KEY LIME CHEESECAKE: The Latest New Dessert Craze

by Brian Alan Burhoe


Key lime cheesecake - sweet, tart and delicious! The zing of this refreshingly sweet/tart key lime cheesecake, capped with a lime enhanced cream topping and drizzled with a key lime sauce, is reminiscent of the warm Florida Keys. Fresh Key lime juice makes this authentic, but use bottled juice if fresh limes are not available.

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--Key Lime Cheesecake--

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 5 Tbsp. butter, melted 1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar 3- 8oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes) If using key limes or juice,use half as much. 3 eggs whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine crumbs, butter and 1 Tbsp. sugar in a bowl.Stir well to to coat all crumbs. Keep it crumbly. Press the crumbs onto thebottom and half way up the sides of an 8" springform pan. Bake crust for 5mins.and set aside. In large bowl combine cheese,

1 cup sugar and vanilla.Mix with electric mixer till smooth. Add the lime juice and eggs andcontinue to beat till smooth and creamy. Pour filling into crust. Bake for60 to 70 mins. If top is turning light brown it's done. Remove from oven andallow to cool till room temperature. Put into fridge. When chilled, removethe pan sides and cut. Serve with whipped cream.

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Other popular Desserts:

--Candy Corn-- 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup white corn syrup 1/3 cup butter1 teaspoon vanilla 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup powdered milk food coloring (optional)

Combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup in pan and bring to a boil, stirring CONSTANTLY. Turn heat low and boil 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

In a separate dish, combine powdered sugar, salt, and powdered milk. Add allat once to the mixture in the pan. Add food coloring if desired.Stir until cool enough to handle. Shape into creative pieces.

--Down Home Cinnamon Sugar Cookies--

Topping: 3 Tbsp. white sugar 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Cookies: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup white sugar1 cup salted butter, softened 2 large eggs 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300F.In a small bowl combine sugar and cinnamon for topping. Set aside.In a medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well with a whire whiskand set aside.In a large bowl blend sugars with an electric mixer set at medium speed. Addthe butter, and mix to form a grainy paste.

Scrape sides of bowl, then addthe eggs and vanilla extract. Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy.Add the flour mixture and blend at low speed just until combined. Do notovermix. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in cinnamon-sugartopping.Place onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes.Immediately transfer cookies with a spatula to a cool, flat surface.

Yield: 3 dozen

--Nutri-Grain Bars--

1 pkg yellow cake mix 3/4 cup butter 2 1/2 cups quick oats 12 ounces preserves or jam 1 T water

Preheat oven to 375. Melt butter. Combine cakemix and oats in a large bowl; stir in the meltedbutter until the mixture is crumbly. Measure halfof this mixture (about 3 cups) into a greased13x9x2-inch pan.

Press firmly into pan to coverthe bottom.Combine preserves and water; spoon over crumbmixture in pan, and spread evenly. Cover withremaining crumb mixture. Pat firmly to make topeven.Bake at 375 for 20 minutes--top should be verylight brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Snow White Wedding Cake

by Sarasnomo


One of the unforgettable wedding party in a wedding cake. Currently, creative wedding cake so varied in terms of model, size and taste. The right choice in choosing wedding cake will give a special feel for the wedding feast was held. There are many options now, for example, snow white cake top, the design of the cake will look more beautiful when filled with perfect taste delicious. Wedding cake design is available in a simple model to a specific theme. The complexity of the design, manufacturing and engineering size will affect the price of a wedding cake. Special taste can also affect the price.gallery in http://weddingcakegift.blogspot.com/2009/01/snow-white-wedding-cake.html Before determining the choice of wedding cake in accordance with the style of wedding party, some of the things that need to be considered in accordance with the budget provided. White wedding cake can act as one of the options from the menu cover dish in a series of wedding parties. To take into account the number of guests, the type and amount of the main dish. The price of materials used in making a snow wedding cake is sensitive to price changes. Make reservations early to avoid price increases that affect the price increase on the whole cake. Elections cake design theme with special needs reservations early, about three to four months before the day H. reservations on the cake, or choose a popular wedding day in "marrying season", also requires time of booking early. The withdrawal wedding dress, white snow wedding cake has a special meaning in the event a marriage party. When a knife in the fist two slice start slowly, sensai emotional feelings of happiness to meet the bridegroom, family, colleagues and invitations.

Bring sweetness to your life with pecan pralines and candied pecans

by Clint Jhonson

Pecans are found in abundance in New Orleans area in North America. Apart from the great nutritional value of the raw nut pecans have been consumed by the Americans in a number of innovative ways. Sometimes Pecans are just roasted, salted, and eaten as delicious crunchy snacks. They are also used in cakes and pies. Very often these tasty nuts are used as pecan pralines and candied pecans.

Pecan pralines are commonly prepared in North America as they are easily available there. A French cook in France first prepared pralines. Individual pieces of almonds were covered with caramelized sugar. Later in Europe praline came to be known as crushed powder or paste of the caramelized nut. This powder is used as fillings in the chocolate. The famous Belgian chocolates have such fillings.

Pecan pralines can be easily prepared at home. To make pecan praline the ingredients you need are evaporated milk, butter, brown sugar, pecans, vanilla and water. Put milk, sugar and water in a thick-bottomed pan. Put it on heat and bring it to boil. Stir constantly till it takes the consistency of a soft ball. Remove from the heat and fold in the butter, vanilla, and the pecans. Drop spoonful of pecan mixture on waxed paper and your tasty pecan pralines are ready.

Candied pecans are mouth-watering delights that can be prepared without much hassle. The things you need are pecans halved, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, cinnamon, salt, water, and vanilla. Coat the pecans with vegetable oil, spread on a baking sheet, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring frequently. In a saucepan put sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water and put it on heat to cook. Stir the mixture over medium heat till the sugar is dissolved. The mixture should be transformed into a softball consistency or should reach a temperature of 236 degree of a candy thermometer. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the vanilla. Add pecans and stir till the mixture is creamy. Put the whole mixture on a waxed paper and separate the pecans with fork. Cool till the candied pecans are hardened and ready to eat.

Another milky variety of candied pecans can be prepared with evaporated milk, butter, sugar, water, and pecan. In a heavy bottomed saucepan cook milk and water on high fire. Blend in sugar and stir till the mixture turns light brown. Drop a stick of butter in it. On the other side spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake till they turn brown. Pour them out on a buttered plate. Now, test the mixture for softball consistency. If it is done, stir in the pecans. Keep stirring till the mixture turns into semi-hard candy consistency. Pour it on a greased plate and cut immediately into small pieces. Candied pecans can be used in cakes too. These cakes can be served as excellent dessert.

Generally, pecan pralines and candied pecans are available in stores in air tight tins. They can be bought for serving as snacks or can be used in desserts or can be just wrapped up and presented to someone you love. They make very attractive gift.