Mock Turtle Cheesecake

This is one of the first cheesecakes I ever made. It is real easy, and doesn't require a springform pan.

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Crust:
1 cup crushed Oreo's
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 Tbls. butter (melted)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 or 9 inch round cake pan with foil. Mix all ingredients and press into cake pan and bake for 8 minutes. Let cool.

Filling:
2- 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 eggs

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add sugar and whipping cream. Beat in eggs. Pour over crust, and bake for 34-45 minutes until center sets. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack.

Glaze:
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate squares (chopped)
2 Tbls whipping cream

On low heat, melt chocolate and whipping cream. Stir continuously until smooth. Pour on top of cheesecake and smooth it out to the edges. Store in refrigerator. After chocolate sets, cover with foil or plastic wrap.

Topping:
1 jar Caramel Ice Cream topping
1/2 cups toasted pecans

To toast pecans: set oven to 375 degrees; place pecans on a cookie sheet; cook for 5-7 minutes stirring occasionally. Coarsly chop the pecans and add to the Ice Cream toppings. Drizzle some topping on each piece when ready to serve.

Aunt Polly's Cheeseball

This recipe comes from my Aunt Polly.

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4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
2- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
4 oz. deviled ham
2 Tbls. grated onion
2 Tbls. worcheshire sauce
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients together. Form in a ball. Can be rolled in chopped pecans, or parsley. Serve with crackers.

Squash Casserole

This one if for Aaron, who said this had to go on here.

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8 cups sliced yellow squash
3 Tbls. butter
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. minced garlic
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed

Combine everything but the cream cheese. Cook on stovetop until squash is tender. Drain out all water and juice. Add cream cheese and stir until melted.

(Aaron here...this is a Cheryl original. It is awesome!)

Stuffed Baked Potatoes

This is a dish that my mom made when we were growing up. Aaron's friend, Adam, calls it "Potatoes from the Warp."


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1 lb. hamburger meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 large baked potatoes
salt and pepper to taste

Brown hamburger meat, drain and rinse grease off. Add soup and sour cream. Heat through. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Spoon mixture onto opened baked potato, add shredded cheese. Enjoy.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

This is my favorite version of the black bean and corn salad. There are many different recipes for this out there.

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2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans corn
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 jalapeno, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 Tbls. oil
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup picante sauce
2 avocados, chopped

Combine first 9 ingredients. Refrigerate and let flavor overnight, or at least 4 hours. Add the picante sauce and avocados right before serving. You can serve with tortilla chips, or by itself.

Enjoy!