Cheesecake

Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts... and it happens that it is one of my dad's also. I told him a long time ago that I would make him a cheesecake. Since that was about... oh?!?... ten months ago I figured it was about time to give him his cheesecake! So I made one this week but I decided to add a little something. So here is a wonderful cheesecake recipe that you could make as it is, or you can add a little twist like I did... the possibilities are endless!

    I decided I wanted to add chocolate to the cheesecake, so I dipped one end in milk chocolate. It added a different level of flavor to the cheesecake. I liked it but I also like the taste of just the cheesecake so I ended up dipping some in chocolate and leaving some plain.

   The recipe I used is a family recipe from my grandmother (Grammy) and it is a wonderful, easy recipe!

 Here is the list of ingredients:

    1/4 C butter - melted
    1 C graham cracker crumbs
    1/4 C sugar
    2, 8 oz. cream cheese
    1, 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
    3 eggs
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/4 C real lemon juice
    8 oz. sour cream    ( this is to spread on top of the cheese cake after it is baked, I skipped this step because of dipping them in chocolate, and I am not a fan of the taste of sour cream with cheese cake) 

6 oz.  chocolate chips (for dipping)

 Start out by preheating your oven to 300 degrees F

   Now... you can buy graham cracker crumbs, but we already had graham crackers so I just made my own crumbs.

   Grease your pan.

I used an eight by eight square pan because I wanted to cut my cheese cake into squares if you just want to make a regular cheese cake you would want to put it into a nine inch spring form pan.

   Now we are going to make our crust.

    Start out by adding your graham cracker crumbs into a bowl.

 

     Add in your melted butter.

     Then add your sugar.

    Mix this all together...

     And, when it is combined, put it in to the bottom of your pan.

    Pat the crumbs in to make your crust.

    Now set that aside and we are going to make the filling.

     Start by beating your cheese until it is light and fluffy.

    Add in your condensed milk...

    ... eggs...

    ... and salt.

   Beat this until it is smooth.

   

   Juice your lemon...

    ... and mix it in on low speed.

     Pour your filling into your pan.

    Bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

     Now if you just want a cheesecake not dipped in chocolate you are done and it goes in the fridge to chill ( you can then spread the sour cream on top if you like). But if you want to dip it in chocolate let it rest out on the counter for about a half hour.

    The next step is to cut your cheesecake into squares.

    Take the squares out of the pan and put them on to a parchment lined baking sheet.

    Melt chocolate chips, and mix in about 2 teaspoons vegetable oil to thin it out.

  

  Dip one end of your cheesecake squares into the chocolate a return it to your baking sheet.

     Once you have dipped all of your squares put your cheesecakes in the fridge to chill. Keep them in the fridge until ready to serve.

    And that is it... little wonderful bites to eat!

Enjoy!  Lane Elizabeth

{All the photos are taken by my wonderful sister! Check her out over at Zelda's Zoom}