Easter Cupcakes!

yumyumyumyumyumyumyum!
These cupcakes were so delish! Yes, they were made from a cake mix... every now and then I like a good old fashioned Betty Crocker and I'm not ashamed!

Caramel Praline Cheescake

I made this delicious cheesecake for my aunts going away dinner on the weekend. It is a fantastic and easy cake to make... and eat! I know those look like Malteezers on the top, but they are actually Junior Caramels that I cut in half, then placed on the cheescake while it was still warm to they would melt and stick to the cake.
I've made many a cheescake in my day... this is one of the best!
1 1/4 c. graham crumbs
1/4 c. melted butter
34 Caramels
3 tbsp. milk
1 c. chopped pecans
3 packages (250 gram packs)cream cheese
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla3 eggs
*Combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of a 9" springform pan.
*Melt caramels with milk in saucepan on low heat, stir until smooth. Stir in pecans and pour over crust.
*Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla on med. until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, mix just until blended. Pour batter over caramel mixture.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 45050 minutes or until center is almost set.
*Cool, then chill 4 hours (at least)
*Garnish top with cut in half Junior Caramels. Wait until about 5 minutes after its come out of the oven.
*Enjoy!

Mac & Cheese Masterpiece

This was our dinner last Friday night.... we don't eat any pasta or bread during the week, so the weekends are usually carborific! I don't really have a recipe per se... I just cook the pasta and make the cheese sauce in what I think is a good quantity. I use Velveeta (I know, I know!) and old white cheddar, probably a 60/40 ratio respectively... add a little milk, cayenne, paprika and and dry mustard.
I then cut up a tomato into small bits and mix it in, pour the whole kit and caboodle into the baking dish, sprinkle it with fine bread crumds and drizzled butter and throw it under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Say what you will about Velveeta, but it makes the perfect mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches. When I want comfort food... nothing else will do!