Sopapilla Cheesecake

I posted this in 2009 on my old blog, but thought I would re-post it, cause it's so good.  The topping is the absolute best!


I tried it this week, and it makes a delicious, simple cheesecake.  It’s best refrigerated, keeps the cinnamon/sugar topping crunchy!

SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE

1 1/2c Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 stick butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 (8 oz pkgs) softened cream cheese

2 cans crescent rolls

Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping. Mix cream cheese, vanilla and remaining sugar mixture together. Place one can of crescent rolls on bottom of large pan. Spread cream cheese mixture over top. Then place the second can of crescent rolls on top. Melt the butter and pour on top of the rolls. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture on top.
Bake at 350*F for 30 minutes. For variation, layer can of apple pie filling over bottom crust before spreading on cream cheese.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

I've been making this for years, and now cringe when I have to use canned pasta sauce.  I usually make a big batch and either freeze half or use the leftovers for a baked pasta dish the next day.
I manage to cram a ton of veggies in, even my veggie hating husband can't complain, though.
Please, give this recipe a try.

(I am not a measurer, so my ingredients list may be a bit vague.  Edit it to fit your tastes.)

Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground Deer, or Beef
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Medium Sweet Yellow Onion, chopped
3-4 Carrots, minced
1 Green Pepper, chopped
2-3 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
2 Cans of Crushed Tomatoes
1 Tbsp. Dried Oregano
1 Tbsp. Dried Basil, or 2 Tbsp Fresh
A Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tsp. Salt


*Brown the ground deer/beef in a medium size saucepan.  Drain and set aside.
*Heat the olive oil in the same pan.  Slowly cook the onions, carrots and peppers until they're soft.  Add the garlic, stirring it so it doesn't burn.  Add the oregano, basil and red pepper, stirring for a minute.  Then add the tomatoes.  Add salt to taste.
*Simmer until the flavors meld, at least 45 minutes.  Up to a few hours.  The longer it cooks, the thicker the sauce will get.  You can thin it with more crushed or chopped tomatoes.
*Serve over whole wheat noodles with parmesan cheese.

I would show you a picture of the sauce over noodles, but it didn't last long enough on anyone's plate to take one.  So, here's one in the pan, simmering.

I know you are all going to try this soon - let me know what you think of it.

An Eco-Friendly Sink Cleaner

I was watching HGTV the other day and Sabrina Soto taught me a new way to clean my sink.

I have a white, porcelain sink.  I really wanted stainless steel, but my husband insisted on a white, farmhouse sink.  It's beautiful, and large, really fun to use, but awful to keep clean.
I usually use Barkeeper's friend.  I'm a fan.

But, I decided to give this new way a try.
We're always trying to do things healthier, safer for the family.

Here are the ingredients:

3 parts Baking Soda
1 Part Hydrogen Peroxide
1 Lemon

Mix the Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide to make a paste.  Drop a spoonful into your sink and rub it around with a soft, wet cloth.  After you've scrubbed the stains off, rub half a lemon over it.  Enjoy the yummy smelling fizz.  Rinse with hot water.

It worked so good!  And, although it did leave my hands a touch slimy, it was way better than the gritty, sharp stuff BKF leaves behind.

Here are the pics of it's beautifulness

After and Before

(I had a REALLY dirty sink, I know)

The whole sink the next day, in the sunlight

2011 Christmas Cake Pops

Every year, I make goodies to send to my husband's office.  This year, I sent out 7 boxes to his office and other people he works with.  I think I made 5 cakes with of pops.  I also sent peppermint bark, but that's not picture-worthy.

I made Red Velvet Santa Hat pops.  I used a mini marshmallow for the top.  The Christmas Pudding balls were also red velvet.

The trees were yellow cake.

I used chocolate for the blue, with blue sanding sugar.

I also made white with white sanding sugar, but didn't get pics of them.  It was 1:30 am when I was finishing them and all I wanted to do was go to sleep, not take pictures.

The peppermint topped balls were also white cake.  They were our favorite.

This is what can happen if you aren't paying attention.  I think these were hard to do right because I added too much frosting.  The recipe says to use 3/4 of a can, but I never even use 1/2 a can.  I usually use about 2 rounded serving spoons full.

(yes, it was tasty.)

Here they are all boxed up and ready to pack.  I am getting good at packing them to ship.  I pack each pop surrounded by tissue paper and bubble wrap, then place them in a bakery box.  I put a couple of layers of large bubble wrap on the bottom of the shipping box, then some tissue paper or shredded craft paper.  Next the box of cake pops, then bubble wrap around and over it all.  Tape it up good, label and ship.

This time, the boxes I got to ship in were HUGE and ended up being so expensive.  Oh well, everyone loved them.

If you're reading this and don't know how to make Cake Pops, here is my tutorial on them:
Cake Pop Tutorial

Hope you enjoyed my pictures!

Linked to A Well-Seasoned Life, Sweet Indulgences Sunday