Pumpkin cheesecake

This is a variation of a recipe I originally found in Gourmet magazine in I believe, 1990.
The first couple of times I made this cheesecake I followed the recipe exactly, until I had to make a cheesecake for a work function and couldn't locate it, so I decided to fall back on my culinary roots and improvise. That led to the development of what I call my "basic batter" recipe that can be tweaked to create all sorts of different cheesecakes.
I've included a link to the original here - Pumpkin Cheesecake with Bourbon Sourcream topping.

Andrea, I have no way of knowing whether you're going to enjoy cooking as I do - regardless, it's honestly going to be a few years before you're going to want to tackle this, as the first couple of times, it's an honest to God pain in the ass to make.

Should you want to make a variant, I'm going to also give you the recipe for what I call my "basic batter" - it works as a stand alone, but it also lends itself to the addition of everything from fruit to chocolate.

The basic recipe:
4 packs of cream cheese, allowed to come to room temperature.
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
(note: to make a New York style cheesecake, add 8 oz sour cream)

Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until smooth. (I use a hand mixer, but if you're lucky enough to have my dream mixer, the KitchenAid, you'll find it goes much easier)
Add any other ingredients you want, such as frozen fruit, chocolate chips, etc, and pour into the springform pan that you've prepped with a crust.
Bake at 350 for at least an hour to an hour and a half, or until the center is set.
Turn off the oven, crack the door and let it cool for an hour before removing, then let cool further on the counter before putting in the refrigerator.
Let it set overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

That's it.
I promise over the years, you'll have the chance to sample this many times, and I hope I'm lucky enough to be around when you try to make this yourself. I love you!
Oh, and one other piece of advice - don't let Grandpa Don in the kitchen when you're trying to make this. He just gets in the way.

Christmas 2007 pics

This, of course, is your Grandpa Don.
The gentleman to the left is your Uncle Bobby.

This is your Aunt Sheba and Uncle Bobby, also known as De Wabbit or Rabbit.

Don't believe what your Aunt Sheba says about your Grandpa Don and I selling her to your Uncle Bobby for a 386 motherboard.

Neither Grandpa Don nor I know anything about what she's saying.

That's our story and we're sticking to it.

Christmas 2007 Dinner - Liftoff

Dinner went off perfectly - as you can see in the picture above, I ended up making roasted brussel sprouts, cauliflower, scalloped potatoes, the rib roast, stewed mushrooms, rolls, and pumpkin cheesecake.

Christmas 2007 Dinner - countdown

It's 12:15p Christmas Day, 2007 - company's due to arrive starting at 3ish, with dinner at around 5:30.
Right now, I'm being very bad and having 2 cups of leaded coffee (okay, probably 3) prior to starting the prep for the meal.
First on the agenda, getting the potatoes prepped. The recipe I'm using for the scalloped potatoes calls for peeled potatoes, however I prefer skin on, so that's how they're getting done. Thankfully, I have a mandoline, so prep for the scalloped potatoes will be a breeze.
Then, it'll be time to get the roast in and start on the brussel sprouts.
Once they're prepped, I'll tackle the cauliflower - I'm debating doing it whole head vs. bite size pieces - I guess I'll decide that shortly.
Pull out the dinner roll dough from the freezer and get them rising, then start the salad prep.

You see Andrea, all those years I spent in restaurant kitchens pays off - I can still pull off something like this dinner with excellent timing.

Plans are to start with a few "nummies for the tummies" as we call them, in this case it's St Brendan's Irish Liquer - and some minor munchies and a quick social call on one of the neighbors, Renee.
Okay, coffee cup's empty now so it's time to start prepping.
More later.

Christmas 2007

Okay, it's time you were introduced to one of my favorite soapbox topics, Christmas.
I was raised Jewish, however since I consider myself neo-pagan, and I've never been Christian, I have a respect for Christmas as a holiday, but don't really go out of my way to celebrate it - there are exceptions such as this year, when I worked the day before and the day after, and everyone just happened to be staying in town, so I grabbed the opportunity to cook Christmas dinner.
Anyway, this isn't about that - this is about what happened at work today - I brought in presents for a couple of people - I created some gift bags with various "spa" products, and got a lap blanket for another person, my supervisor got a gift card.
I passed out cards to other people, and gave them a little beanie bear Santa -
I gave the presents, and each one of them said "oh now I have to get you something" - which drives me nuts.
I didn't give you something so that you would go out and buy me something - I gave you a gift because I wanted to. I gave you something because I think you need a smile. I gave you something because I love you. I gave you something for whatever reason it happened to be, but I didn't give you something so you'd give me something back other than a hug or a sincere thank you.
(Except in your case, when I expect a thank you letter or email or phone call)
Remember this when you're dealing with me, Andrea. I'll spoil you rotten, but don't ever expect it from me. I'm not a vending machine, after all.
But wait until you're walking. That's when the fun really begins - you see, your Mom made me promise that I wouldn't send up bears bigger than you until you could walk.
That's how you got a bear collection. The old one is named Pinky, btw. - I don't know what you'll end up calling him.
He was my special friend when I was growing up, and I hope he's yours too - he's from the Sears Roebuck on Ponce De Leon catalog center, circa 1962 - nowadays, that's City Hall here in Atlanta.
He travelled by my side until the 5th grade, when I "outgrew" him.
Well, I never lost him and now he's living with you. I hope you enjoy him as much as I did.
Anyway, I'm rambling now because it's late and I'm tired.
I love you, little darling.

This is Pinky - he's a little worn, but still filled with love.
I hope you love him as much as I did.

Solstice 2007

Today is December 22nd, aka the Longest Night, aka Yule, Winter Solstice.
Today, the painting got finished and I finally got around to setting up my altar after over a year and a couple months in this space.
Now that I have a decent digital camera, I can take better pictures for upload than on the camera on the phone - so there'll be a photographic record for you too.

That's my altar up there.

Christmas 2007 Dinner

Because of my work schedule, I will be working Christmas Eve, off Christmas Day, and then back to work the 26th.
So what do I decide to do? Cook Christmas Dinner, of course.
Invited are Bobby and Sheba, along with Don and Ian. I'm planning on a rib roast, parmesan garlic potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, whatever inspires me at the Farmer's Market, a salad, and my signature pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon sourcream topping.
I can't wait. I never get to cook for a crowd anymore - I'm looking forward to this.
More as it develops.