Easy No-Bake Cheesecake

Lu, who is currently spending a year in Brazil, asked me for my cheesecake recipe. Since it's my most commonly requested recipe, I figure I may as well post it here!

Easy No-Bake Cheesecake

Crust:

1 package (about 12 graham crackers), crushed
1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter, melted

Mix well and press into the bottom of an 8x8 pan.

Filling:

2 8oz packages cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Whip cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, making sure to scrape sides of bowl. Add the sweetened condensed milk; whip again and keep sides scraped. Add lemon juice, vanilla and nutmeg, mix well. Pour on top of crust. Refrigerate until firm. Serve with fruit topping, if desired.

SOLUTION: Red X in Outlook Where Pictures Ought To Be

Problem:

• You haven't changed any settings in your Outlook, and for some unknown reason instead of pictures, you have red x's.
• You've tried every single fix you could find on Google, including the Trust Center, deleting Outlook temp files, picture placeholders, etc. etc. etc. Nothing works.
• You use a proxy server to access the internet.

Solution:

• Close Outlook.
• Open Notepad. Copy the following into a new text document:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common]
"AllowImageProxyAuth"=dword:00000002

• Click on File --> Save As
• File name: Outlook_Fix.reg
• Save as type: Change to "All Files"
• Click Save.
• Navigate to where you saved Outlook_Fix.reg
• Double-click on the file.
• Choose "Yes" when the dialog box comes up.

Re-open Outlook. When you next attempt to view an email with pictures, it will prompt you for your proxy credentials. It should work normally after that.

Conversation

Conversation with Alex, the exchange student coming to live with us. We are in the paperwork process, and have to have background checks. We were talking about how we might be closet murderers or criminals, and how would he know?

Violet: But what if we're con men?
Alex (puzzled): "Con" men? What's that?
Violet: People who pretend to be good, but end up taking your money.
Alex: Oh! You mean an asshole?

Exchange Students

I know I'm terrible about updating my blog on a regular basis, but I figured it was worth noting two significant events: Lu left in July to Brazil for a year as an exchange student, and we are getting an exchange student from Denmark for the school year. It will be our first time ever to have a BOY in the house. How weird is that? :)

Alex is 18, and a guitarist. He's coming to live with us because we are moving to a house near the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, where Violet currently attends. So we'll get singing and guitar playing happening all the time. :)

Conversation

Violet (poking me with a fork): You know what this is, right?
Me: What?
Violet: You're going to hell in a handbasket and this is your welcoming committee.

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients

2 eggplant, peeled and cut into ¼” slices
2 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt and 1 Tbsp. water
2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs, mixed with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
2 jars (32oz) spaghetti sauce
¾ to 1 lb. mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ tsp. dried basil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Sweat the sliced eggplant by sprinkling with sea salt and letting sit for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat completely dry with paper towels.
3. Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture, then in bread crumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese.
4. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with olive oil. Bake for 7 minutes on each side. Remove from oven; lower temperature to 400 degrees.
5. In a 9x13 baking dish, spread one jar of spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place half the eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
6. Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nectarine Blackberry Crisp

Nectarine Blackberry Crisp

Fruit Filling:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 6oz. package blackberries**, rinsed and drained well
6 or so nectarines, sliced, enough to fill an 8x8 baking dish

Cream Filling:
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. flour

Topping:
1 cup flour
6 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

Place berries and nectarines in a bowl; sprinkle flour, sugar, and nutmeg over fruit. Toss to coat. Transfer to 8x8 baking dish. In another bowl, whisk eggs to blend; add sour cream, vanilla and flour. Whisk to blend, and pour evenly over fruit in baking dish. Combine topping ingredients; you will end up with a soft buttery dough. Crumble pieces of the dough over the fruit, distributing it evenly.

Bake in a 375 oven until the custard is set and topping is golden brown, about 55-60 minutes. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

**Raspberries also taste wonderful with this recipe!

Facebook Status

Lu: I wish my homework was asexual, then it would just do itself!

Facebook Status

Violet: I cannot comprehend the girls who like to get made-up, fix their hair perfectly and go somewhere, barely being able to enjoy themselves because they are worrying about how they look. I want to be the type of girl who doesn't care what she wears, or how she looks. I want to be the girl who, instead of spending money to go have a good time with their friends, puts on pajama bottoms with them, turns on a chick flick, and in the end barely watch the movie and just talk about life. Doesn't that seem a whole lot better than gossiping and sucking in your tummies?

I don't worry about what people think of me because, in the end, the only opinion that matters is my own.

Instead of my pictures making me look fake, and have me pouting like a four year old, I want a picture of who I really am: A fishing, camping, singing, hiking, laughing, crazy, strong, confident, etc. girl who isn't afraid to show who she really is. I want to be laughing, hugging, acting odd. I want to be me in my pictures. I see this in mine, and all I see in other's pictures are girls afraid to be themselves.

So please, be yourself, live your life to the fullest, brush off snide comments, and never be afraid to stand up for what you truely believe in. Stay different.

Conversation

Violet: I've eaten so much candy... I'm on a sugar high! I'm gonna puke the rainbow...