Mommy and My Boy’s

I had to have a trial run of a new cheesecake recipe that i will be making for the holidays.  Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares!  oooh-an absolute sugar filled heaven!  these little squares are so yummy.  i usually make a trial run of a new recipe to ensure that it doesnt come out tasting like poo.

After tasting a square, i can tell you that these are VERY sweet!  I think my family will heart them for sure…

Here is a pic of squares and the recipe following:

Cheesecake Squares

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares

For crust
3 1/2 oz graham crackers, crumbled (1cup)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For filling
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-oz envelope, will just about half of envelope)
1/4 cup whole milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
3/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup dulce de leche (12 1/2 oz) (recipe follows)

For glaze
3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), coarsely chopped
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Make crust: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with 2 sheets of foil (crisscrossed), leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.

Finely grind crackers in ziplock with sugar and a pinch of salt or in a food processor. Pour into a bowl and add melted butter. Stir and then press mixture evenly onto bottom of baking pan. Bake 10 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes.

Make filling: Sprinkle gelatin over milk in a small bowl and let stand 2 minutes to soften. Beat together cream cheese, eggs, salt, and gelatin mixture in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes, then stir in dulce de leche gently but thoroughly. Pour filling over crust, smoothing top, then bake in a hot water bath (I was able to fit mine in a 9×13-inch baking pan) in oven until center is just set, about 45 minutes. Cool cheesecake completely in pan on rack, about 2 hours. Chill, covered, at least 6 hours.

Glaze cake within 2 hours of serving: Microwave all glaze ingredients in a glass bowl for apx. 4 min.  Stir until smooth, then pour over cheesecake and coat top evenly. Chill, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Lift cheesecake from pan using foil overhang and cut into 1-inch squares with a thin knife, wiping off knife after each cut.

Note: Cheesecake (without glaze) can be chilled up to 3 days.

Recipe for Dulce de Leche (Milk Caramel):

Pour 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk into top of double-boiler pan; cover. Place over boiling water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 50 minutes, or until thick and light caramel-colored.

Remove from heat. Whisk until smooth.

A friend of mine called to say that Oprah has a 50% off Payless deal going on today and tomorrow only!  It’s 50% off everything!! Go here and print your coupon.

I had been wanting to get a waffle maker forever so some of that extra $ i saved from all my cvsing went to my purchase.  i found a GE waffle maker for $20 at walmart.  Plus, i had picked 6lbs of blueberries that i froze (read my post here on how to freeze) and thought putting them in waffles sounded really yummy!

Here are a few pics and recipes are below:

Yummiest Waffles Ever
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup canola oil
2 egg whites

In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center. In another bowl beat egg yolks slightly. Stir in milk and oil. Add egg yolk mixture all at once to the dry mixture. Stir just till moistened (should be lumpy). In a small bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight up). Gently fold egg whites into flour and egg yolk mixture, leaving a few fluffs of egg white, Do not over mix. Spoon waffle batter into your waffle iron, making sure not to overfill it.

For my family of four, this recipe made a total of 7 waffles so you might want to double it.  I drew the short straw and only got one waffle and some scrambled eggs after giving Mr. Wonderful and the boys 2 waffles a piece.

I also found this delicious recipe for blueberry syrup:

Fresh Blueberry Pancake Syrup

2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water

Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Allow it to cook for 12-15 minutes and give the berries a little smash with your wooden spoon to break them up into the syrup. This syrup can be served warm.

Happy Waffle Making!

Some of you are always asking me how i get so many magazines for free.  well, here’s a couple sites that i always sign up for and have received many magazines from: Go here and fill out form to receive a 5 issue free subscription to the O Magazine (Oprah’s Magazine).

There is also a 1year subscription of Real Simple magazine for $5 with free shipping.  Go here and purchase through amazon.

Hurry as i know this wont last long!

Arby’s has done it again….go here and print off your coupon for a free bbq bacon cheddar roastburger w/purchase of a soft drink (even the small size!).  this coupon expires 7/12/09!

As we were getting around for church this beautiful Sunday morning, we saw this cute little fella out there.  I had to keep Flash inside as he wanted to chase it!