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! ~

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar (or maple syrup)
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup water (or milk)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Sift together the flour, cocoa, soda and salt.  

Cream together the sugar, mayonnaise, water and vanilla.  

Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture; stir until well blended.  

Pour into a greased and floured layer cake pan (or 9x13 pan).  

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.  Frost if you like, but good plain.

~ Thanks goes to my sister for this recipe via email.  It's a recipe similar to the one that has been in the family for many years.  My dad's sister used to make mayonnaise cake and everybody loved it! ~

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup butter, softened and divided
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon melted butter
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat a 9 inch square or 10 inch round baking pain with cooking spray and dust lightly with flour.

In small bowl, combine cranberries, walnuts and orange peel.  Set aside.

In small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.  Stir in brown sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon.  Cook for 3 minutes stirring constantly.  Pour into pan.  Sprinkle with cranberry mixture.

Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric hand mixer set on medium, beat white sugar and remaining butter until creamy.  Add vanilla, egg, buttermik, and flour mixture.  Spoon over cranberries.

Bake about 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes then invert onto a rack to finish cooking. 

Mix the powdered sugar, melted butter and orange juice and drizzle over cake before slicing.

~ I found this recipe in a magazine today and it looks way too good not to share.  I would think you could change it up with whatever fruit you choose depending on the season. ~