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! ~

Potato Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
• 1 medium onion (diced)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 egg 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• vegetable oil

Directions

In mixing bowl, combine mashed potatoes, onion, flour, egg, salt and pepper.  Mix well. 

Coat skillet with vegetable oil for frying on medium/high heat.  Drop mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls into hot oil, careful not to overcrowd the pan.  This is usually done in a few batches.  Fry until golden brown on both sides.  Place on paper toweling to drain excess oil.  

Serve as is or with the toppings of your choice.

~ This is what I find to be the easiest way to use up your mashed potatoes from a previous night's dinner.  I know you can use fresh potatoes (grated) as well, but I prefer to think of this as a tasty way to revamp those leftovers without wasting them.  My family likes these with a dollop of sour cream.  You can sprinkle with grated cheese, or just eat them as they are.  A tasty side dish that I know you will enjoy! ~

Cranberry Muffins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen (roughly chopped)

Topping

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Grease or line a 12 slot muffin tin.

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Fold in sour cream.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt.  Add this flour mixture to the creamed mixture, stirring just until moistened.  Fold in cranberries.

In a small bowl combine topping ingredients.

Fill muffin tin slots 2/3 full and sprinkle with topping.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean (although it will most likely be stained red).  Cool in tins for about 5 minutes before removing.  Makes a dozen muffins.

~ I had leftover cranberries from the cranberry upside down cake I made the other night and wanted to use them up, so I made these muffins.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Again, tart, yet semi sweet.  I think maybe an addition of orange zest (or maybe even orange juice) to the batter might take it up another notch, but all in all, good muffins. ~

Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 very ripe)
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts or 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and lightly flour loaf pan.  Set aside.

Cream together sugar and butter.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add sour cream, vanilla, and bananas.  Add flour, soda, and salt.  Fold in nuts or chocolate chips.  Pour into loaf pan and bake 60 - 65 minutes or until golden brown.

~ I'm a sucker for a good banana bread, warm and buttered, right out of the oven.  I never realized just how easy it was to bake from scratch til mom gave me the recipe many years ago and I tried it for myself.  It's been a winner ever since! ~