"Belgium" Cheesecake

A friend of mine gave me this recipe and I hope that I can make this for her sometime soon.  She said it was called a "Belgium Cheesecake" a few months ago and I searched to internet looking and looking but could not find the recipe.  My friend got in touch with the person that makes this cheesecake (they do no live in Michigan) and got the recipe for me.

Belgium Cheesecake
Take 1 cup water, 1/2  cup sugar, and 1/2 package of unflavored gelatin (.25 oz.), and mix.
Heat in a double boiler until gelatin and sugar dissolve.

Take 1/2 cup of cold water and 4 egg yolks and mix with a whisk or mixer.  Add this to the hot mixture in double boiler and stir until mixture starts to thicken.

Remove from heat.

Mix 12 oz of cream cheese and 2.5 tablespoons lemon juice with a mixer until creamy.  Blend this into the hot mixture until well mixed and creamy.  Place the mixture in refrigerator for about 45 minutes or until it starts to set.

Make a Graham cracker crust: 1 cup crushed graham crackers with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter.   Butter a spring-form pan with butter and 1/2 of the sugar graham cracker mixture.

Whip 1/2 cup whipping cream and then blend in with the cheesecake filling that was in the refrigeration.

Whip 4 egg whites to stiff peaks and mix into the cheesecake mixture.

Pour cheese cake mixture into graham cracker lined pan, cover the cake with the rest of the graham crackers and chill for at least 3  hours.

Almond Cake

Last weekend we were watching TV and saw Lidia make this cake and it looked so good that my Daughter, her friend, and I gave it a try.  Almond Torta with Chocolate Chips was as good as it looked on her show and we had fun making it!  

~Almond Cake~

10 ounces butter, soft, plus more for the pan
1¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup sugar
5 large eggs
2 teaspoons finely grated zest of orange
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
2 cups almond flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (we used chopped bitter sweet baking bar)
½ cup sliced blanched almonds, lightly toasted (we did not have these so we did not do this)


You will need a 10-inch springform pan and an electric mixer with paddle attachment. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of the springform pan. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven, and heat to 350 degrees. Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. 

In the mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each in thoroughly before adding the next; scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon zest and almond extract, then raise the speed to high and beat the batter until very light, a minute or more. 

On low speed, mix in half of the sifted flour mixture, beating just until it is incorporated; beat in half the almond flour. Scrape the bowl, and mix in the remaining all-purpose flour and remaining almond flour. Beat briefly on medium to a smooth batter, then, again on low speed, mix in the chocolate chips just until evenly distributed. 

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and spread it in an even layer. Scatter the sliced almonds all over the top. Bake the torta for 45 minutes-rotating the pan halfway through the baking time-or until the cake is golden brown on top and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Cool the cake in the pan for about 10 minutes on a wire rack. Run the blade of a paring knife around the edge of the cake, then open the spring and remove the side ring. Cool the cake completely before serving. Cut it in wedges, and dust with confectioners' sugar or accompany with whipped cream, ice cream, or zabaglione.

Puttanesca - Inspired by Klaus, Violet and Sunny Bouldalare.

2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite size chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon pepper flacks

1 cup katamala olives

1/2 jar capers (about 1/4 cup)

1 28 oz can chunk tomatoes

1 package whole grain angle hair spaghetti

1 teaspoon oregano

a large bunch fresh basil, cut into ribbons

salt and pepper

**Note: if not careful the dish can get over powered with salt so be sure to rinse the oloves before cutting them up and the capers.

Breakfast

I love the blog Simply Breakfast and I have been taking some photos of my morning meal myself.  Here I have Vinta Crackers with brie and honeydew melon with a side of coffee.  Setting out one back deck enjoying my wonderful garden.

Recipe from 64 sq ft kitchen

Muhammara

Recipe: Gourmet, December 1993
- 3 red peppers, roasted, seeded and peeled, or a 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, well drained - 2/3 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and chopped fine
- 2 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
- ¼ to ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Bread to spread on

I come back to this recipe over and over again and every time I have to search through my friend Warda's blog to find it so today I am going to save it here so I can find it easy. thanks for such a great dip, I love it!

Now What

okay, I have been done with my summer class for a few weeks now (got an A by the way) and I am cooking. I have not had time since last summer to enjoy the kitchen and wow I am enjoying. I have canned dill pickles, sweet pickles and tomatoes; all out of my own garden. I have also been creating new for me dishes and working with my daughter on things that she wants to try cooking. All of this has been so fun!

On top of all of that my husband has gotten me all kinds of new camera equipment to play with. The new stuff has given me a learning curve for photo taking but it has been fun.

I am sure you are starting to think, why has she not been blogging since she is doing all this kitchen play? I have a really good answer, my computer died. I am typing this on the Dell Latitude we have for the kids. While this is a great little computer for the kids I can't get the hang of typing and using this little thing and to blog on it would not really be very enjoyable to me. soooooooooo if it isn't one thing it is another and in 7 short days I will be back in class. I hope to post a few recipes soon, wish me luck!