HAPPY THANKSGIVING !WE MISS YOU ALL!
HAVE A GREAT TURKEY DAY!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
This one might be a little too late for Thanksgiving but it I think it looks Fabulous!
Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
Crust:12 ounces storebought gingersnaps
1/2 cup chopped pecans
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Dash of salt
Filling
4 packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 jar caramel topping
Extra chopped pecans
Extra crushed gingersnaps
In a food processor (or large ziploc bag) crush gingersnps. Add chopped pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and salt, and pulse (or mix) until thoroughly combined.Press into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Chill for 20-30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin and spices and mix again. Add eggs one at a time, mixing for 20 seconds between each addition. Add cream and mix until just combined.
Remove crust from fridge. Pour 1/2 jar of caramel topping on crust. Sprinkle caramel with chopped pecans. Gently pour cheesecake filling in pan. Even out the top with a flat spatula.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until no longer soupy. Cheesecake should still be somewhat jiggly. Cool on counter for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, pour the rest of the caramel topping over the top. Smooth with a flat spatula until evenly smooth. Cover and chill cheesecake for another four hours or overnight.
Remove rim from pan and slice. Sprinkle each slice with extra crushed gingersnaps.
1/2 cup chopped pecans
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Dash of salt
Filling
4 packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 jar caramel topping
Extra chopped pecans
Extra crushed gingersnaps
In a food processor (or large ziploc bag) crush gingersnps. Add chopped pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and salt, and pulse (or mix) until thoroughly combined.Press into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Chill for 20-30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin and spices and mix again. Add eggs one at a time, mixing for 20 seconds between each addition. Add cream and mix until just combined.
Remove crust from fridge. Pour 1/2 jar of caramel topping on crust. Sprinkle caramel with chopped pecans. Gently pour cheesecake filling in pan. Even out the top with a flat spatula.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until no longer soupy. Cheesecake should still be somewhat jiggly. Cool on counter for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, pour the rest of the caramel topping over the top. Smooth with a flat spatula until evenly smooth. Cover and chill cheesecake for another four hours or overnight.
Remove rim from pan and slice. Sprinkle each slice with extra crushed gingersnaps.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Top Ten Favorite Things To Be Thankful For!
1. I'm thankful that a Big Mac has 20% less fat than a plate of fat
2. Guides for the correct use of toothpicks
3. My skoll education
4. Caller ID
5. Never having been murdered by O.J. Simpson
6. Flat rate, unmeterer, internet access (that's only in the US)
7. E mail, Vonage and Skype
8. Flush Toilets
9. The arrows that show you which to insert batteries
10. Brave turkeys who give their lives for us!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Wish we could be there to celebrate thanksgiving with you! I'm really going to miss my Mom's turkey and dressing, not to mention all the other fixings!
2. Guides for the correct use of toothpicks
3. My skoll education
4. Caller ID
5. Never having been murdered by O.J. Simpson
6. Flat rate, unmeterer, internet access (that's only in the US)
7. E mail, Vonage and Skype
8. Flush Toilets
9. The arrows that show you which to insert batteries
10. Brave turkeys who give their lives for us!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Wish we could be there to celebrate thanksgiving with you! I'm really going to miss my Mom's turkey and dressing, not to mention all the other fixings!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Things To Be Thankful For
With the economy being so bad in the U.S. and being so far away from family at Thanksgiving time I have been thinking of some of the things I am thankful for. Here is one list I found! We really do have alot to be thankful for!
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have
enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have
been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because
it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it
means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it
means you can hear.
Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we
have freedom of speech.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it
means you're alive.
~
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have
enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have
been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because
it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it
means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it
means you can hear.
Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we
have freedom of speech.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it
means you're alive.
~
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Looking for something different for Thanksgiving dessert?
My friend Sandra Biehl made this dessert last year and I've been dreaming of it ever since!
In the true style of Sandra she didn't use Cool Whip, but real whipping cream. It looks beautiful layered in a clear glass trifle dish.
We were actually licking the bowl to get the last morsels it was so good !
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Ingredients:
2 14-ounce packages gingerbread mix
1 5.1-ounce package cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
1 30-ounce can pumpkin pie filling
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 12-ounce carton Cool Whip
1/2 cup gingersnaps (optional)
Directions:
Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, clear bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped cream. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a trifle or punch bowl.
My friend Sandra Biehl made this dessert last year and I've been dreaming of it ever since!
In the true style of Sandra she didn't use Cool Whip, but real whipping cream. It looks beautiful layered in a clear glass trifle dish.
We were actually licking the bowl to get the last morsels it was so good !
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Ingredients:
2 14-ounce packages gingerbread mix
1 5.1-ounce package cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
1 30-ounce can pumpkin pie filling
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 12-ounce carton Cool Whip
1/2 cup gingersnaps (optional)
Directions:
Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, clear bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped cream. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a trifle or punch bowl.
Zambezi White Water Rafting
Our son Kristopher, and daughter in law Sarah came to visit us in South Africa. They are quite the thrill seekers! They wanted to jump off the second highest bridge in the world, fly across the Zambezi gorge and go white water rafting. No bungee jumping for me but count me in for the white water rafting! We navigated 23 class
3,4,& 5 rapids in 3/4 of a day. It was like the whole Colorado river in one day!
It was thrilling,exciting and scary. We flipped the raft completely over twice and I did some of the rapids by myself without the aid of the raft. Yes I did fall out!
I survived the experience to tell about it!
Chobe Game Park
We were also lucky enough to visit Chobe Game Park in Botswana. What a great adventure! The first morning we when out in a boat on the Chobe River
. Talk about up close and personal!
. Talk about up close and personal!
We had hippos coming up next to the boat. Elephants crossing the river and frolicking in the water and rolling in mud. We even got to watch a new born elephant learning to walk! When the elephants crossed the river some were so small that all you could see was their trunk sticking out of the water! Too bad we missed that shot. That afternoon we went on a game drive and got to see these darling monkeys and the beautiful leopard. We saw lions staking a warthog and saw a lioness with her newly killed male kudo. It was just like we were watching the Discovery Channel or Planet Earth. We have been on several game drive now and I am amazed that it never gets boring.
Say Aahh
Cute family
This baby was only
couple of day old. 
This is the way I look when I have to go to the bathroom!
And yes we saw the ever present crocodiles
just waiting for some animal to get too close to
the river!
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