Santa Paws is coming!

Only 4 more sleeps.

Thanks Kurt!

Pretty Things

 He knits....who knew!

Once again my belief is confirmed.....artists know how to throw a mean pot luck.  There was a wide range of interesting fair.  I brought my Kahlua Cheesecake.  I stood back against the wall and watched the reaction to the dessert.  I wasn't sure at first if people liked it or not and I wasn't even sure if it turned out this time.  They would take a bite and seem to pause turn to the person next to them, whisper something then slowly take another bite.  I'm not used to that in my house.  If my family likes something they inhale it before they miss out on seconds.  After watching this reaction repeated by a number of people, finally I got my answer.  A petite French Canadian woman took a bite after receiving a whisper from the person next to her, and let out a long satisfied moan.  The French aren't afraid to express themselves!  WooHoo....it was good.  By the time I got the spring-form pan back it looked like someone had licked it clean.  Weird.

Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake

Servings: 10 people or One Chocoholic;-)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine first 4 ingredients; mix well.  Press firmly into bottom or 9 inch spring-form pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 5 minutes; cool.

16 oz cream cheese (I sometimes use 3 packages instead of 2, and I use the light cream cheese myself.)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 eggs
1/4 cup coffee, brewed, strong
1/4 cup kahlua
1 tsp vanilla

Beat cream cheese with a mixer until fluffy.  Add 3/4 cup sugar gradually mixing well.  Add 1/2 cup cocoa.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Stir in the next 3 ingredients and pour mixture into the pan with the crust.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  (Sometimes I leave it a bit longer as it doesn't seem quite done enough in my oven at this point.)  Cool to room temperature then add chocolate shavings if desired.  Chill 8 hours or overnight.