Macaroni and Cheese

Today I made home-made macaroni and cheese for my daughter.  I do not know why I do not make it more often, it is really simple to make.  I do have to say today's batch was the best I have ever made.  I really do not have a recipe.  I just cook the macaroni and cube the Velveeta.  I put some of the Velveeta and Half and Half into a cassarole dish, put the macaroni over the top of the cheese and put more of the cheese on top of the macaroni.  I then stir until it is all melted, add salt and pepper, top with shredded cheese and bread crumbs and bake until done. 

I have been experimenting with adding different cheeses to my macaroni and today I added a Mexican cheese blend with Pepper Jack.  It really added just the right amount of kick.  Velveeta is good but so bland

Snickers Cheesecake

http://www.food.com/recipe/sinful-snickers-cheesecake-73418#ixzz1FBpnIxww

This is an amazing recipe that I got from food.com.  I am posting the original recipe and then at the end will post some things I am going to change about the recipe the next time I make it.

IngredientsServings Size

Update

• 35 Oreo cookies
• 4 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 24 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
• 2 eggs
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 5 (3 2/3 ounce) Snickers candy bars (coarsely chopped)
• 1 cup nestle' semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 ounces whipping cream
• chopped peanuts, chopped snickers (optional)

Directions:

Prep Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 1 1/2 hrs

1. 1 Prepare crust: Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. 2 Cover the bottom of a 10-inch spring-form pan tightly with aluminum foil.
3. 3 Using a food processor, finely crush all the Oreo cookies.
4. 4 Add melted butter, water and sugar to the cookie crumbs and continue using processor until the mixture is well blended.
5. 5 Turn this cookie mixture out into the spring-form pan and using your fingers, gently work the cookie mixture until the bottom of the pan is covered with about one inch up on the sides.
6. 6 Bake for only 6 or 7 minutes, no longer or the crust will be too hard.
7. 7 It is okay if the crust rises a little during the baking-- if this occurs, use the flat bottom of a glass to gently press down and set aside to cool.
8. 8 Prepare filling: Using a large bowl and an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy.
9. 9 When cream cheese is fluffy, add in one egg and mix well.
10. 10 Add second egg and mix well.
11. 11 Add in sour cream and sugar.
12. 12 Remove electric mixture to gently fold in the Nestle' chocolate chips and chopped Snickers candy bars.
13. 13 Pour batter onto the crust and spread the mixture out from the middle to all the sides to help it bake evenly.
14. 14 Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place spring-form pan in middle and bake at 375F for about 45 minutes, or until top is light brown.
15. 15 It's ok if the middle of the cheesecake is sunk in a little.
16. 16 Transfer the cheese cake to a rack and cool while still in the spring-form pan.
17. 17 Lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the cheesecake and refrigerate (still in spring-form pan) for at least four hours or more- overnight is best.
18. 18 Prepare glaze: Melt chocolate chips, butter and only 1/3 of the heavy whipping cream in a double boiler over medium heat until just at the melting stage.
19. 19 Remove from heat and stir mixture until smooth.
20. 20 (You can use a microwave for this part but ensure the bowl is microwave safe).
21. 21 While still warm, stir in remaining heavy whipping cream and mix until well blended.
22. 22 Using a sharp paring knife, run is around the edges of the spring-form pan to gently separate the cheesecake from the pan sides.
23. 23 Release the spring-form and remove from the cheesecake.
24. 24 Place cheesecake on serving dish and pour the chocolate glaze into the shallow crater.
25. 25 Sprinkle crushed peanuts or extra Snickers shavings on top.
26. 26 Refrigerate to allow the glaze to set.

I loved this but there are a few things I would change.  I would replace the chocolate chips in the actual cheesecake batter with even more pieces of chopped up Snickers.  I think I would also drizzle a little bit of caramel sauce over the chocolate ganache to accent the chocolate.  I will also put chopped peanuts on top of the cheesecake instead of the chopped Snickers pieces.  It was delicious, but I really think you need something more to accent the chocolate.