Several months ago, I received a call from gray’s mommy.  She wanted to schedule a newborn session, and so we did.  When I showed up for our session we both realized - for the very first time - that we had actually known each other years ago in college!  Such a small world.

He is perfection. 

I have never had a more peaceful newborn than Gray, and I’m convinced his big sister, who passed away last year, was whispering to him the entire time.  In fact, his nursery wall reads “An angel watches over you . . . her wings wrap gently around you, whispering you are loved and blessed.”  And he is.

monica

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next time you have a dinner party - or next time you need a treat - you gotta give this a try. i’ve made it twice now, and i hoarded almost the whole thing both times. 

sinful.

{image source: www.kraftfoods.com}

here’s the recipe (or go directly to the kraftfoods.com site):

24 OREO Cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted, slightly cooled
4 eggs

HEAT oven to 325ºF.

MIX crumbs and butter; press onto the bottom of 13×9-inch foil-lined pan. The recipe says to bake the crust for 10 minutes, but that makes it a little crunchy for my taste. If you’re a texture freak like me, try baking the crust for only about 5 minutes.

BEAT cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well-blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour mixture over crust.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. {*here’s another place I changed it up a bit - try baking it only 35-40 minutes. also, bake it in a water bath. these little details keep the cake super moist and, as my 6-yr-old said, “perfectly creamy.”)

Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil to lift cheesecake from pan.

Pretty it up by topping it with a few blue-, rasp- or strawberries and a bit of powdered sugar.

you can thank me later ;-D

monica
www.monicacarroll.com

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