Thursday, October 29, 2009

Little Miss Independence & Little Mister Bigshot

Dear Blog,
My three year old is growing into an independent, intelligent, helpful, loving, and fun little lady! I thought I would tell you what she has been up to. Ava is obsessed with Disney princesses, particularly Ariel. She recently asked if she could be Ariel and Alex could be Flounder for Halloween. She loves to help mom cook in the kitchen. She puts away her shoes and coat when we get home. She even picks up her toys after being asked five times! Ava loves to emulate her mommy: "I want a pony tail just like you mommy!", and "I look like a princess, just like you, mommy!". She is only occasionally pinching and poking her brother, and loves to sing and dance. She's a little social butterfly, and always looking for approval. She had her first dentist appointment today, and took "opening her mouth really wide" very seriously. I must admit that she is a little anal retentive. Since I posses this quality in abundance, I love to see this. Her stool must be facing the correct direction and aligned in the middle of the bathroom sink when she is brushing her teeth. Her socks must be perfectly arranged in her shoes. She must have a napkin with dinner and the opportunity to choose the songs we sing on the ride home from school. Speaking of school--she LOVES it with all her little heart! She loves every aspect of it--the chance to play with babies and do crafts all day, the chance to do just what the teacher asks, and the opportunity to beam proudly when she talks about the other kids in her class. My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That shiny brown hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?


Dear Blog,
My own year old is growing into an active, affectionate, fiesty, and smart little boy! I thought I would tell you what he has been up to. Alex is obsessed with books. He loves to look through the pages and point to the characters. He has a particular affinity to Elmo, and stands 2 inches from the TV whenever Elmo is on. Dearest Alex is guided by the natural rhythms of his body's eating and sleeping habits: eat much food frequently, and sleep heavily. My little bubby continues to grow and grow and grow and looks like the average 2 year old! I have never seen a child with more energy, who runs faster, or plays harder. Alley lives for FREEDOM and darts away at the fastest pace his body will carry him, often making this odd noise that's a mix between a laugh and a gasp for more air. He loves to be flipped in the air, turned upside down, and danced with. His truest passion is for relaxation time, when he is allowed to sit in his crib with this binky and rub his silky lovie and blankie all over himself. When this happens (at bedtime or perhaps to corral him for a few minutes after bathtime), Alex completely unwinds, reclines, and goes into full relaxation mode. As for school, he wants none of it---not enough room to run! My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That blonde hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Baby Cheesycakies!

I made these mini -cheesecakes for my sister's engagement party. They turned out so great that I decided to post the recipes here so I don't lose track of them.

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups

Adapted from iheartfood4thought/Kraft Food & Family. Pictures from iheartfood4thought.



Makes about 14 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

12 Oreo cookies, finely crushed
4oz white chocolate, divided
2-8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12+ tbsp strawberry or raspberry preserves

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F. Line cupcake pan with liners

Press about 1tsbp of crushed cookie into bottom of each cupcake liner. Melt 3oz white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 15-30 sec intervals. Be careful not to burn chocolate. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with a flat beater, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, until blended. Fill cupcake liners almost to the top.



Bake for 20-25 minutes or until almost set. Cool 5 minutes. Spread about 1+ tbsp preserves on top of each cupcake. Melt remaining chocolate and drizzle over cheesecake. Refrigerate for about 4 hours or overnight.


NOTES: I put the remaining melted white chocolate in a ziplock bag and snipped off a little corner to drizzle. Easy cleanup! Also, I prefer to use a homemade graham cracker crust (crushed graham crackers, butter, and sugar) for the crust. Also...a shot glass works great for smooshing down your crust!


Double Chocolate Cheesecake Bites


Adapted from Betty Crocker.com

9creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies or 18 vanilla wafer cookies
2packages (8 ounces each) plus 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1cup granulated sugar
1/4cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2teaspoons vanilla
3eggs
4 squares of white chocolate
2 Hershey's candy bars






Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 18 medium muffin cups, 2 1/2x1 1/4 inches, with paper baking cups. Split sandwich cookies in half. Place one cookie half, middle side up, in each cup.


In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and the cocoa until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Divide evenly among cups (cups will be almost full).

Bake cheesecakes 20 to 25 minutes or until centers are firm. Cool 15 minutes (cheesecake centers will sink while cooling). Refrigerate in muffin cups at least 1 hour; cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour longer before serving.

To decorate: Melt white chocolate and hershey bar on 50% in microwave. Stir and put in ziploc bag. Snip small corner and pipe center of cheesecake with melted chocolate. Top with chocolate sprinkles.



NOTES: It's important to decorate centers because they will fall after baking. You can either remove the muffin cups after refrigeration over night or leave them on the cheesecakes.

Enjoy!