$25 Cheesecake - so worth it!

I'm a frugal person by nature, so this expensive recipe goes against my natural grain of living, but my palette wins on this one. Especially good if left to chill overnight, although I couldn't wait that long :-)

Crust
8 T unsalted butter - melted
3 c Nilla wafer crumbs (I think I just used the whole box)
1/3 cup sugar
1 t cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
1/2 nutmeg
Pinch of Kosher salt

Filling
2 8oz pkg cream cheese @ room temp
1 8oz log of goat cheese
16 oz sour cream
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 t vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350.
Grease springform pan with butter. (10" works best)
Combine ingredients for crust and press into pan.
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and goat cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in sour cream. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add the sugar and vanilla. Mix lightly.
Pour the filling into the crust lined pan. Bake on baking sheet for 30 minutes, then rotate the pan. Bake another 25 - 30 minutes, until filling is set. Cover w/foil if it starts to darken.
Remove from oven and let cool. Refrigerate overnight. Enjoy!!!


This is my modified version of Anne Burrell's recipe from Cook Like a Rock Star

Potato Soup

1 cup onion - minced
1 cup celery " "
6 cups potatoes - chopped
4 cups milk
2 sticks butter
2 chicken bullion cubes
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t pepper
Salt to taste
Bacon bits

Using 3 - 4 quart pot, saute onions and celery in butter. Add potatoes and bouillon. Simmer until potatoes are cooked on low heat.
In a separate pan, add 4 T flour and 4 T butter. Stir. Heat until butter is melted.
Stir into soup. Add heated milk. Stir until thickened. Add salt, pepper and thyme.
Garnish with bacon bits and cheese if desired.

Broccoli Soup

1 bunch broccoli (fresh or frozen)
1/4 c onion - chopped
3/4 c potato " "
4 T. butter
1 cube chicken bullion
1 1/2 c water
2 c milk
1 T flour - heaping
1 t. lemon juice
Shredded cheddar cheese

Clean and chop broccoli. Cook in 3/4 c water til tender. Melt butter in large pan. Add chopped potato and onion, then bullion. Cook until onions are clear. Add 1 1/2 cups water. Cook until potatoes are done. Add flour to milk in bowl. Mix well. Heat in microwave 2 minutes, stir. Add to cooked potatoes and onions. Add Lemon juice. Add broccoli. Take out 1 - 2 cups and puree. Add back to soup. Add shredded cheddar to taste. Add salt and pepper if desired.

Swiss Steak

2 lbs round steak (cut into serving size pieces
Flour
Cajun Seasoning
2 cans stewed tomatoes
Onion (sliced)

Sprinkle the Cajun Seasoning on the steak, then flour each side. Place in crock pot, alternating layers of onion, steak and tomatoes. Add 1 1/2 cans of water. Let cook in crock pot for 5 -6 hours on high.
Serve with peas and rice, combined with butter.

(oh, just writing this out makes me hungry!!)