CAST IRON: Mamaw's Best Cheesecake

Cast Iron:  Mamaw's Best Cheesecake

Kids are precious.  I am thankful that my granddaughters had so many grandparents they were confused about what to call us.  Thus, Mamaw and Papaw.  Recipes that have been developed in this later stage of life have my handle on there.  I could have called it Flaming Biskit's Best Cheesecake, but it just doesn't sound as convincing.

My first try at cheesecake in a dutch oven was VERY tasty, but without a necessary "bain Marie" or waterbath...  it was tougher than all get out.   Taste was a 10, texture was on the negative number side! Photographed well though: 

 So I decided to go back to basics.  A 10 inch springform pan.  A disposable aluminum broiler pan from the dollar store and my recipe: (note, this recipe needs a total of 16 hours for proper preparation, it is a MAKE AHEAD dessert)

Mamaw's Best Cheesecake

In a large bowl whip:
one pint of room temp sour cream
5 extra large eggs also room temp

In a second bowl whip:
4- 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, room temp
1 cube of room temperature butter
When soft and creamy add to the large bowl of eggs and sour cream.

Add:  1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 TBS cornstarch
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 TBS lemon zest
2 TBS fresh lemon juice (NOT concentrated)
Beat the cheesecake batter in it's entirety for 2-3 minutes on high speed. 

Place oven rack in the CENTER of the oven, and Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Wrap TWO layers of heavy duty foil around your 10" springform pan, crimping and pleating to conform to the pan tightly.  Butter the inside generously (not your non-stick spray)

Pour in your batter into the springform pan.  Place your roasting pan and your springform pan in the oven.  The springform pan should be centered and not touching the sides of the roasting pan. 

Run VERY hot tap water in a pitcher and carefully pour into the roasting pan until it is halfway up the side of your springform pan.  This is your water bath, or "bain marie." 

Bake for 2 hours 15 minutes, or until the cheesecake is lightly browned and a knife inserted comes out clean.  Let stand at room temperature for a full 4 hours.  Cover with cling wrap and continue to refrigerate overnight. 

While the cheesecake is baking, prepare your topping.  The sky is the limit here, chocolates, caramels... whatever your favorite topping is will be fabulous in conjunction with this cheesecake. 

My favorite is a 16 oz. package of raspberries, one cup of sugar and the rest of your lemon juice from above mentioned lemon.  Simmer, warming gradually until you reach a low boil, then reduce temp and reduce the liquids until this is spreading consistency.  Put in a bowl and chill alongside the cheesecake overnight.  Spread a few hours before serving, after both topping and cheesecake are thoroughly chilled.

 

TRADITIONS: Christian Upbringing

What is a Christian upbringing?  Does it mean you sprinkle the baby with some water and make it cry?  Does it mean you go to church EVERY Sunday, or maybe just Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday? 

Do you go to church at all??  In our case, dad never professed at all what he believed.  Maybe it had to do with his raising, or the fact that he went to war and into HELL. 

Mama read her Bible and said that's what her daddy did.  So... We were raised with some Bible facts.  Spare the rod, spoil the child.  Treat others the way YOU want to be treated...  10 commandments.  And the worst fact of all...  You just wait until your dad gets home!!!!  Not in the Bible that I've seen, but it had a lot to do with the "rod" thing.   

Each person in this world will have a chance to choose what they believe and what they will stand for. 

MY TWO CENTS: Moving ON

MY TWO CENTS:   Moving ON!

It is difficult when you work hard all your life to resign yourself to the inevitable.  Over the past few years, I have made my home a "NO DRAMA ZONE"  Anyone breaks the rule, they get their @ss chewed and one warning.  After that, they will NOT be welcome. 

Facebook was a lifesaver when I was sitting in a chair unable to do anything, barely able to care for my basic needs.  It kept me company, entertained me, and made me laugh.  Recent events have me pulling back from that area, as Facebook is apparently offended by pictures of a little country church and some jeans that will receive a new incarnation as a quilt to warm one of our local veterans. 

On Facebook, there is "unfriending" and people who read only half of a comment, or do not even bother to clarify before become butthurt about something that was said....  Life is TOO SHORT!

In the next month, I will be working to update this blog, and will be linking folks here, as well as to the "Denim For Vets" blog, and "Rocky Ridge Quilters" blog.  I feel my efforts would be better served here on blogspot as I have had a blog here for YEARS and not one single thing has ever been lost. 

It sickens me when social media takes it upon themselves to dictate what a "community" consists of... they have NO CLUE!  

Stay tuned all and GOD BLESS!

FAITH: Paying It Forward

Faith:  Paying It Forward

You hear many references today about "paying it forward".   I am sure that it is not a NEW concept... in fact, people have been encouraged to do this from the beginning of time. 

I am sharing today, because having the ability to do good things is a GIFT OF GOD. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13

12 I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good during their life. 

13 also that everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work.  It is the gift of GOD. 

Having a strong faith doesn't mean you have to bury yourself in deep intellectual pursuit of the Bible...  get out there, do good.  It'll DO YOU GOOD! 

Sometimes the simplest things in life catch your eye and bring pleasure.  Thoughts meander.  I wonder what the builder of this rock buck was thinking about as he packed all those rocks from the field??? 

GOD BLESS,

Karen

CAST IRON: Lentil Soup

Cast Iron:  Lentil Soup 

One of the most used pieces of cast iron in my kitchen is a very rough, Taiwan made 4 qt. soup pot.  My hubby picked it up off a prize table at Rendezvous one year.  I didn't think I would like it as it was NOT a camp oven.  If I use it over the fire, I need flat rocks or a rack to hold it over the coals.  Soup pot has traveled with me over many, many rough roads.  It has cooked over the fire, inside the tin tee pee, and in my kitchen at home!

The ingredients got laid out, and the soup came together quickly.  4 cups of beef broth and 2 cups of water were started in the pot on high.  1 Envelope of Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix was tossed in.  Then....

BAM!  1 1/2 cups of dry lentils were dropped in.  1 yellow onion diced, 3 cups of halved grape tomatoes ( a can of diced petite will do in a pinch)  2 carrots quartered lengthwise and diced, 5 cloves of garlic minced, 3 stalks of celery halved lengthwise and diced... and the funny looking pile is homegrown, home dried sweet basil crushed with the end of a rolling pin.  1 tsp of smoked paprika, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.  Lastly fry off a 1/2 pound of bacon ends and pieces finely diced until well browned and add to the pot.

  Bring to a boil, cover and set on the back burner with a very small flame.  Simmer until veggies and lentils are soft... about 30 minutes or so... depending on how you like the texture of your lentils.  45 minutes to an hour can be a little mushy for some!  

BON APPETITE' or however they say it... Good Grubbin'  !!!

Fresh Posts for 2017

Happy 2017! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful and BLESSED holiday season!

New Year, new transitions.  Moving forward and looking forward.  Stay tuned for the best of FAMILY  CAST IRON and TRADITIONS! 

At 21 months Mr. Eli Ray Fulbright can swipe his Mamaw's phone, and take SELFIES! 

All worn out from taking selfies, Eli hopped up on Papaw's lap to watch some football.  He truly is a little Fulbright... watching football from behind closed eyelids! 

STAY TUNED AS THINGS REV UP IN THE NEW YEAR! 

LOVE TO ALL

Cast Iron: Peach Kuchen in 12" Dutch Oven

Cast Iron:  Peach Kuchen in a 12" Dutch Oven

You might ask:  "What the heck is Kuchen?"   The German origin word means "cake"  I have tried several versions.  It can be a raised yeast dough or traditional cake form...  I chose the cake form today.. very much like a fruity coffee cake.  I mean, it's cinnamon and peaches... can't go wrong there!!!  

My husband's family has deep German roots, with some members coming to America in the 1700's.  The family name was Americanized but they do love their desserts!! 

Peach Kuchen

Dough:

1/2 c. Sugar

2 c. Flour

3 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBS Shortening or Lard

Mix with a fork until all the ingredients are incorporated.

To this add 1 egg, plus enough milk to equal 1c.... whipped.

I pressed the dough into the bottom of a 12" Dutch oven, making a well by pushing the edges of the dough up the side of the oven.  Any fruit will work, preferably fresh, but these were canned peaches as I didn't have any fresh on hand.  After the fruit is placed in the well add the following:

Topping:  Whisk 1 c. Sugar, 3 heaping TBS of flour, 1 tsp of cinnamon...  top the fruit and to the top of that add 4 TBS of cold butter thinly sliced around the topping.  Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes until nicely brown and the topping is bubbling. 

Cool slightly and serve with your favorite brand of vanilla ice cream.  I love Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.  Or you can use cream or whipped cream...  Whatever floats your boat!