Pre-Christmas Productivity! (2 recipes!)

I made Russian Tea Balls (cookies)! My grandma always had these on the cookie tray for Christmas and when she passed in 2010, I decided I would keep that tradition alive since it was one of my dads favorite cookies.

Russian Tea Ball Recipe:
1 cup butter softened, 1/2 cup powder sugar, 1t vanilla extract blend that together. Add 2 1/4 cups flour and 1/4t salt and blend. Stir in 3/4 cups chopped walnuts (the finer, the better). Form into 1" round balls and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400* F for 10 minutes. Roll in powder sugar right away. Once cool, roll in powder sugar again. Enjoy!

After cookies (and a round of dishes) we brought in the train set and set it up.

After lunch I made a Chocolate Cheesecake (my first ever cheesecake that I made solo)

Recipe: 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts, 1/3 cup melted butter, 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese softened, 1 cup sugar, 12 squares (1 ounce each) bittersweet baking chocolate (melted and cooled), 3 eggs (lightly beaten), 1 cup sour cream, 1 1/2 t vanilla extract, 1/2 t almond extract, dash salt
Glaze: 4 squares (1 ounce each) bittersweet baking chocolate, 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 t vanilla extract
Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, hazelnuts and butter, press into the bottom of an ungreased 9-inch springform pan.
In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, and sugar until smooth. Add chocolate (If you don't have 12 ounces of bittersweet baking chocolate like I found out, you can use unsweetened baking chocolate and add 1/4 cup sugar for every 4 ounces unsweetened and it will turn out the same). Add eggs; beat on low until just combined. Add sour cream, extracts and salt; beat just until blended. pour over crust. place pan on baking sheet.
Bake at 350* for 60-65 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate for 3 hours.
For glaze, in heavy saucepan or microwave, melt chocolate with cream, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Remove sides of springform pan. Spread gaze over top. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and hazelnuts.

Instead of chocolate wafer crumbs, I killed these guys...I mean used these.

Fresh from the oven:

The finished product! (really rich and you will need a glass of milk to go with it)

To Grandpa

Today my Grandpa would have been 79. I never met the man but I know he was great. I know this because he raised a great son, my dad. My Grandpa loved planes, trains, boats, tools, but most of all, his family. He had a model train set that my dad, sister and myself still set up every year around the Christmas tree in the living room, zig zagging all over the floor. Notes would be passed around on it while little trolls would take a ride. He loved planes so much that he was building one with my dad before he passed in 1981. The plane was never finished and was sold but we still have the propeller hanging in the shed at home. Grandpa loved boats and the warmth from the sun as they drove around on the lake. He loved tools and working with his hands, some of those tools I now have and use on my lathe, his other tools scattered about in the shed. But most of all he loved his family. He taught my dad how to be a great person and a great dad to us. Making us laugh and holding us when we cry. Cheering us on and picking us up when we fall down. My dad is a great person and a great dad and I have to thank my Grandpa for that. While I never met the man, I still love him and feel close to him. So today, I celebrate what would be the 79th birthday of a great man. Here's to you Grandpa! I love you.