vanilla; mix well.
*Combine flour and salt.
*Gradually add to chocolate mixture, mixing after each addition just until blended.
*Spread evenly into greased and floured 9-inch springform pan.
*Bake 25 min.

*Beat cream cheese, remaining 3/4 cup sugar and remaining 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
*Add sour cream; mix well.
*Add remaining 3 eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. *Pour over brownie layer in pan (Filling will come almost to top of pan.)
*Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set.
*Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. *Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
*Let stand at room temperature 30 min. before serving.
*Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Chicken Parmesan Bundles

This is an awesome recipe that I got off of the the Kraft website a few years back and it is delish!! Plus it been a big hit with kids as well! Everyone must try!

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1-1/4 cups shredded skim mozzarella cheese
6 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
1 egg
10 Ritz Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, heated

*Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
*Mix cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 3 Tbsp. of the parmesan cheese until well blended; spread evenly onto chicken breasts. Starting at one of the short ends of each breast, roll up chicken tightly. Secure with wooden toothpicks, if desired. Set aside.
*Beat egg in shallow bowl or pie plate.
*Mix remaining 3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese and the cracker crumbs in separate shallow bowl or pie plate.
*Dip chicken bundles in egg, then roll in crumb mixture.
*Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
*Bake 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).
*Remove and discard toothpicks, if using.
*Serve topped with the spaghetti sauce and remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.

Recipe Day I :Blue Cheese-Tomato Spread

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
Boiling water
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (4 oz.) crumbled blue cheese
3/4 cup real mayonnaise
2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 cup minced fresh basil

Place tomatoes in small bowl. Add enough boiling water to completely cover tomatoes; let stand 30 min. or until tomatoes are soft and plumped. Drain tomatoes; chop into small pieces. Set aside.
Beat cream cheese and blue cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
Stir in tomatoes, mayo, pecans and basil; cover.
Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
Serve as a spread for assorted crackers.

Yum-O

Holiday Recipe Extravaganza!

I saw this on this awesome girl's blog so seeing as how I *L*O*V*E* new recipes I decided to hop on her bandwagon! I think it would be so fun if you all did too! I was thinking...All of you should join me in posting your favorite holiday recipes on your blogs this week! I would LOVE to add some new favorites to my recipe binder! Put your blog address in the comments section if you decide to join me, and feel free to steal this little ditty below for your own blog! We'll call it the Holiday Recipe Extravaganza.

{ Fun Picture/Quote Post }

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Have an awesome day!

{ Fantastic. }

I found this awesome website that is similar to Shutterfly. You can download their FREE book software and create any kind of book you want. You can do different sizes and hardback or softback. Here's the kicker.......prices for 7"x7" softbound books are only $12.95. That's right folks 12 bucks for a cute 40 page custom made book! How cool is that? The website is http://www.blurb.com/home/1/. Everyone should go check it out, I downloaded the software and played around w/ it and you can do some cool things.......

{ Happy Day }

I found a brand spanking new scrapbooking store in Idaho Falls yesterday! It called "I Scrap". It is located across the street from the mall next to Once Upon A Child & Citi Financial. I had a chance to talk w/ the owner and she rocks! Lots a great product that you can't get anywhere else in town. Everyone should check it out!

{ Random Photo Shoot w/ My Baby }

Geoff and I drove all around Idaho Falls today and got some really great shots downtown and at Freeman Park....here's is just a sampling of some of Geoff's pics

[ I Found This Little Guy in My Kitchen Last Night ]

Geoff just cracks me up! Last night I was sitting in the kitchen cracking open and eating walnuts when Geoff came in and started STUFFING his mouth full of uncracked nuts, he reminds me of Hammie on "Over the Hedge" Funny stuff right there.

{ I Had To Do It }

Okay I know Thanksgiving was only yesterday but I had to do it. That's right people I had to put up all my Christmas decorations. I am one of those people who would probably put up Christmas decor the day after Halloween if Geoff would let me! I LOVE THEM!! So needless to say my house is beginning to look ALOT like Christmas! Pictures to come soon!

{ Just For Fun }

{ Sorry about the fact that you can't read the journaling....my pics kinda turned out bad }

{ I Have A Secret...Shhh }

So randomly the other night I decided to watch this new show on the CW network called "Gossip Girl". This show sucked me right in, so much so that after it was over I HAD to go online and find the earlier episodes on the CW's website so I could be up to speed on what's going on. This show has so much scandal and drama how could you not like it? Plus it's got that cool girl from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! For real peeps you need to check it out if you have not done so already. It comes on on Wed. nights on the CW.