Red Velvet Cheesecake

Several years ago I found a recipe the  Southern Living 2004 Annual Recipes Cookbook for Red Velvet Cheesecake.  It has become a Christmas favorite for my daughters.  It is so popular that they now request it at Thanksgiving.  It is not a difficult recipe and it looks like a peppermint when sliced. 

Ingredients
Crust
1&1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter melted
1 TBS granulated sugar
Filling
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs lightly beaten
3 TBS unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp white vinegar
2 (1oz) bottles of red food coloring
Topping
1 (3oz) package cream cheese softened
1/4 cup butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted buter and 1 TBS granulated sugar and press mixture in bottom of 9 inch springform pan.
Beat 3 (8oz) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2   cups granulated sugar at medium low speed with electric mixer for 1 minute.  Ad eggs and next 6 ingredients mixing on low speed until fully combined.  Pour batter into crust
Bake in 325  oven f or 10 minutes; reduce head to 300 and bake for 1 hour and 15 or until center is firm.  Turn oven off and let cake stand in oven for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool for 30 minutes.  Cover and chill for 8 hours. 
Beat 1 (3oz) package cream cheese and1/4 cup butter at medium speed until smooth, gradualy add powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, beating until smooth.  Spread evenly over top of cheesecake.  Remove sides of springform pan.  Garnish with mint sprigs and shaved chocolate.

Blustery Day in Georgia

It is as cold as it has been in a very long time  in Georgia.  It snowed yesterday and it wasn't even January.  It snowed our first year here in Bethlehem/Bold Springs back in 1993.  It snowed on Halloween of 1993 and on Christmas Day 1993.  We had just moved in with the girls.  Eliza was 5, Emma was 2 and Elle was 3 months old when it snowed. There were otter swimming and playing in the pond behind the house.  Pops was not happy with the otter because they were eating his fish.  But he sure did enjoy watching them play and then proceeded to declare that he would one day like to be an otter.  I am trying to capure the bitter cold of the season in these photos but am probably failing miserably.  Having taken a photography class this fall, I am experimenting with my camera.

White Trash Project Completed

 White trash finished and ready to snack and pack for Christmas presents for Elle's teachers.  Probalby will send some to Eliza Kate and save some for Emma Jane to since she comes home this week!!! Can't wait to see the Furman girl.

White Trash Tradition

Last  night I  made our tradional white trash mix.  We have been  making this delicious   mix for more than ten years.  We got the recipe from Gramma Suzy who got it from Ursula Knausel who has a cooking school in Atlanta.  Pops and I took a class from her while we were dating and had a great time.    Well--I enjoyed it--Pops enjoyed the food she prepared and talking to her and all the other students. Ursula used to host a gingerbread house night for parents and their children at Christmas.  She usually offers the class in November.  She is a delight and your kids would enjoy her class. 

The ingredients are as follows:

14 ounce box of graham cereal
1 pound raisins
8 oz chopped dates (i leave these out because the girls don't like them)
4-5 cups mixxed nuts
12-ounces semi sweet chocolate chipds

Toss all the above ingredients into  double thick 13 gallon trash bag

Place 1 stick of butter, 13 ounces of plain peanut butter in sauce pan until butter is melted, (not boiling) blend well.
Take off heat and stir in 2 tsp almont extract and 1/2 tsp salt. 

Pour over the incredients in the trash back and toss to cover.
Empty 1 pound confectioners sugar into the bag and toss again.  Let cool and put in airtight container.