I needed to clean out the fridge in preparation for a grocery shopping trip and because we had been away camping for the past 4 weekends. Here’s what I found: two half cartons of sour cream, the real stuff without additives, 1/3 jar capers, 1/2 jar horseradish, 1/2 jar mint jelly, a pickle jar with one small pickle in it, wheatgerm, and instant yeast. I had two jars of salsa which had passed their time also. There’s more but this is the stuff that needs to be paid attention to.

I am thinking of the baked good to make this weekend. I am thinking of cheese cake bites. I have been reading books and other websites on making things ahead of time and having the homemade food ready to assemble into meals. What has been on my mind does not use the above ingredients. Eons ago I found a crust-less cheesecake recipe in the newspaper. I have memorized the ingredients: 3 pkg cream cheese, 5 eggs, 2 cups sugar, bar of German chocolate, and vanilla extract. I will bake it in mini muffin pans and when cool plan to pop them into a freezer bag so we can have a little dessert once and awhile without eating the entire cheesecake. I am not a food scientist so I am not sure how long they’ll keep. But it is cheesecake so how long does it need to last?

My mom did not ever make a cheesecake to my memory. So when I had my own kitchen as a junior and senior in college I bought the Betty Crocker no-bake cheesecake mix and this is what I made. When I first saw New York style cheesecake I was suspicious. I mean, really, baked cheese! But my palate has matured and I no longer like mediocre cheesecakes or the no-bake type.

The cheesecake above is a marbled version. Melt the chocolate and mix into 1/3 of the cheesecake batter made by beating the other four ingredients until creamy and smooth.In a 9 inch buttered dish it takes 30-35 minutes to bake at 350 degrees. I imagine the mini muffin versions will take a shorter time. I will have to let you know after I make them.

Gentle reader, please bear with me as I learn the way to blog. I need a blogger class. Usually I can read and learn but on the computer I find I need to see how and then I can learn the process.