Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

I am always browsing online for interesting recipes to share with my friends and readers. Yesterday, I came across this little gem from BHG. Definitely not for the faint of heart or those of us who are dieting (ahem) but certainly something very special to make for a very special occasion. Drool along with me over this "Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake." Can we say "Yum," boys and girls?

Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Ingredients 

• 18 chocolate graham cracker squares, finely crushed ( 1-1/c c)
• 1/2 c butter, melted
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
• 1 c creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 c sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 c semisweet chocolate pieces
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Peanuts (optional) 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine crackers, melted butter and 2 tbsp sugar. Press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
2. In bowl, beat 1 pkg of cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in peanut butter and 1/4 c sugar until combined. Fold in 1 lightly beaten egg; set aside.
3. In saucepan, stir chocolate over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Cube remaining cream cheese and add to chocolate. Stir to combine. Stir in milk and vanilla until smooth. Fold in 2 lightly beaten eggs. Spread half the chocolate mixture into the pan. Carefully spread the peanut butter mixture over this layer. Evenly spread with the remainder of the chocolate mixture.
4. Bake 45 minutes of until top is set when lightly shaken. Outer 2 inches of the pan will look dry and slightly puffed; the center will look darker and wet. 
5. Cool in pan on rack for 15 min. Use a small sharp knife to loosen crust from sides. 
6. Cool completely on rack. Cover and chill in fridge for 4 hours. 
7. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with peanuts and/or additional chocolate chips. 

Makes 16 servings.

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Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken & Potatoes

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken & Roasted Potatoes go together like...peanut butter and jelly!  I made this dish for Mike for Father's Day and he loved it. This is a dish that is easy to prepare, medium in calorie count and totally delicious. The chicken was tender because of the broth, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. Best yet, it all cooks at the same time and takes less than an hour from prep to finish! The aluminium foil makes chicken pan clean-up faster and using cooking spray saves your baking pans. This made enough for a couple of meals for each of us.

Easy, tasty and delicious

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken


Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Honey BBQ Sauce
2 tbsp honey
sea salt
1/2 c boiling water
1 chicken bouillion cube

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminium foil and spray with cooking spray. Wash chicken breasts and dry with paper towel and place in pan. Mix BBQ sauce with honey (makes it a bit thicker) and spread on the chicken. Lightly grate sea salt over the chicken pieces. Mix bouillion cube with boiling water until dissolved and pour into the pan (not over the chicken). Bake for approximately 3/4 hour until chicken is no longer pink inside.

Oven-Roasted Potatoes


Ingredients:

6 Russet Potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
Parsley (approx 1 tbsp)
sea salt
1 tsp of dried dill, sprinkling of onion salt and garlic salt

Spray the bottom of a 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Placed cubed potatoes evenly over the bottom. Spread with oil and sprinkle with parsley, a light grating of sea salt, dried dill, onion salt and garlic salt. Place in the oven with the chicken (as above) and cook until chicken is done and potatoes have lightly crisped and browned. Mix occasionally to evenly brown the potatoes.

Note: I love McCormick's sea salt grater. It lets you control the amount of sea salt you use, reducing the sodium. It's sold at most grocery stores in the spice section.

Donna Sunshine's Nieman-Marcus Cookie Recipe

My friend, Donna, has given me a recipe sent to her by one of her friends. Thanks Donna - looks like a good one!

 Nieman-Marcus Cookies [recipe may be halved]

  

Ingredients

• 2 c butter
• 2 tsp soda
• 5c blended oatmeal (blend to a fine powder)
• 2 c brown sugar
• 1 8 oz Hershey Bar (grated)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 4 c flour
• 2 c sugar
• 24 oz chocolate chips
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 3 c chopped nuts (your choice)

Cream together the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts.

Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes approximately 110 cookies. Enjoy!