The first cheesecake I ever made, was in my Nana’s kitchen. It was my Papa though, who taught me how to make a perfect rich, but simple cheesecake.  Complete with the taste and texture of the first bite, being one of those cheesecakes that you will not forget. Cheesecake loves will know what I mean. There are quite a few variety’s I’ve had that have had that, ” Yep, this is keeper in my book.” I don’t know if I think it is so good because of the fact, Papa taught me how to use the ingredients and I am just partial. OR, it indeed is a great tasting cheesecake. It has worked it’s magic around a few kitchen tables though and never failed being there when needed, considering this is the only kind of cheese cake I will make. The rest I gladly buy. And there are great savings and deals also!

I love sending away for a cheesecake another person has made. It’s an art, making “the” cheesecake, as far as I am concerned. When I first found out I can get cheesecake just by staying home and surfing the net for them, I was in awe. I’ve got a bucket list, just of various types of cheesecake I want to try, and who sells them. It’s a long one!

My mom loves chocolate covered cherries, for Christmas. My sisters and brothers are into everything from hazelnut, to milk chocolate. It is the same with my kids. My oldest daughter as well as myself, love mint chocolate. My oldest son, peanut butter chocolate, youngest daughter and son, dark and mild chocolate, respectively.

This Easter, will be as easy as each over the last five years. I used to fill baskets with that grass (the kind that even at Christmas, despite of daily sweeping, for some reason a piece of the stuff is still around.)  I put various candy in the basket, eggs and of course the big chocolate bunnies. As I said, it is easy now. They just want a basket filled with their favorite chocolate, and I now have the list memorized.

These (never ever call them doughnuts or jelly rolls) Punchkis are filled with jelly of every flavor. My husband got the mixed assortments and there was apricot, strawberry, cherry, lemon, apple and blueberry filling. Also there was vanilla cream, chocolate cream and custard fillings.

I myself never ever eat much sugar. But the thought of a custard Punchki was tempting. Way too tempting. I got half of this sucker down and my teeth hurt from the sweetness of not only the glaze and sugar that covered the darn thing, but also the dough and the custard. I have to admit I loved the custard filling, but gave the other half to one of my boys. OMG… I no doubt gained at least three lbs, my doctor will no doubt give me hell for my glucose levels and I did have a stomach within ten minutes of eating just that half of the Punchki. I gave up worrying about my husband and his health on Fat Tuesday and other holidays. Heck, even in between holidays with his intake of sugar things. He doesn’t see the doctor often even though I beg him to, so…what else can I say?

Happy Fat Tuesday, All!!

This guy has real talent. I cannot even picture this in my head, much less carve it out of a pumpkin. Check out his web site for dozens more of his creations.