Best Ever Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling/Topping

• 2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese (softened)
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup sugar (divided)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (divided)
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar; mix well.  Pat evenly into the bottom and sides of a 9" pie plate.  Place in refrigerator to chill while preparing filling.

In mixing bowl combine cream cheese and eggs and beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and salt.  Continue beating until well blended.  Pour into chilled pie crust and bake for 35 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Combine sour cream, remaining sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl.  Spread evenly over cooled cheesecake and return to oven for another 10 minutes.  

Cool completely on a wire rack and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. 

~ Another recipe from my friend's mother's kitchen .. thanks again Sheri! ~

No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 box lemon flavored gelatin (4 serving sized box)
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 - 8 oz package of cream cheese (softened)
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 1 pre-made honey graham cracker pie crust

Directions

In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  Set aside.

In medium bowl, with electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Gradually beat in dissolved gelatin mixture.  Fold in whipped topping.  Spoon into pie crust and chill for 4 hours or until firm.

~ An easy recipe that I received from a friend's mother.  Thanks Sheri! ~

10 Bean Soup With Ham

Ingredients

• 3 cups ham (cubed)
• 16 oz. package of ten bean soup mix
• 2 celery ribs (chopped)
• 3 medium carrots (peeled and chopped)
• 1/2 medium sized yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 3 bay leaves
• 4 medium sized potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 2 heaping tablespoons chicken soup base or bullion
• 3 strips of bacon (chopped and browned)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Soak beans in medium stock pot overnight according to bean package directions.

Add more water to beans until pot is about 1/2 to 3/4 full.  Add chicken soup base, bay leaves, onions, pepper, and garlic.  Allow to simmer on medium heat for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.  Add potatoes, carrots, celery, ham, and bacon.  Add more water if needed and continue to simmer for about another 1 - 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until veggies are tender.

~ This was tonight's dinner, and a hearty 2 day meal as well.  You can add more, or less of the vegetables I've listed, depending on how you like it.  If you prefer more garlic and onion, don't be afraid to add more.  I taste it as it simmers and make additions as well, such as more black pepper.  I'll be serving this with home made bread and/or crackers.  Great for chilly winter nights. ~

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 1/2 cups rolled or quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease 3 baking sheets or spray lightly with cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

Place the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer set on high speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth.  Gradually stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.  Stir in oats and raisins until blended.

Drop the dough by rounded spoonfuls 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets.  Flatten the dough slightly with a fork.

Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes.  Cool on the sheets for about 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to finish cooling.

~ This recipe is pretty flexible if you aren't a raisin fan.  Simply replace the raisins with 1 cup of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips. ~