Monday, February 23, 2015

No Bake Cheesecake

It is hard not to give in to cravings.  And since last week, I can't stop thinking of cheesecakes, my favorite cake.  I had the chance to visit the local grocery and so I packed on some ingredients for a cheesecake.

Because I still don't have an oven (I'm still saving for it!!!), I decided to try on the no bake cheesecake.  I love the outcome of the cake.  I would still opt for the baked ones if given the chance, but for those without an oven, this would still hit the spot.  I shared this with Ron's family, and I was in the spotlight because of this sweet treat.

Below are the ingredients and the steps in making a no-bake cheesecake.  It goes perfectly well with any kind canned fruit.  I made mine with strawberries!

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Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/2 cup graham crackers crumbs
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling:
2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice
250 ml all purpose cream
1/3 cup white sugar

Topping:
1 can fruit pie filling (cherry, strawberry, or blueberry)

Directions:
1.  Stir together crust ingredients in a bowl.  Press into the bottom of the 8 or 10 in springform pan.  Chill until firm.
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2.  Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.  Beat together cream cheese and lemon juice until soft.  Add all purpose cream and beat until batter is thick.   Add the sugar and continue beating until stiff.
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3.  Pour batter into chilled crust.  Even out the batter.
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4.  Top with canned fruit pie filling.
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5.  Chill for 8 hours minimum or overnight.
6.  Remove the sides of the springform pan just before serving.

Enjoy!!!!

Thursday, February 05, 2015

On death and leaving

Today, I came home from Iloilo.  Ron and I crossed seas to visit Danes and her family and sympathize with her family as she lost a great man in his life, her father.  That's the second wake/funeral that we have attended this year, with Ron's aunt as the first.

At our age, the reality of death is hitting us by the face.  Our parents are getting old, weak, and going in that direction.  I am not really afraid of death perse.  I am perhaps afraid of losing a loved one over death.  The void that he/she leaves you with, emptiness and loneliness sweeping your entirety.  How could I overcome when that happens? That is what I am afraid of.

It dawned on me that indeed, death will come into our doorsteps, anytime.  We are only left with limited time.  As I am living away from my mom, as much as I can, I am spending time with her.  Because I don't want to miss my opportunity.

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Homemade Icecream

I love homemade or do it yourself projects.  So even with food, I enjoy whipping up things and feeding all of them to my husband.  Aside from cakes, I love icecream!  Especailly chocolate icream! I love them so bad that  I have been looking for some industrial icecream maker so I could have icecream whenever I can.  So two nights ago, I tried making homemade icecream without an icecream maker.  YES, you read it correctly, icecream without an Icecream maker!

This dessert is timely as Summer is fast approaching.. we could surely beat the summer heat with a bowl of icecream,
So below are the ingredients and the steps and it is as easy as it can getsh, andy whenever we like it.

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Ingredients:
Icecream Base:
2 packs of All Purpose Cream
1 can of condensed milk

Preparation:
1.  In a bowl, whip all purpose cream until it doubles in volume.
2.  Fold condense milk and continue whipping with a mixer until it thickens.
3.  Refrigerate for an hour.
4.  Remove from freezer and give another 15 minutes of mixing.
5.  Send it to the freezer for another hour.
6.  Add flavor of your liking.  You may fold crushed oreos, cheesecake, chocolates, marshmallows, fruits, nuts.  Anything you like and anything you crave.  I added chopped cheddar cheese in our icecream because that's the only thing available.  Send it to the freezer for hardening.

As an advice, you may put portions of icecream base in clean mason jars and add your flavor so that you may enjoy plenty of icecream flavors in this one batch of icecream base.

Enjoy your icecream friends!


-o0o-
I find the 2:1 proportion too sweet, you may lessen the condensed milk suited to your sweetness preference.