Hello Salted Caramel Cheesecake!

I am thankful for so many blessings this year...

my wonderful sweet husband

being able to spend Thanksgiving at our apartment with Ben's mom and sister.

being able to take a walk before dinner (this weather is lovely!)

our bright colorful Christmas lights decorating our patio

surviving Black Friday shopping

getting a full 8 hours of sleep after shopping

my hot cup of coffee

my warm cozy apartment

and...I am thankful that I send the rest of our Thanksgiving dessert with Ben to work. 

Why you ask? 

Because it was way too delicious. ( I'm not just saying that because I made it)

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

The recipe was originally found on Joy the Baker. The original recipe is to be made in a pie pan. I however, wanted to use my spring form pan so I tweaked the recipe a bit. I listed below the ingredient changes I made for the larger spring form pan size. (I think mine is a 9" pan) The directions on Joy the Baker are very detailed and include pictures so I won't do that here. Follow the same steps, just use the different measurements here.

CRUST INGREDIENTS 

2 1/2 cups ginger snap cookie crumbs

2 tablespoons brown sugar

pinch of salt

3/4 stick unsalted melted butter

CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS

20 oz cream cheese (at room temp) 

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. salt 

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs (at room temp)

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. lemon zest (I'd say optional...but it truly adds a lot)

CARAMEL INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

It's seriously delicious. That's why it had to leave our apartment. A whole cheesecake sitting in our fridge is dangerous. 

Introducing...Snail Mail Designs

The secret is out.

My sister and I have opened up our own etsy shop that specializes in uniquely designed paper goods.

Right now in our shop you can find Christmas cards, gift tags, birthday cards, prints,  and thank you cards. In the weeks and months to come you will start seeing wedding invitations and many more cute things!

Here are a few samples of some of what you will find...

Check out our Etsy Shop: SnailMailDeisgnShop

Find us on Facebook and "like us" to keep updates on the wonderful additions coming to the shop.

An Early Birthday...

My lovely friend Bekah was in town so she helped us celebrate my Birthday a few days early...

complete with a nice dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. 

Next up, was a Pumpkin Bundt Cake (recipe here), Vanilla Bean Ice Cream,and Champagne.

To be perfectly honest though we were all way to full from dinner so we actually lit the candles just to take photos. (um...twice...my camera's battery was dead the first time)

We then covered the cake and promised to devour it the following afternoon. (which we did).

It was delicious. 

Oh and we also fit in some remote control helicopter flying competitions, and party edition Pass the Pigs.

I couldn't have asked for a better evening. 

Thank you friends.

You make growing old easy ;)

Wednesday Words

  Source: Uploaded by user via Gaby on Pinterest

Where has the week gone?

Sorry for my lack of posts. I've been busy. busy. busy.

The good thing about my business however is that the week has flown by, and I get to start my weekend tomorrow at 2:55pm when the school bell rings.

I also have something to show for all the work I've been doing. 

But for now I must leave you in suspense. 

Minneapolis Restaurant: Cafe Ena

Last weekend we had the opportunity to try out this amazing restaurant in Minneapolis...Cafe Ena. It is described as a Latin Fusion Cuisine. The food was delicious. I am actually getting hungry just looking at the photographs again. 

we started out with some fresh guacamole...

I had this delicious fish entree...I don't even remember what it was called but my plate was quickly cleared.

I was spoiled furthermore when the meal ended with some coffee and churros served with cinnamon ice cream.

The restaurant has a great cozy atmosphere...

some city lights (out of focus) on our way home.

so good.

Well I'm off to enjoy my Saturday, and by that I mean fill up my coffee mug and read.

On our way home

Our weekend is done, and the week must begin.

We are all packed up and ready for our four hour drive home. About an hour into our drive we get to stop and have breakfast at a small diner with my parents. After consuming your usual diner breakfast and a few cups of caffeine we should be good to go. It is nice to have this pit stop on early mornings in the car. It gives us a chance to slow down and relax into conversation with my parents. We laugh about stories and new happenings and make plans for future trips home. 

For your viewing pleasure I thought I'd share with you three things that I do during this long drives*...

 *not shown but also important to surviving car rides: books, knitting, napping, talking with the husband about anything and everything, etc.

A rather long weekend

We are still enjoying our mini vacation.

I love when the weekend is allowed to slip into Monday.

Please don't hate me for also telling you it is going to continue to slip into most of Tuesday.

Oh and it started on Friday...

This lovely long weekend is normally not possible, so we are enjoying every cozy minute of it.

I've already consumed two cups of coffee this morning and some delicious blueberry coffee cake.

I have more to share about the weekend, but I am determined not to spend my last day on the computer.

So I'll write more soon...

 

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Pinterest on my mind.

                                                                    Source: greenlikebathwater.tumblr.com via siriah on Pinterest

                                                                 Source: charlottesfancy.wordpress.com via Janet on Pinterest

                                                                        Source: lifemadelovely-blog.com via Bridgette on Pinterest

                                                                         Source: pickles.no via Corinna on Pinterest

                                                            Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Joanna on Pinterest

1. I love the whale photograph. Makes me think of my mom...she has always wanted to see a whale.

2. Paper flower tutorial....you can never have too many paper flowers. right?!

3. I like the colors in this room, and the frame with photos. 

4. Felt Ball Wreath (I know it's too early for Christmas Decor)

5. Apple Cheesecake bars. These don't look too bad. 

Oh Pinterest...

Heart of Thanks

On this wonderful day of Thursday I want to share with you a wonderful project of thanksgiving that my sister-in-law Jen is doing over on her blog, She Collects. 

It is called.... (click on the image below to check it out)

She invites you (and me) to join in having a heart of thankfulness. While I read her daily posts I find myself taking the time to think of the many blessings in my life. 

I am off to the land of second grade. 

Happy Thursday!

A New Look

Trying out a new header for the blog...

I thought it was about time for something new. Not sure if I am 100% happy with it yet, so I may change it up yet. Or I may run out of time and leave it how it is for a few months.

Any thoughts?