Is it Your Turn to Bring the Dessert?

Then you HAVE to try this…if you’re willing to veer away from plain old pumpkin pie and wallow in some major gastronomic SIN this Thanksgiving!

Seriously, I made this last Thanksgiving and Oh. My. God.

Crust
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

(I used a pre-made 10 in. graham cracker crust. It was much easier but you will have a little batter left over if you do it that way)

Swirl
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Ghirardelli’s bittersweet chips but any kind is fine)
1/3 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Filling
Two 8-ounce packages natural cream cheese, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream
5 eggs
(I altered the recipe and added 1 oz. of the Ghiradelli chips to the list of filling ingredients)

Crust: Preheat the oven to 275 F. Combine the crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a buttered 9-inch cake pan with 2-inch sides.

To make the swirl: In the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water, melt the chocolate with the cream. Stir until smooth, then set aside, keeping it warm.

To make the filling: Cream the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed in the bowl of an electric mixer, scraping the bowl frequently and beating until smooth. Add the pumpkin, spices and cream, beating until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.

Pour filling over the crust OR pour half if you like chocolate and follow the step right below this one.

(This part is my addition. You can skip it if you like less chocolate)–> Evenly spread the 1 oz. of chips throughout and then continue pouring the batter over the chips until pie shell or pan is full

Drizzle a spiral pattern with the melted chocolate on top of the filling and swirl it gently through the batter with the point of a knife. Do not stir.

Place the cheesecake pan in a larger baking pan and pour 1/2 inch of boiling water into the outer baking pan. < --- (I still did this step even though I used a pre-made pie shell)

Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour, or until the center is firm and not soupy. (I still did this step even though I used a pre-made pie shell)

Cool at room temperature, then chill at least 2 hours.

To serve, (I served it from the pie tin so I didn't do this step. Skip unless you're serving it as a cake) dip the bottom of the pan in very hot water for 1 minute. Invert onto a sheet of stiff cardboard or a plate. Remove the pan and place a serving plate on the bottom of the cheesecake. Holding both the top and bottom plates (or cardboard), flip the cheesecake back over and remove the plate or cardboard from the top.

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Thanks to everyone who answered my “Dr. Mom” page and shared your insights. I’ve been doing this for 6 years but I had NO idea you could feel like you’re walking on the moon from a fever!

Fortunately, the kids seem to be all better by Friday night/Saturday morning, after two VERY long weekdays. Late Thursday night, right after I went in to check her fever, TQ came running out of her to show me that her top left tooth had fallen out, which is great because her last loose tooth had to be “helped” along. It was hanging by a thread of gum tissue for about a week and it was grossing me out so I finally pulled it and it was awful! I do NOT recommend…

Paging Dr. Mom

Oh my Gods! Someone HELP! I’ve got two sick kids at home today and I cannot take another minute of Noggin.

And tell me, am I the only one that would like to smash the TV when Wonder Pets is on? I hate their stupid little songs and the one with the really pronounced speech impediment that never shuts up? Grrrrrr! The whole thing just irritates the living crap out of me.

Wonder Pets. Must. Die.

Okay, now that I’ve vented, I have some questions… I was awoken twice last night by TQ, who had a raging fever. The second time, she was freaking out because she said when she walked she felt like she was walking on the moon. The hell? Then today when her fever spiked again, she said the same thing. I’ve asked her to explain and she isn’t able to describe it. What does this mean? Should I be concerned? Anyone?

Also, she has one red spot on her stomach and my first thought was chicken pox but she’s had the vaccine so that’s unlikely right? Please say yes because I’ve never had chicken pox and adults can die from it.

Okay, last question. If you’ve given your child Tylenol or Motrin and their fever has gone down for the time being and they say they feel okay, should they be allowed to play or go in the back yard? Or does laying down and taking it easy really make a difference and thus is the better choice?

Thanks in advance!

Addendum: Holy shit! I might die from the cuteness…

My daughter just came up to me and said “Mommy, I wrote on my hand”

Me: “What did you write?”

And she showed me.

It said “I love you, Mome” (mome = mommy)

Awww…how cute is that?

WTF Wednesday Holiday Edition

Today’s WTF Wednesday is brought to you by Mattel!

Christmas is coming up and I was thinking it might be helpful if I showcased some of the hot new toys kids will be asking for this year. My personal favorite is the Barbie Hot Tub Party Bus!

“There’s nothing like a good house party — and Barbie and her friends take their parties on the road. This festive RV bus keeps playtime rolling! The living room features an entertainment center with a flat-screen TV, a spinning driver’s chair, and a sofa that opens into a bed. There’s even a second pull-down bed for party guests to snooze in. Best of all, the hot tub in the back
keeps Barbie’s friends warm and toasty.”

Having been raised on innumerable episodes of Three’s Company, which was always heavily laced with double-entendres, I have to ask…is it just me or does Hot Tub Party Bus sound like a euphemism for “Hot SEX Party Bus“? Because growing up in the swinging seventies, the hot tub references were common and were NEVER about merely getting “warm and toasty” (unless you were on a ski trip with your church youth group grandparents.)

And even though he’s from a different era, I keep hearing Austin Powers’ voice in my head:

A sofa that opens into a bed?

A second pull-down bed for “guests”? *wink wink*

And a hot tub in the back???

Yeahhhh Bayyyybeee!!!
.

So is it just my dirty mind playing in the gutter again or is this a total “WTF were they thinking?” kind of toy?

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Awards Blamed for Epidemic of Wet Pants

Prepare to giggle, chuckle, chortle, snort beverages out your nose and possibly wet your pants but PLEASE REMEMBER…we cannot be responsible for damaged keyboards or ruined clothing. You are strongly advised to put your protective gear on before you start reading.

Cristina and I give you the winners of the October ROFL Awards!

Mommy off the Record awards Kevin Charnas
Soul Gardening awarded Mama Tulip*
Crankmama awarded Moobs
Between Diapers and Dishes awarded Mexico Movies
Ravin’ Picture Maven and Life, the Universe and Everything awarded Halushki
Scribbit awarded Dandelion Mama
Hello Insomnia awarded Anne Nahm
A Beautiful Mess awarded Victorian Rhapsody And Dirty Dishes
Radioactive Girl awarded Chicky Chicky Baby
InsParenting awarded Mommy off the Record
Hell Broke Loose Today awarded Zube Girl
Bub and Pie awarded Momish
Stolen Moments awarded Sweatpantsmom
The Pink Diary awarded Memoirs of a Feline Empress in Exile
Slackermommy awarded Momish
Maniacal Days awarded Kevin Charnas
Momish awarded 8 Centimeters Deluded
Oh the Joys awarded Kevin Charnas
Bread Crumbs in the Butter awarded a peek inside the fishbowl
Sarah and the Goon Squad awarded I’m Doing the Best I Can
MOMBAT awarded Crankmama
Jennster awarded Kevin Charnas

*As you may know, Mama Tulip is taking a blogging break right now, but that doesn’t mean she can’t still win an award!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

To award a blogger for a post written in November, e-mail Cristina the link to the post and a link to your blog by December 5th.

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I have a new post up over at over at Props and Pans today! Also, we’ve been getting some great submissions but we’re always looking for more. We are especially interested in your witty reviews of food, cosmetics, personal care, baby care, entertainment and toys. Drop me an email or a note in the comments if you want more information : )

He Does All His Own Stunts

First there was the doggy door incident where I turned my back on P for a minute to throw some laundry in the machine. I turned around to find him still chattering away in the general proximity of the patio but on the other side of the screen. AS IN OUTSIDE!

Yes officer, that is correct. The last time I saw my toddler was right before he absconded through the DOGGY DOOR!

Then there was the dishwasher incident where I left P sitting on the carpet 10 feet away, playing with a few of his favorite non-toys (my wallet, my headset and an old cellphone) while I went to the bathroom. When I returned less than a minute later, he was gone.

I followed the noise to the kitchen where I found him standing on the opened dishwasher door with the cat next to him and his hand in my box of Captain Crunch. I removed him, with much protest, and when I went to close up the cereal, I noticed he had stashed some forks and knives inside. And then I noticed he had very kindly emptied a few glasses from the dishwasher and placed them on the counter. Glasses? Forks? Knives? All he needed to complete the scenario was a lighter and some rat poison…

And now Dangerboy’s latest antic…climbing out of his crib head first. CRIB DIVING, DAMMIT!!!!

Of course we appreciate the punk rockness of it, honey, but it’s gotta stop.

So…this means the doggy door must be closed whenever P is on the patio. And now I have to use the dreaded baby gates since he knows how to lock and unlock the dishwasher, as well as turn it on. And it also means we are the owners of another new baby safety device.