Shauna Yosef's Banana Bread Muffins (via Pinterest)

INGREDIENTS:

4 large very ripe bananas mashed

1 egg (beaten)

½ cup sugar (you could use more if you like them REALLY sweet but the bananas are sweet enough)

⅓ cup butter, melted

1½ cups plain all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda 

½ teaspoon salt

Streusel Topping (not necessary! but it's what I made)

½ cup plain flour

¼ cup brown sugar

½ stick (57 grams) cold butter

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F. Mash bananas and add the lightly beaten egg, sugar and butter and mix well to combine and set aside. In another bowl, add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and whisk well. Add nuts or chocolate or whatever add-ins you want to the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until nearly all the flour has disappeared. Overmixed muffins are tough.Pour into greased cupcake pans (add streusel if you wish) and bake for about 20 minutes. Touch the tops and if they spring back, they're done.

Streusel Topping

Place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until it's streuselly. (or crumbly) If you don't have a processor, a fork works just fine - or your fingers.

Rosa's Ricotta Cheese Cake

Recipe and photo courtesy of Rosa Velez
 
 
Filling: Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Ricotta cheese
- 1 cup of mascarpone cheese 
- 2 oranges zest and juice
- 1 cup of sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp of orange extract
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
 
Crust Ingredients:

-1 box of Nilla wafers
-1 stick of butter
 
Directions for crust:

Blend or smash cookies  until all crumbled.  Melt stick of butter and pour into crushed cookies.  Blend well. Put in the pan and pat down until it’s even in pan. Blind bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until sides are slightly golden brown. Let cool before pouring in the filling.
 
Ricotta Filling Directions:
Mix sugar, ricotta and mascarpone until sugar is blended. Add eggs one at a time, add zest, the juice of oranges, vanilla extract and orange extract. Mix until all combined and bake at 350 for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Turn off oven leave for another hour in oven. Then refrigerate untill next day and enjoy!
 

The Best EVER Banana Nut Cake

 

 

                                                                Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon tsp baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4-1/2 cup crushed walnuts

 

Directions:


1.  Combine the oil, eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas.
2.  Add the baking soda and flour and nuts.
3.  Combine well for 2-3 minutes.
4. Pour into a greased approx. 10 x 10 glass bake dish and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 1 hour or until a knife in the center comes out clean.

 We topped ours with Buttercream frosting straight from Betty Crocker herself J

Scotcharoos

Recipe and picture courtesy of:  Crystal Linn 

Directions

1. Generously butter a 9x13 inch baking pan. Set aside.

2. In a large pot, mix together corn syrup, sugar, and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring until 

    peanut butter melts. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, and stir in crisp rice cereal.

3. Transfer mixture into a well buttered 9x13 inch pan. With your hands well buttered, pat it down into pan.

4. In a medium saucepan, over medium low heat, melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.   

    Spread over top of bars and let bars cool. Cut into squares.

Mom's Coconut Custard Pie

1 (9 inch) unbaked refrigerated pie crust 

3 large eggs, beaten

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 full tablespoon vanilla extract

1 more egg separated (total of 4 eggs in recipe)

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Separate one egg…keep the yolk for now and save the white for your egg wash later in the recipe. 

In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream. Heat until just starting to boil – be sure to watch it because it will go from barely simmering to heavy boiling rather quickly. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, combine the one egg yolk, the three whole beaten eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Mix well. Now slowly (it is important to pour very slowly) add in the hot milk mixture continuing to whisk vigorously and continuously so that the egg mixture already in the bowl does not cook. Once the hot milk mixture is completely blended in, add in the coconut and mix well. 

Place the unbaked pie crust on a cookie sheet lined with a silicon mat. Brush the insides (bottom, sides and top) with that egg white you put aside to help prevent the crust from getting soggy. Carefully pour the custard mixture into the pie crust.

Bake for 35 minutes then carefully place strips of aluminum foil over the exposed crust to prevent it from getting too dark. Reduce the oven temp to only 250 degrees and put pie back into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes or until the filling is just about set. It should not be wet and jiggly but not completely firm or solid.

Remove from oven and cool on rack. When pie is just about room temperature then place in refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Delish!

Lemon Bread

Recipe and picture courtesy of Karen Dirgins-Graves
　
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
12 tbs unsalted butter
, melted (1 1/2 sticks)
2 eggs
 lightly beaten
1 cup milk
zest of 1 lemon

GLAZE:1/4 cup sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice

In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together sugar and vanilla. Add the butter, eggs, milk and lemon zest, and whisk together thoroughly. Add the flour mixture and stir until blended.Pour batter into a greased & floured loaf pan.Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes.Pop it out of the pan to cool. Glaze at will!

LuAnn's Peach Cake

Recipe and Pictures courtesy of: LuAnn Beal


Ingredients:


1 can (15 ¼ ounces) sliced peaches, undrained

1 package( 18 ¼ ounce) yellow cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 carton (8 ounce cool) whip, thawed

¾ cup (6 ounce peach yogurt

Additional drained diced peaches, if desired Drain peaches, reserving juice.




Directions:

Add enough water to juice to measure 1 ¼ cups. Cut peaches into 1 inch pieces; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, peach juice mixture, oil and eggs on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on med for 2 minutes. Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack. Cool completely.

In a bowl, combine the cool whip and yogurt; fold in reserved peaches. Spread topping between layers and over top of cake. Garnish with additional diced peaches if desired. Store in refrigerator about an hour.

Grandma Dugan's Pistachio Cake

This was an award winning "Jell-O" recipe! Recipe and photos courtesy of Donna Hawkins
Love this photo of the actual hand written recipe!

Donna Hawkins: "One thing I left off the recipe: dust with powder sugar."

Karen's Refrigerator Cake

Refrigerator Cake
Recipe and picture courtesy of Karen Dirgins-Graves

aka the easiest cake to make in the history of cake making:
What you need--1 package of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers1 bowl of whipped cream (you can use Cool Whip, but it doesn't turn out as good)

Directions:
Sandwich the cookies with the whipped cream to make a cookie log, then ice the whole thing with whipped cream. Refrigerate overnight for the cookies get a chance to soft.

Whipped Cream: 1 pint heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsp. confectioners sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla. Beat with a electric mixer until soft peaks form.

Almond Bundt Cake with Strawberries

Recipe courtesy of: “Recipe.com”
http://www.recipe.com/almond-bundt-cake-with-fresh-strawberries/

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sliced almonds (1/4 ounce)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole almonds (5 ounces)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or non-hydrogenated margarine, softened
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
4 cups strawberries, halved
4 teaspoons sugar
Confectioners' sugar for dusting
Whipped cream for garnish, optional

Directions

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan with cooking spray formulated with flour for baking. Sprinkle sliced almonds over bottom of pan.

2- Pulse flour, whole almonds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in food processor or blender until almonds are finely ground.

3- Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer 3 to 4 minutes, or until creamy. Beat in oil. Gradually add sugar, and beat 4 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and almond extracts, and beat until blended.

4- Alternately fold flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture with spatula, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of liquid. Spread batter in prepared pan, and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top springs back when touched and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes. Unmold onto rack, and cool completely.

5- Toss strawberries with sugar in medium bowl. Chill 1 hour to let strawberries release their juices. Serve cake dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped with strawberries and whipped cream, if desired.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 271, Total Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 197 mg, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g, Sugars 17 g
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Eggnog Pound Cake

from: Flo Braker’s Baking for All Occasions

MyBakingAddiction.com

http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/eggnog-pound-cake-with-crystal-rum-glaze/

Ingredients

For the cake

2 tablespoons dark rum or water

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

8 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup store-bought refrigerated (rather than canned) eggnog

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the crystal rum glaze:

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons dark rum

2 tablespoons water

Directions

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) or 325°F (160°C) if the pan has a dark finish). Butter a 10-by-3-inch Bundt pan, lightly coat it with nonstick spray, then flour it, tapping out the excess flour. Or, butter and flour a 10-by-4 1/4-inch tube pan with or without a removable bottom. Have all of the ingredients at room temperature.

 Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg onto a sheet of waxed paper; set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-low speed until creamy and smooth, 30 to 45 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the sugar in a steady stream and continue to beat on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

 With the mixer still on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated and stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. On the lowest speed, add the flour mixture in four additions alternately with the eggnog in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and mixing after each addition until incorporated. Stop the mixer as needed to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla during the final moments of mixing.

4. Detach the paddle and bowl from the mixer, and tap the paddle against the side of the bowl to free the excess batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with the spatula.

5. Bake the cake just until the top springs back when lightly touched in the center and the sides are beginning to come away from the pan, 55 to 65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes while you prepare the glaze.

Crystal Rum Glaze

1. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, rum, and water and stir with a rubber spatula just until blended.

2. Without delay, tilt and rotate the cake pan while gently tapping it on a counter to release the cake sides. Invert a wire rack on top of the cake, invert the cake onto it, and carefully lift off the pan. Slide a sheet of waxed paper under the rack to catch any drips from the glaze. Using a pastry brush, coat the top and sides of the warm cake with all of the glaze. Let the cake cool completely before serving.

3. To serve, slide the base of a tart pan, a small rimless baking sheet, or a large offset spatula under the cake and carefully transfer it to a serving platter. Cut the cake into thin slices with a sharp or serrated knife.

Cranberry Layer Cake

Recipe from: AllRecipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cranberry-Layer-Cake/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=49591790&prop26=Baking&prop27=2010-12-07&prop28=Main&prop29=Recipe&me=1

Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 30 Min
Ready In: 50 Min

Original Recipe Yield 12 servings

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed and coarsely chopped
1 cup finely chopped walnuts

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the first five ingredients; mix well. stir in the cranberries and walnuts. Pour into two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and orange peel until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with walnuts

Sam’s Famous Carrot Cake

From AllRecipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=8270&origin=detail&servings=15

*Cream Cheese frosting recipe follows*
Ingredients:

3 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup flaked coconut     (I left this out)
1 cup chopped walnuts (I left them out)
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with
juice
1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x12
    inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set
    aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well.
   Add flour mixture and mix well.

4. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple
    and raisins.

5. Using a large wooden spoon or a very heavy whisk, add carrot mixture 
    to batter and fold in well.

6. Pour into prepared 8x12 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees F
    (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check with toothpick.

7. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving

Cream Cheese Frosting:


Ingredients

1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 tablespoons cream
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Blend together the cream cheese and cream until light and fluffy.
Sift the sugar, and add to the cream cheese blend.

Peaches and Cream Upside-Down Pound Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened, plus 3 TBS melted
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups diced fresh or frozen peaches, with ¼ cup reserved
1/3 cup dark brown sugar

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the batter alternately with sour cream. Fold in the peaches, reserving ¼ cup.

Grease a bundt pan. Pour the 3 TBS melted butter into pan, tilt to spread evenly around the pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top and add the remaining ¼ cup of peaches all around. Pour in batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, immediately loosen around all the edges with a knife. After 5 minutes, put a plate on top of pan, holding with oven mitts, flip cake over onto plate. Don’t lift without tapping all around pan with a large spoon, in case some areas stick to pan. Let cool and dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Triple Berry Muffins

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups fresh chopped Blueberries, Raspberries and Strawberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large bowl, stir together milk, egg, and oil. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and blueberries; gently mix the batter with only a few strokes. Spoon batter into cups.

Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot

Amaretti Cheesecake

Ingredients to make Amaretti Cheesecake

CRUST:
7 oz Amaretti (see note)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 oz unsweetened chocolate,1 sqare
5 Tbsp sweet butter

FILLING
6 oz semisweet chocolate
7 oz Amaretti
4 oz almond paste
1/3 cup Amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 lb cream cheese
1/4 cup granulated sugar at room temperature
4 eggs (large or extra-large)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions to make Amaretti Cheesecake

Step 1:(CRUST) Butter the sides only (not the bottom) of a 9-inch spring-form pan (2 1/2-3 inches deep). Grind the Amaretti very fine in a food processor or blender. Mix with sugar in a mixing bowl. Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler, stirring occasionally. Add the melted mixture to the Amaretti crumbs and sugar and mix thoroughly. (Don’t wash the double boiler; you’ll be using it again in a minute.) Turn the mixture into the prepared pan. With your fingers, distribute it evenly over the bottom and press it down into a very firm, compact layer. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

Step 2:(FILLING) Adjust rack 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven and preheat to 350 deg. F. Partially melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler, then uncover and stir until completely melted. Remove the top of the double boiler and set aside to cool. Break the Amaretti coarsely into a bowl and set aside. Cut the almond paste into small pieces, and beat on low speed with an electric mixer, while gradually adding the Amaretto liqueur. Beat until thoroughly mixed, and set aside.

Step 3:the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until smooth again. Add the almond paste-Amaretto mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add the melted chocolate and beat well again. Add the eggs one at a time, beating at low speed until they are incorporated after each addition. Add the heavy cream and beat until smooth. Add the coarsely broken Amaretti and stir gently only to mix. Turn into the prepared pan, pouring the mixture over the bottom crust. Rotate the pan gently to level the batter. (Don’t worry if the mixture comes almost to the top; it won’t run over.) Bake 45 minutes. It will seem soft and not done, but don’t bake any more; it will become firm when chilled.

Step 4:NOTES Amaretti are Italian almond-flavored wafer cookies. They are usually sold in metal tins with the wafers wrapped in packages of two inside the tin. You can also buy Amarettini, which are the same flavor but much smaller and not individually wrapped.

Country Pound Cake

AllRecipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=8300&origin=detail&servings=14

This a really good down-home style, back to basics pound cake that my whole family enjoys! This recipe was handed down to me with the stipulation of placing the cake in a cold oven, and it turns out perfectly every time."

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening 2 2/3 cups white sugar
5 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract

Directions:

Do not preheat the oven. Grease 10 inch tube pan and line bottom with wax paper or parchment paper.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugar on low speed for 10 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, mixing well. Add the vanilla and lemon extracts.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 1 hour. Remove to a cake rack and cool for at least 3 hours

Blueberry Peach Pound Cake

AllREecipes.com:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blueberry-Peach-Pound-Cake/Detail.aspx/

Original Recipe Yield 12 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups chopped fresh or frozen unsweetened peaches
2 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries
3/4 cup reduced-fat whipped topping

Directions

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and applesauce. Add egg substitute and milk. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix until blended. Fold in peaches and blueberries. Pour into a 10-in. flouted tube pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Garnish slices with whipped topping

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This classic favorite has made a comeback, and it's easier than ever to make when using a cake mix.

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 1 hour 50 min
Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can (20 oz) pineapple slices in juice, drained, juice reserved
1 jar (6 oz) maraschino cherries without stems, drained
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
Vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In 13x9-inch pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice, and arrange remaining cherries around slices; press gently into brown sugar.

Add enough water to reserved pineapple juice to measure 1 1/4 cups. Make cake batter as directed on box, substituting pineapple juice mixture for the water. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes (42 to 48 minutes for dark or nonstick pan) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake 5 minutes so brown sugar topping can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store covered in refrigerator.
.

Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake

Cheese Cake

Crust:
1 1/2  cups finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
3 blocks cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 pint sour cream
1 lemon, zested
1 dash Vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
combine the crust ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

For the Filling:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well mixed but not over beaten. Pour the filling into the crust lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle, so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim.

Caramel Apple Walnut Topping or "Apple Pie Topping"

Ingredients:

1/2 cup caramel sauce
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1-2 baking apples, peeled and sliced into thin slices
3 tbs butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 TBS Brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Directions:

Add the apple slices, brown sugar and butter into a thick bottom, narrow and high sided pan. Cook over a medium-high heat, stirring, until the apples are tender and the brown sugar melts to form a thick syrup. Set aside and let cool.


Pour the caramel sauce over cooled cheesecake, smoothing with a spoon, leaving a few inch border around the edges. Arrange the apple slices as you like, top with cinnamon and walnuts. Refrigerate until ready to serve.