March 18, 2015 by Cissy Fridfinnsson

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

This Chocolate Chip or Key Lime Cheesecake it is one of my favorite desserts and I love it because it is easy to make and the recipe makes two. So, automatically you can share the joy of a yummy cheesecake with a neighbor or have one for the freezer. I also like that the recipe uses ready-made pie shells that have the bubble plastic covers which makes for easy transporting or freezing. I will have to say it is not the prettiest dessert I have ever made but the taste and texture is really wonderful. Of course, you can dress it up with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I took these pictures hastily because I was serving the cheesecake for our small group meeting. I do really well taking pictures as I go along preparing and cooking, but then I always seem in a hurry to take the finished pictures because we are always ready to eat what I have cooked.

This dessert would be great to take to your Easter Celebration. Adults and kids love it and so do our Apples of Gold team and students. We serve the cheesecakes, for 34 people, for week #5 but we make them on week #2 and put them in the freezer. So you could do the same. One year for Christmas I made lots of them and gifted my neighbors with a cheesecake. I can’t tell you how many I have made over the years. I hope you will try it and I bet it will become a favorite “go to” recipe for you. It could become your signature recipe. Who doesn’t love cheesecake right, especially with chocolate. Enjoy!!! It will be “The Best You Ever Made.”

Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Batter poured into pie shells and ready for the oven. You choose shortbread or chocolate crust.

Cheesecake – Chocolate or Key Lime

Easy to make cheesecakes- Delish- Makes 2

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings: 6

Course: Dessert

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

4 8 ounces packages of cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
5 eggs for chocolate or 7 for key lime
1 1/2 cups mini-chocolate chips (semi sweet) for chocolate
7 to 9 ounces Key Lime Juice for key lime
1 teaspoon Kahlua (optional)
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
2 Shortbread Keebler Pie Shells, or Graham for Key Lime – Chocolate Keebler Pie Shells if making Chocolate.

Method

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees
Cream the cream cheese and sugar till fluffy
Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well each time
Add vanilla and Kahlua; stir well
For Chocolate: Add Chocolate chips; stir well
For Key Lime: Add key lime juice; stir well. It will be a thinner batter.
Pour into shells
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes for doneness. (Will crack on top). If browning too much before done cover with foil.
Cool and refrigerate; Serve cold topped with cool whip/whip cream. Garnish with strawberries, blueberries or fruit of your choice.

Notes

To Freeze: Wrap cooled cheesecakes tightly in plastic wrap and foil.

To Serve if Frozen: Thaw in refrigerate – serve cold.

Tidbit Tips: The top will crack so use cool whip to decorate.

I love this recipe because it make 2 cheesecakes. Having one in the fridge is great

for a last minute dessert. Enjoy!

January 15, 2015 by Cissy Fridfinnsson

The Joy of Hospitality

Chocolate Kahlua Mousse

Are you finding 2015 is flying by already? We had such a good time hosting lots of dinner parties at our new house during the Holidays. Nothing like having a party to get you up and going and taking care of things around the house right?

Here is a list of 5 things that this season of entertaining taught me.

#5. If you forget to plug-in the lights on your Christmas Village – probably no one but you noticed. I was so sad when I realized I had not plugged in the lights so that the ice skater on the frozen pond could go round and round in her figure eight path and that the lights on the trees, that flashed double time and could hipe you up, were not flashing. I learned it is more important to greet our guest with a warm welcome, let my light shine.

#4. You can fold your napkins without ironing them. Time was running late so I took a chance and folded the napkins without ironing and you know what they looked fine and no one noticed or at least no one said a thing. I learned to allow a little time to rest before our guest arrive so I am not so exhausted; better I am refreshed than the napkins are all starched and ironed.

#3. It is alright to mix up your table decorations – use what you have. I had a Christmas center piece and the plates were floral because we needed the sizes that came with that set of dishes. It was truly a confusing tablescape. I just told everyone it was a winter center piece with spring longings all round it. We all agreed we are already tired of winter even though it had just started. I learned to use what I have and don’t stress over not matching – who knows you may inspire someone at the party to do the same. Give them confidence to host a party without spending money on tablescapes.

#2. Your best thought out plans may be changed. We were hosting a dinner party on a Sunday night but when one of our dear friend’s mother passed away and the funeral was on Sunday, we changed our plans. Most of the guest wanted to attend the funeral. The only other time the group could meet was the Friday before. And of course I had to work that day and no way could I cook for the party. Everyone else was busy as well, so one couple picked up take out, I set the table on Thursday night and the party happened. It ended up being a great evening. But more importantly our friend was touched and blessed that we made the 10 hour round trip to be with her and her family. I learned to look for the unexpected when your plans don’t work out like you thought they would. The 10 hour car trip gave me lots of time to spend with a special girlfriend. We talked and talked and my husband had a relaxing time in the back seat reading and sleeping.

#1 Hospitality is a gift of love. If you have the gift of hospitality use it to bless others without expecting an invite in return. It robs you of the joy of hosting when you expect something in return. I learned I must always check my motive for entertaining.

Don’t be robbed of the Joy of Hospitality. Give the Gift out of Love for Others.

2014 taught me to lighten up, go with the flow and just do the best I can. The real lesson is that God is in control, not me, and if I walk the path He has for me there is Joy in all things.

Happy 2015– I hope you have many opportunities to bless others by Giving the Gift of Hospitality

Here’s praying all God’s Blessing for a Year of Good Health, Peace, Mercy and Joy!!!

Romans 12:12-13 NLT version

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Joy Always, Cissy

November 25, 2014 by Cissy Fridfinnsson

Popcorn Scramble

I don’t even know where to start to tell you about this recipe. It is one that my friend, Marcy Howard, has made for all of us for many years. It is also one we teach and share in Apples of Gold.

If you ever make it, it will become one of your favorite recipes, especially in the fall. You could become know for it, your signature recipe. It makes a foil turkey roasting pan full so there is lots to share. We just moved to a new house, new neighborhood and new friends to meet so I made a batch to share with them.. You know by now I am all about making dishes for your family and having some to share. Spreading JOY!!!

We love it when our students from Apples of Gold let us know when they make one of the recipes from the classes. This is one they make over and over. On lots of occasions it has been made for out-of-town guest to have in their hotel rooms when they come in town for events like weddings. Marcy makes it for her hairdresser, for the women at the nail salon, her neighbors and recently she went to a family reunion, so of course she made Popcorn Scramble for all of them. I know you can buy something similar but this recipe is so much better because there aren’t any ingredients in it that you can’t pronounce – always a good thing. There is no need for additives for preserving it because it is gobbled up so fast.

As we think about Thanksgiving and all we are thankful for, I hope you will make a batch of Popcorn Scramble and give it to someone who brings Joy to your life or to someone who needs some Joy in their life. May God Bless you and grant you PEACE, MERCY and JOY this Thanksgiving as you give thanks to Him the giver of all good things.

Joy Always, Cissy

I would love to hear from you about how your family loved this recipe and where you shared it. Also what are you thankful for this year? Please leave a comment.