Lemon Cheesecake with Fresh Blueberries

A short, and sweet entry today! This was made for a June Birthday, and I knew it had to be something that can also celebrate summer. What is better than fresh fruit? Although I had to buy these berries from the grocery store I cannot wait for the ones in my garden to ripen! We have so many, and I'm very happy about that. Last year we barely had any! It was very odd! Anyways! This cheesecake is incredibly rich, smooth, and zesty. The white chocolate ganache and whipped cream adds a whole new dimension as well. Feel free to swap blueberries for any other fruit if desired. Strawberries are perfect for Canada Day, but I would swap the lemon zest for orange.

Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberries
serves at least 12

1 cup crushed Dad's cookies or graham crackers
1/2 cup sliced almonds, crushed
1/4 cup melted butter.

Mix together the crumbs, crushed almonds and butter. Spread into a 9 inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees F. Cool to room temperature.

24 ounces cream cheese, soft to room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream *optional, but I find it makes it smoother
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 eggs
zest of one lemon

Decrease oven temperature to 325 degrees F

Wrap tinfoil around the springform pan, coming 2 inches up the sides. Place in a larger pan with high sides. I use a jelly roll pan.

In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add the sugar and beat on medium-low speed for 5 minutes! Yes this may seem odd, but it dissolves the sugar and makes the filling incredibly smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Scrape down sides of bowl (after every addition). Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix! Scrape down one last time, and add lemon zest.

Pour the mixture into the pan, and smooth out the tops completely. By doing so it won't crack as much if you were to skip this step. Place the pan in the oven and pour in enough water to come up a little bit of the sides of the cheesecake. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

Cool completely to room temperature, then refrigerate over night.

For decorating I melted white chocolate, and spread it across the top of the cake using an offset spatula.

Whip 1 cup whipping cream with a couple tbsp of powdered sugar, and pipe rosettes across the top of the cake in a circle. Pipe tiny stars in the middle, and fill with blueberries. Garnish the rosettes with berries and a little shredded coconut if desired!

Thanks for reading! Happy Summer!

No-Churn Raspberry Cheesecake Icecream Cupcakes

It is the second day of summer! How amazing is that! It feels wonderful to have sunshine, and warm weather. To celebrate I wanted to make one of my most favorite desserts, or snacks. Ice-cream! I have tried making it before in a ice-cream maker. You know the ones with the handles that you have to crank until your arm practically falls off? Well yeah, after that I wasn't too eager to make it again. Lets just say that ice-cream was only good enough to go into milkshakes drenched with chocolate syrup... Anyways! I first saw this recipe back in December. That isn't exactly ice-cream season, so I didn't make it. But I never forgot about it! Recently I made some coconut macaroons that only required a little bit of sweetened condensed milk, so I had some leftover. That was not going to waste! At 4.25 it had to get me another recipe! So I went out, and bought some whipping cream, mixed it all together, and voila! Deliciousness.

These colours are even perfect for Canada Day :)

No-Churn Raspberry Cheesecake Icecream Cups.
Makes 6, easily doubled to make 12.

Line 6 cups in muffin tray with LARGE liners.

100 grams cream cheese (cold!) - 1/2 a block
7 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup whipping cream
ripe raspberries
white belgium chocolate chips

In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until completely smooth. Scrape down the sides. Slowly add the sweetened condensed milk while on medium speed. Scrape down the sides. Add the vanilla extract and whipping cream. Switch to the WHISK attachment and whip until medium stiff pikes form. The mixture shouldn't slide away when lifted. Fold in some belgium chocolate chips. (As many as you desire!) I did about 1/3 cup.

Using an icecream scoop (1/4 cup) place 1 scoop of the mixture in each cup.
Mush the raspberries and spread across the top. I did one raspberry per cup. Swirl with a toothpick. Add another scoop of batter ontop of that. Repeat with raspberries. Freeze at least 6 hours! It may be a good idea to let them thaw slightly before eating :)

ENJOY!!!! and happy summer!


Adapted From: Kitchen Simplicity

Banana Muffins! First taste of summer

What a lovely day! The weather was a little bi-polar, but that's to be expected of spring. Okay, maybe not June. Usually by now I can wear shorts to school; not jeans and sweaters like last week... Anyways! I don't really mind a little sprinkle now and then.

To celebrate Spring I wanted to bake something nice and fresh. Although I made my Strawberry Rhubarb Pie last week, it was time for something a little more convenient, something that could be eaten on the go.... A MUFFIN! Just to my luck we had some lovely ripe bananas sitting in our fruit dish. I used my grandma's banana bread recipe, folded in some chocolate chips for my brother, and baked them in muffin tins. They are soft, with a full banana-y taste.

Banana-y? Yes that is a word...
They are one of my favorites! They are made in the same bowl with just a few ingredients. No spices, extracts in this recipe. Just bold banana flavor.

I included some pictures of flowers that are growing in our garden right now :)

Banana Muffins
18 muffins

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3 bananas, ripe
chocolate chips (optional)

Pre-heat oven 375 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease lightly.

In a large bowl beat the margarine until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until fully mixed. Add both the eggs and beat until incorperated. Add the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Mix until just combined. Add the bananas and beat until batter is smooth. It's okay to have a couple banana chunks. Easy as that!

Using a muffin scoop (1/4 cup) fill 12 muffin sections. Stir some chocolate chips into the remaining batter if desired. Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool on racks for a couple minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy!!! Smartie cookie icecream sandwiches tomorrow...

I'm back!...Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Hello!!! I can't believe I haven't posted on my blog in 6 months...!!! I began to get so busy that I would be baking 2 or 3 times a week and that would just be too much to blog about. Around Christmas things got especially crazy around here. I did 3 family's baking which came out to over 100 shortbread cookies, 5 white chocolate peppermint cheesecakes, Nanaimo bars, date squares, DOZENS of butter tarts and plenty more! Lets just say between that and school I had very little time to even think about blogging! Not to worry though because now that school is starting to slow down I will have more time on my hands.

Some more news... I got a real job! Next weekend I start working at one of our grocery stores in the bakery department! I am hired for the summer as a cake decorator! How exciting is that? I cannot wait to start! It will be quite different than working from home. Now that doesn't mean I will stop baking here! My dad wouldn't allow that ;) Neither would the bank ladies! Unfortunately for them I won't be doing coffee goodies every week, only a birthday cake each month. That is alright though because they are on diets! Although... I think I'm making them some coconut cupcakes in the next couple weeks...

OH! Guess what? I just got back from my band trip to New York City! What an experience! I will never forget it. There will be a post all about it tomorrow because right now I would like to get back to the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie!

I've been watching my rhubarb grow every single day, each day wanting to go pick it and create something. Somehow I have worked up enough patience to leave it alone and let it grow. Now it has gotten tall enough to make exactly what I've been waiting for... PIE! The last time I had pie was last summer when I made that delicious peach pie. Since then I haven't made another. Mainly because I associate pie mostly with the warm months. So now that my garden is producing it's own ingredients that means its time for seasonal desserts! And of course pie is best with the freshest fruits. Tart rhubarb with sweet strawberries and vibrant orange zest provide plenty of flavour that all get baked inside a flaky crust. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream or freshly whipped cream, you are sure to be proud of this decadently delicious pie.

Crust (makes 3, 9 inch double crust pie pastries)
5 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 pound lard
1 egg
1 tbsp white vinegar
ice water

In a large bowl whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in the lard with a pastry cutter until pieces the size of oatmeal are formed. Don't over cut or the pastry will not be flaky.
In a 1 cup liquid measure whisk the egg and vinegar. Add ice water to create 1 cup. Using a fork or spoon pour a couple tbsp's of liquid over the flour mixture and toss to combine. Add more liquid until the dough is able to come together. I usually use it all. Form into a large ball. Cut in half, then into thirds. You will only need 2 out of the 6 sections. Tightly wrap the other 4 in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrap and place the remaining two in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
1, 9 inch double crust pie

2 1/2 cups quartered strawberries
3 1/2 cups rhubarb, cut into 1 inch pieces
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of one small orange
1/2 cup allpurpose flour
2 tbsp butter, cut into chunks
dough for double crust pie
1 egg

Pre-heat oven 425 degrees and place rack in the lower third of the oven.
In a large bowl toss together the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, vanilla, orange zest and flour. Set aside.

Roll out dough for the bottom of the pastry. To know it's the right size, place your pie plate on top and make sure the circle is 2 inches wider around the edge. Transfer dough to pie plate and scrape in filling. Don't scrape in any excess liquids in the bottom of the bowl. Place butter chunks around the top of the pie. Whisk egg in a small bowl and brush the edges with a pastry brush. This is so the top crusts stick together.

Roll out remaining dough. It should be 1 inch wider than the pie plate. Transfer to rolling pin and top pie. Fold the overhang of the dough under the edge. Flute or crimp. Brush egg wash entirely over the pie and sprinkle with sugar if desired.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Continue baking for 40-50 minutes until the bottom and top is golden brown. Let cool to room temperature, about 5-6 hours. Serve with icecream or whipped cream if desired!

I hope you enjoy this pie! I know my dad and grandpa did!

Adapted From Canadian Living

Heart Shaped Cheesecakes

It was my grandparents anniversary and my mom and dad invited them over for dinner. So of course I had to make dessert! I got these little spring-form pans quite awhile ago but have never used them! This was the perfect opportunity to use them. And my grama's favorite dessert is cheesecake. Also I have been converting my grandpa to become a cheesecake lover too. So here is the perfect recipe for making these adorable little cakes! They are rich and creamy with a graham cracker crust, then topped off with Belgium chocolate drizzle and fresh raspberries. If you don't have mini heart pans you can use muffin tins to make 12. Just follow the link to the original recipe.



Mini Heart Cheesecakes (recipe from Joy of Baking)
Makes 4.

1 cup graham wafer crumbs
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

Preparation

Preheat oven 300•F

In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Stir and divide evenly into the 4 heart springform pans. Press firmly into the bottom and refrigerate until filling.

The next steps are best done on the lowest speed of your mixer, as you don't want to incorporate a lot of air into the batter.

In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until completely smooth. Add the sour cream and beat until smooth. Add one of the eggs and beat until just combined. Add the second egg and the vanilla extract. Beat until just combined.

Evenly divide and pour the mixture into the four pans. Bake for 35 minutes.

Don't unlatch the pan, and let cool for 1 hour on a wire rack.

Cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but I always do my cheesecakes overnight.

Before serving slide a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen cheesecakes.

Top with fresh berries or drizzled chocolate and enjoy! They were fabulous in my opinion!

Busy as a bee

Hello! There hasn't been any posts this week do to a very busy scheduale! Lots and lots of homework/tests for school as well as dance 2 days a week. When I wasn't doing either of those, I was either sleeping, eating or relaxing! But I did make a few things in the past while... Enjoy!


Halloween 'Monster Cupcakes' with red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting


Halloween Theme cupcakes, chocolate cake vanilla buttercream.


My mom and dad's 29th Anniversary strawberry dream cloud cake


A slice of my mom and dad's cake


Grama's date 'squares' (they're actually triangles) for the Bank ladies


Ultimate cookies, peanut butter, chocolate chips, hazelnuts and choco drizzle.


Owl Cake Pops for my best friends birthday party!

Raspberry Chocolate Scones

I made these for the ladies at the bank this week. Omgosh, they smelt AMAZING while baking in the oven. Not to mention while they were cooling too. I was so tempted to eat one! But of course I didn't. But oh well! I'm going to make them again this weekend for my family.



Raspberry Chocolate Scones
8 scones

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, cold and cut into small pieces.
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup raspberries
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

Preheat oven 400•F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Stir the vanilla in with the buttermilk.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Cut in the butter using a pastry blender, two knives or your hands until coarse crumbs. It's okay to have some bigger chunks.

Stir in the chocolate chips and raspberries.

Add the buttermilk gradually, careful not to over-mix. Once it has just come together, knead in the bowl gently 3 or 4 times.

Put on a floured surface and roll out about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut in half, then quarters, then eighths.

Put on baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes, rotating half way through.

Cool slightly and serve warm.

Delicious!