A Happy Birthday Cheesecake :)

Hello Sweets,

I hope you all had a fantastic Friday,  It's my birthday today, although it doesn't really feel like it. Actually, this is the first year where I could have probably gone almost all day without hearing much of anything, with the exception of Facebook.  It hasn't really bothered me too much, but I'm not going to lie, there have been a couple of tears, but not because of me turning twenty-nine.  I'm really rather excited, like I always say; "women are like a fine wine, they only get better with age" ;) and I whole heartily believe this, but I think it's because I realize how much my health had really impacted my life.  Every year you grow a little more and learn new things, I always like to look back to when I was younger, and take an enormous amount of pride in how much I have changed for the better!

So what did I do for my birthday you ask?  Well I got all my weekend cleaning out of the way (this screams adult lol), and had a nice quite lunch at home by myself, and then I made myself a delicious cheesecake from an old family recipe, with a couple of "jennifications" of course.  Now as I start writing this post, the cheesecake is cooling in the refrigerator (hardest part of any dessert is the waiting), and by the time I post this, you will see a picture of me enjoying the fruits of my labor as my birthday treat.  I also believe that you truly cannot celebrate your birthday without having either your favorite meal or dessert, so as of right now I have yet to celebrate my birthday, but I will by 10pm.  Okay on to the good stuff, that which we will call the "Happy Birthday Cheesecake", and only because I made it for my birthday lol there is no birthday cake flavors to it :p

Canuckette's Cheesecake 

Ingredients

Crust:

1 1/2C graham cracker crumbs (I used whole then used a food processor)

1/2C Pecans, finely chopped

1/2C Walnuts, finely chopped

1/2Tsp Cinnamon

1/2Tsp Nutmeg

1/3C butter, melted

Filling:

4-8 ounce pkgs of Cream Cheese

1 1/4C Granulated sugar

1/2C Sour Cream

2Tsp Vanilla extract

5 Eggs

Topping:

1/2C Sour Cream

2Tsp Granulated sugar

Optional Garnish: Whip Cream (I opted for my signature Cherry topping)

Directions:

1)  Preheat oven to 475F, place a large pan or oven-safe skillet (that the cheesecake pan will fit inside), filled with about 1/2 inch of water, into the oven while it preheats.  This will be your water bath.

my cheesecakes bath

2)  Combine all the dry ingredients for the crust into a medium bowl, mix in the melted butter.  Press the crumb into a 9" spring form pan that has been lined on the bottom and sides with parchment paper (I don't have a spring form pan, but you can use a regular cake pan or pie tin if you're going to serve directly from it).  Use the bottom of a glass to press the crumb mix flat into the bottom of the pan and about 2/3 up the side.  Wrap a large piece of foil around the bottom of the pan to keep the cheesecake dry when in the water bath in the oven.  Put the crust in your freezer until your filling is complete.

                      

                                                           

The smell of the graham/nut crust is divine

3)  Using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla; blending until the ingredients are smooth and creamy.  Be sure, as always, to scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl, and then add them to the cream cheese mixture.  Blend the mixture just long enough to integrate the eggs, over mixing will cause the cheesecake to crack

                                   

                                    

All the creamy goodness :)

4)  Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the filling into it.  Carefully place the cheesecake into the preheated water bath.  Bake for 12 minutes at 475F, then turn down the oven to 350F, and bake for 50-60 minutes (it will be down once the top of the cheesecake turns a light brown color).  Remove the cheesecake from the oven to cool.

Mmmm mmm YUM!!

5)  When the cheesecake has cooled, combine the sour cream and sugar for the topping.  Spread the sweetened sour cream over the entire top surface of the cheesecake.  Cover and chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.  Makes about 12 servings.

Now the final wait begins

Once of the hardest parts about making cheesecake is waiting for it to be completely cooled before eating, if you don't let it cool completely it won't set in the middle and will be runny and no one likes a runny cheesecake lol!

So thus ends my birthday baking, :) of course it tastes delicious, I did make it after all lol.  But seriously I think one of the best things you can learn when baking is to bake with confidence, and even when things don't turn up roses, knowing that you gave it your best is really the only thing that matters.  Also trying to determine the point of your mistake, and learning from it, there is never a wrong turn in a recipe only lessons to be learned. 

first piece didn't cut so pretty but it tastes pretty good :)

Now I'm going to enjoy the rest of my piece of birthday cheesecake, I really think they should replace birthday cake with cheesecake, after all it is much more enjoyable :)   Until next time......

mmmm happy birthday to me!!

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

A bid farewell to my 28th year!

Hello Sweets!

I am sure everyone is thinking the same thing, that thankfully tomorrow is Friday, although it may be for various reasons, mine is because it's my birthday!!  Sadly that is the extent of my excitement as this whole week has not been good health wise, I'm just really hoping for a somewhat pain-free day tomorrow as these seem to be harder to come by, actually the more I type the shorter I think this post will be :(

My roomie Tereza and I last year celebrating my twenty eighth and looking great lol

I'm not doing anything for my birthday, literally nothing as everyone is busy, so as long as my arms allow it tomorrow I will be making my absolute favorite dessert, CHEESECAKE!!!  I haven't made one in a couple of years now, and normally I would be 100% confident in making it, but this time I am attempting to duplicate the Cheesecake Factory delight :)  I have been obsessed with cheesecake since I was little, my mom used to make an Upside Down Cherry Cheesecake, and that is where my obsession started.  I'm sure it will turn out well, but as this may be my only celebration for my birthday, I am putting a bit of pressure on myself.  Now as I read as I am writing this, it may seem like I am not happy about my birthday, but I am.  I just can't celebrate like a normal person.  The way my health has been getting worse, I find it harder and harder to enjoy the simple things in life that all of us take for granted, like hanging out with friends, going for dinner, or even enjoying a night of music and dancing.  I cannot wait until I have my surgery (less than five months now :D).  Once I have healed I am going to do all the things I was planning to do the summer I was diagnosed; white water rafting, going to an amusement park, and riding the roller coasters, but most importantly, having my nights out with my girlfriends (I miss laughing and dancing with all my fabulous friends).  So my thirtieth birthday will not be sad, I am going to embrace my thirtieth year like nobody's business!!

I have also been checking out some recipes for my leftover chicken that I still have, to use it in a more imaginative way.  Do you recommend any ways you like to use leftovers?  I think I am leaning towards either chicken pot pie, or maybe a yummy soup (clearly I have some direction lol), mainly because it's getting so cold outside, and I like a hot and hearty meal during the fall/winter months.

Well since my arm, neck, and shoulders are screaming in protest at this point (didn't take very long did it), I am going to bid you farewell until tomorrow, when hopefully I will come back and write a super happy birthday post!  Until next time.........


Stay sweet,



Jennifer xoxoxo

Through the looking glass

Hello sweets!!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend, I know I sure did :). I want to tell you guys all about it and also a little history on me and my journey called life.

Over a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a rare brain malformation (I was in utter shock since we were looking at torn shoulder ligaments) called Arnold Chiari malformation type one.  It's not life threatening but it definitely affected my quality of life, to the point were I slowed down my love and passion for food :(. Six months after that I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and at that point I was taken off of work, and life as I had known it, had ceased to exist.  Being that I'm from Canada, going through the health care system was long and trying, that is until I found a doctor in Toronto who had experience with my malformation! Needless to say, I was on board with meeting him and to explore other options than mere medication treatments :s.  Since my progression was in a "grey" area he wanted me to come back in six months (this was back in April), so I made a follow up for October to return and hopefully get some direction on how to overcome it.

Nathan purposely made this special trip to attend my appointment with me for moral support.  I had been going alone on this journey since the beginning, so it was greatly appreciated.  We decided to go to Toronto on Sunday afternoon to stay overnight in a hotel, since my appointment was in the morning.  Adding to the evening, was a nice dinner to take both my mind and nerves off the impending appointment.

Being silly on the drive into Toronto

Once we arrived in Toronto we checked into the hotel and decided we need food, stat!  Nathan, being from Texas and all, LOVES his steak, and since he had never been to The Keg, I insisted we dine there :)  We went to the Keg Mansion in downtown Toronto, and I'm glad we did because it had a very romantic ambiance, which is just what we wanted <3   

 Vino for me and a beer for my love

We both had a delicious meal.  I had the prime rib, and he had the rib eye, and since we were both starving, lol, of course I forgot to take a picture before they were half demolished.  To end our lovely night of delicious food and wonderful company, we shared a piece of cheesecake (I think Nathan spoiled my cheesecake pallet after taking me to The Cheesecake Factory *drool*), and a Baileys coffee, yum!

The romantic lighting made the sweets sinful delights

After an evening spent with Nathan, doing nothing but enjoying each other's company, my appointment time crept up quickly.  We trekked our way down to Toronto Western University hospital this morning after a wonderful breakfast in bed.  The closer we got, the worse my nerves were.  Once inside the consultation room, I was on the brink of tears.  The one trying thing about this whole process, was having doctors look at me like I was either crazy, or lying, so part of me was expecting the same.  Thankfully, since my symptoms had progressed more, and had further impeded my quality of life, Dr.Gentili gave the green light for surgery.  Needless to say, I cried happy tears while walking back to the car.  It's crazy to think that in just six short months, I'll be on the road to recovery!!

With happy news in tow, we headed to the airport to depart for my surrogate home of Texas :)

Sadly this is 75% mine lol

After a very quick run through customs, security, and a quick stop a TGI Fridays to pick up our sky luncheon, we were off flying high over Toronto, headed to Dallas Fort Worth airport.

See ya soon Canada!

We thought the novelty of having our lunch date in the sky was fun :)  It was that, or we wait five more hours until the next flight (not going to happen!).

Ginger ale w/ chicken fingers, french fries, and BBQ sauce

Before long we were cruising at an altitude of about 30,000 feet, soaring through the clouds.  Dating a pilot (in a pilot family), definitely has its advantages, and the views never get old.  We were even on the American Airlines "Dream liner 737" with a fancy blue interior :)

Best view in the world(space might top it, but until I've seen it...)

Both tired, but happy about good news

Before we knew it we had landed in Texas, and were back to familiar faces, furry that is!!  Nothing is better than coming home to puppy kisses after a busy weekend :)  Which also means that baking blogs are back, I always spoil Nathan and his family, so check back for some new and yummy recipes!

Meet Bear!! (or Berries to us!)

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo