Butterfinger Cheescake

I always been known for my cheesecakes. For family gatherings or parties, people request my cheesecake. So why is it after two years of blogging I haven't posted a cheesecake recipe? I guess I've been too busy trying new recipes.

This recipe comes from a restaurant that used to be at Oak Park Mall in Kansas City, Paradise Diner. It's a rich and creamy cheesecake. Over the years, I've made lots of changes to this recipe. I've used an oreo cookie crust instead of the graham cracker crust, substituted a variety of candy bars, oreo cookies or thin mint cookies for the Butterfingers. The possibilities are endless!! To help a little with the tremendous number of calories and fat in this recipe, you can use the low fat sour cream and cream cheese. Do not use the no fat!!

If you like cheesecake, give this one a try! You won't be sorry!!!!



Butterfinger Cheesecake
- from the Paradise Diner

Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 ounces butter, melted
Mix together. Pat into the bottom of a 10 inch springform pan.

Filling
2 pounds cream cheese
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 Butterfinger candy bars, chopped

Cream together cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Scrape bowl after each addition. Mix until smooth. Fold in candy, reserving some for the top of the cheesecake. Pour into crust and bake at 300 degrees 45 minutes to one hour. To test for doneness, shake pan lightly. Cheesecake is done when filling is firm.

Topping

1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar

Spread on hot cheesecake. Chill overnight. Garnish with remaining chopped Butterfingers.

I am linking this to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum!

In My Garden

Hamburger Casserole - Revisited

Do you cook as much in the summertime? Although it's not summertime here yet, we've been so busy. Between enjoying the new camper, working in the yard and graduation, there's just not enough hours in the day. Not a lot of recipes to blog about. There's been a lot of pasta, burgers or brats on the grill, leftovers and pizza. The end result? Not many recipes in my drafts folder. Therefore, I am going to share another recipe from my early days of blogging.

My Dad is very much a meat and potatoes man and those two better not be mixed together. Except for this dish! This is the only casserole I can ever remember my Dad eating.



Hamburger Casserole
Into a well buttered casserole dish, place layers in order . Season each layer with salt and pepper.
2 -3 medium potatoes, sliced
2 -3 carrots, sliced
Can of peas (drained, saving liquid)
1 onion, sliced
1 stalk of celery, sliced
Over top of vegetables, placed 1 pound of ground beef, browned and drained.
Combine liquid from peas with can of tomato soup and pour over the top of ground beef.
Cover. Bake at 325 for 2 hours.

I am linking this to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday's, Tuesday's at the Table, Tuesday Night Supper Club.

Meet Me On Monday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! It's Monday and that means Meet Me On Monday! If you're interested in participating in this fun party, you can find the details over at Never Growing Old! Here's this week's questions and answers!

1. Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Smooth all the way!!!

2. What is your favorite color Rose?
All of them! I just love roses!!

3. Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?
I try but sometimes I forget!

4. What is your favorite season?
For me it has to be seasons, I love Spring and Fall. In the midwest we can have some really cold winters and terribly hot summers. We're always ready for warmer weather and the blooming flowers of Spring and cooler weather and the changing leaves of Fall!

5. Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?
Depends...what are we calling "blogging"? If we're including time spent reading blogs, I spend 2 - 4 hours a day. If I don't have something going on, my evening is spent in my favorite chair with my laptop reading all of your wonderful blog posts! If we're just taking into consideration the time actually putting together a blog post, an hour is more like it.

How about you? How many hours do you spend blogging?

Caramel Glazed Scallops - Celebrity Cook Along

Did anyone else feel at a loss when you couldn't get into Blogger on Thursday and Friday? I almost always post Foodie Friday's. This week when I couldn't get into blogger, I had to pass on Foodie Friday. Also, we were camping in the lovely 40 - 50 degree weather this weekend, so no Pink Saturday either!! Then I come home and my Thursday post of From The Good Life is noo where to be found!!! I don't save my posts anywhere else, so it is gone! I've tried before to recreate a post I've lost and just come up with the words.

It's good to be back and I am thrilled to join this month's celebrity cook along over at Happier Than A Pig in Mud features Paula Deen's recipes. I love Paula, she's so entertaining to watch. I've made quite a few of Paula's recipes. My intent was to try a new recipe for this month's event but time just wasn't on my side.




I've made Paula's recipe for Caramel Glazed Sea Scallops several times. I love the way the scallops caramelize with this recipe. This easy preparation makes a beautiful presentation. You can find the original post here!

CrockPot - Breakfast Casserole

If you read my blog you know I use my crock pot frequently for dinner. Breakfast? I've never cooked breakfast in it. Maybe because I thought we'd be too hungry before it would be done? A few weeks ago when Tim and I went camping, I thought this recipe would be fun to try.

This recipe is easy, versatile and delicious. Since this only takes a couple of hours, we were able to enjoy a late Saturday morning breakfast.



Crockpot Breakfast Casserole - Adapted from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

1-2 thick slices of "older" bread
1 C fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 C fresh green veggies (I used banana peppers)
1 C diced ham, sliced kielbasa sausage (I used Canadian Bacon)
4 eggs
1/4-1/2 C milk
1/2 C colby jack cheese, shredded
salt and pepper, as needed

Begin by spraying the crockpot with olive oil or a cooking spray.

Then, break apart the bread into small chunks. Sprinkle these in the bottom of the crockpot.
Over the top, layer the mushrooms, green veggies and meat. Lightly beat the eggs and milk together, then pour this mixture over the top! Sprinkle with cheese, salt and pepper, as desired.
Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 -2 hours.

I am linking this to Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday's at the Table and Tuesday Night Supper Club.

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Pink Saturday! Hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day!!