The ultimate Cheesecake!!!

Another birthday another reason to bake a cheesecake, this time I thought I would put a new twist on lemon merangue pie. I found this amazing recipie somewhere online forgive me I really can't remember, but it is worth all the trouble it took to make. Mind you I made most of it with a baby in one arm, trying to get it finished before bed, so it would have a full day to set! Perhaps the best cheesecake I have ever made, and even eaten!!

Lemon Cheesecake
INGREDIENTS
For the crust:
2 cups crushed graham crackers (about 26 crackers)
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
3 8-oz. packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/3 cups white granulated sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
2 tsp. vanilla extract
For the topping:
2 cups sour cream
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
For the glaze:
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
Thinly sliced lemon rounds, halved and twisted
METHOD
For the crust: Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter a 9-inch spring form pan. Blend crumbs and melted butter in bowl. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool thoroughly.
For the filling: Preheat oven to 350° F. Using, an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until soft. Gradually blend in sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla. Pour into crust. Bake until slightly puffed, about 40 minutes. Leave oven temperature at 350° F.
For the topping: Blend all ingredients in small bowl. Spread on top of cake. Bake 15 minutes; topping will not look set. Cool for 30 minutes.
For the glaze: Combine water, lemon juice and yolk in heavy small saucepan. Stir in sugar, cornstarch and salt. Bring to boil over low heat, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes. Add butter and lemon peel and stir until butter melts. Cool glaze for 20 minutes.
Spread glaze on cake. Cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled, (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.) Garnish with lemon slices. Serve cold.

Happy Birthday Jay!!!

HEE HEE, happy 31st!!! Hope you are enjoying your first birthday as a daddy!! And that you will enjoy the dinner I have slaved over all night for you (more or else the cheesecake....recipe to come tomorrow!).

Happy Birthday Mama

50 today.....I can't believe it, were we not just celebrating your 40th??? You haven't aged a bit more, you are as beautiful today as you were the day I was born! After all you didn't have a life before us kids...right??!!! I hope you enjoy your birthday dinner, so happy I get to spend today with you! Heres to another great 10 years, Love you so much xoxox

Another year older

Well 29 has arrived, had a terrific birthday!! Spent it with my 2 favorite guys, in Vancouver, watching the amazing Reverend Horton Heat!!! Took Jay and Adrian with me, to see them play at the Commodore Ballroom, it was a fantastic show, although the three of us were all soooo tired. I think the bump liked it as well, seems to kick around a lot more when we are somewhere loud music is playing...his sister was the same way! The great thing about being so pregnant, everyone moves out of your way and you can get a better view of the stage!! Was so happy to hear that the Rev is coming out with a new cd very soon!! Birthday idea for jay perhaps!!!

Happy Birthday Laura

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and talented cousin Laura who looks as beautiful today as she did 10 years ago!! Hope you have an amazing day, we love you lots xoxox

happy birthday to me!!!

Uh oh.....two more till thirty. Such a scary feeling...not the getting older part, as I am really looking forward to finally being in my thirties and maybe being taken seriously for once! I came across my list of thirty things to do before I was thirty, written at the oh so nieve age of *gulp* 19. Think I will share it with you all, its quite funny actually......

1.Take a toad trip across Canada

2.Hike the Inca trail

3.Sell a painting.

4.Learn to knit. CHECK!!!

5.Get married. CHECK!! Must include get divorced LOL

6.Start a family. CHECK

7.Own a house. CHECK

8.Get a full back tattoo.

9.Go to France.

10.Go to Scotland.

11.Drive through Alaska

12. Take the train through the Rockies.

13.Bake a wedding cake.

14.Learn to play the guitar

15.Become a photographer.

16.See tragically hip play. CHECK

17.Hike the West coast trail.

18.Own a houseplant and not kill it CHECK

19.Cut sugar out of my life

20.Have a real career

21.Have an art show

22.Design a piece of jewellery

23.Host a 5 course meal dinner party CHECK

24.Find a hair colour that I love and stick with it

25.Buy a bike

26.Read all the great classics

27.Write 30 minutes a day

28.sing karaoke just once

29.take up yoga CHECK

30.DO something at least once a day that is selfless CHECK

I guess I better get on it...or it my procrastinator way..maybe write a new list 40 things to do before 40!!!