Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

I must have found a cookbook or website at some point years and years ago that had a bunch of copycat recipes posted on it, because this is the third restaurant copycat recipe I've had in my recipe box--and they are all so old that I'm not actually sure where they came from. I suppose part of the credit goes to the restaurant the recipes are copycat-ing, but clearly someone took the time to "crack" these restaurant recipes and share them with the world--and I'm not sure where that credit should go. Whoops.

All I know is that I'm glad to have this (and my other copycat recipes) in my recipe collection. Even though I've had this recipe for well over five years, and have probably only made it three times in that timespan, it's always a winner. And always leaves me wondering why I don't make cheesecakes more often (oh right--it's because Darrell and I would devour an entire cheesecake way too quickly--and no one really needs that much dessert). Especially considering we like to doctor up our cheesecake with extra sweets (and calories)--not because it needs the extra flavor because it is great on its own, but because who can say no to cheesecake drizzled with homemade chocolate topping and macerated strawberries? That's right, I didn't think anyone could.

Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup melted margarine

Filling
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon juice
16 oz sour cream

Combine all crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan that has been lined on the bottom and sides with parchment paper. Place in the freezer until the filling is done.

Bring all filling ingredients to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325*. Beat the cream cheese on low until light and fluffy. Add the sugar a little at a time and beat until creamy. Add one egg at a time and beat lightly after each addition. Mix in flour, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat in sour cream. Pour cream cheese mixture into pan. Place toward the top in the middle of the preheated oven (I like to put a pan of water on the rack under the cheesecake to help prevent it from cracking). Bake for one hour and fifteen minutes. When the time is up, turn off the oven and prop open the door for an additional hour. Remove from oven and bring to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least twenty-four hours before serving.


Disclaimer: I actually have no idea if this is an authentic copycat recipe or not. I've only eaten at The Cheesecake Factory a handful of times, and I have never ordered their "original" cheesecake because they always have too many flavored cheesecakes that sound too good to pass up. Regardless, this is still a delicious "plain" cheesecake recipe, and you should definitely give it a try!

The Kite Runner

Confession: When we read this book for Book Club last month, it was actually the second time I had read it (gasp!). However, I got to the part that I remembered as being the climax of the novel--and realized I still had two-thirds of the book left to read. Not only that, but as I was reading the last half of the book, I was actually incorrectly predicting what was going to happen based on the foreshadowing the author was using. It was like that portion of the book had be wiped from my memory completely.

Now, before you go and make the assumption that the latter part of the book is boring and uneventful, which is what caused me to forgot it, let me assure you that it is not. It's just that the major event that happens fairly early on in the book is so central to the rest of the story that it kind of trumps some of the other action (plus, it's kind of harrowing and very dis-heartening, which adds to the indelible impression it left). In fact, one of my friends who was also reading this book for the second time echoed my sentiments that there was a lot of action that she had forgotten--but the one particular event stood out in her mind clearly as well.

Ultimately, I think this is very in-line with the overall plot line of the novel. The main character ends up being haunted his entire life by an event that happened in his childhood, and even as an adult that event affects many of the decisions he makes. So it's only fitting that as a reader, that event is the one you walk away from the book remembering most--not some of the other details.

There is so much more I could tell you about the book--I could talk about its unique perspective on life in Afghanistan, its look into friendship and betrayal, its exploration of father/son relationships--but instead I'll just tell you that this is definitely a book worth reading for yourself. And maybe even worth owning a copy of so that you can pick it up every so often and re-read it to remember the details you've forgotten.

Prenatal Fitness: Moms into Fitness with Lindsay Brin

Pros:
--Has a different workout for each trimester of pregnancy, and each workout has three "leaders" that show a variety of modifications so women at all energy/fitness levels can participate comfortably (including modifications for diastasis recti and carpal tunnel)
--Each workout includes elements of weight training and cardio fitness
--There is a pretty detailed question and answer section at the beginning of each DVD for those users who may be a little more apprehensive about their pregnancy workout regime

Cons:
--Transitions between exercises aren't always clear (but, since you end up doing the same DVD for a 13-week trimester, it's really easy to catch on after the first few times)
--Some of the language is, well, a little silly. Butt muscles are called "bun cakes"; upper back and chest muscles are referred to as "bra muscles"
--The workout isn't exactly broken into segments, so you pretty much have to do the whole workout (each workout is approximately 35 minutes, so they aren't too bad)

This was one of the first prenatal fitness DVDs I purchased, and I've used it pretty regularly since the start of my second trimester (I did not use it during my first trimester, so I can't really comment on that particular section of this DVD series). I really like that each trimester has a completely different workout, because after thirteen weeks of the same routine I definitely start to get a little burnt out. I also like that weight training is incorporated into the workouts, plus she works both upper and lower body muscle groups. One thing that I found unusual, though, was that she references a yoga session during her workouts, but I couldn't find those on my DVD. I think it may have just been the version of the DVD that I bought, though; the online price of the DVD set is nearly twice what I paid for mine, so I suspect my DVD did not have all the extra features. I also have not tried the postnatal bootcamp DVD yet, but I definitely look forward to using that in a few weeks.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this fitness DVD. As someone who was active before getting pregnant, I found that these workouts were challenging enough to make me feel like I was actually accomplishing something, but without totally exhausting me. Additionally, the modifications provided make these workouts just as manageable for a person who was not active prior to pregnancy.

Some Notes on Prenatal Fitness

One thing I've tried to be really conscientious about during this pregnancy is exercise. The benefits of an active lifestyle are touted for people in all stages of life, and pregnancy is no exception. But I'm not here to bore you with why you should exercise during pregnancy (because let's be honest, I'm not an expert); instead, I just want to share some comments about what I found did and didn't work when it came to exercising while pregnant. Of course, what I enjoyed and what worked for me may not work for others, but I trust that since you are reading this blog then you at least have a little interest in my opinion. Which is why I'm going to share it.

Even before getting pregnant, I needed variety in my workout routine in order to stay committed to it. I'm just not one of those people who can just go out and run three miles every day and call it good. So I knew that during my pregnancy I was going to need options--and since the majority of my pregnancy fell during the winter months, I was going to need indoor options. While there are many local options for prenatal fitness classes, classes have always intimidated me, so I opted instead for home DVDs. And for the most part, I've really enjoyed them. Rather than turn this into a super long post about specific DVDs I did and did not enjoy, though, I'll review each of the prenatal fitness DVDs in their own posts.

In addition to the exercise DVDs, Darrell and I also took walks whenever the weather permitted (or I would go walk on the treadmill at the gym). While I know plenty of people who maintained a running regime during their pregnancy, that just wasn't in the cards for me. I was too fatigued during my first trimester to even consider going out for a run, and by the time my energy returned I had started to form a decent belly and running just never seemed like it would be comfortable (to be fair, I never really tried running while pregnant. But I kept myself busy with other activities so I never really felt the need to attempt it).

One thing that I made sure to include in my fitness regime, whether as a component of the DVDs or on my own, was weight training. For some reason, this often gets overlooked in discussions on pregnancy fitness; it seems the emphasis is more on being active, even if all you are doing is going for a walk (which, to be fair, if you aren't doing even that, then adding a walk to your regular routine is probably more beneficial than adding weight training). And even when weight training is discussed, it usually focuses on the lower body and core, since those are the muscles groups that will be most affected by carrying around a massive belly. Again--the logic behind that is sound, but when you consider that after the baby is delivered you will primarily be toting that weight around in your arms (or using your arms to carry a car seat), then it is important to make sure you are preparing your upper body as well.

Personally, I found that using fitness DVDs that had a weight-lifting component was the easiest way to incorporate weight training, but there are certainly other options. Any sort of free weight exercises are good, and I found that incorporating a stability ball into the exercises added some nice variety while providing a safe way to work the core (since most traditional crunches are not advised during pregnancy).

Of course, no matter what you are planning to do, you should always make sure that you have permission from your doctor to begin/maintain an exercise regime, as well as ensure that the exercises you are choosing to do are safe during pregnancy. Every body and every pregnancy is different, so what works for me or your neighbor down the street may not be the best idea for you.

Apricot Chili Pork

Honestly, this recipe deserves a big, grandiose introduction describing its incredible deliciousness... But all I can muster right now is TGIF. Because that's really all I can think about. And truthfully, even if I did try to tell you about how wonderful this recipe is, I'd probably come up short because there is no way for words to capture the magnificence of this meal. So please, allow me to revel in the fact that it is (FINALLY) Friday, and just try this dish for yourself so you will know how truly fantastic it is.

Apricot Chili Pork

(slightly adapted from here)

2 pounds pork tenderloin, fat trimmed

Spice Rub:

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic powder

1/2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Glaze:

1 1/2 cups apricot jam/jelly

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp hot sauce

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

2 small limes, juiced

Mix together spice rub in a small bowl. Spread over the tenderloins (or place into a bag and toss to coat). Cover and refrigerate two to twenty-four hours. Preheat oven to 375*. Place the pork tenderloins in a roasting pan (or 9x13 pan lined with foil and lightly greased). Bake for 15 minutes. While the pork is baking, melt the apricot jam in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining glaze ingredients. Set aside half of the glaze to serve with the pork. When the 15 minutes is up, remove the pork and brush it with the apricot glaze. Bake for 15 more minutes, then brush again with the glaze. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the pork reaches 160* internally. Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and let rest for five minutes before slicing. Serve with the reserved glaze.

Belly Pics: Weeks 35 and 36

35 Weeks

36 Weeks

It's been a little bit of a rough week at our house this week. Darrell has been battling a pretty bad cold (he's on the mend, now, thankfully), and I've been, well, thirty-six weeks pregnant and everything that goes along with that. It is slightly entertaining, though; I want to do things for Darrell so he can relax and get to feeling better, but he wants to do things for me so I can relax and get off my feet. We've had fun trying to out-stubborn each other (although he usually ends up winning).

It also turns out that many of the things people say happen toward the end of a pregnancy do, in fact, happen. Swollen feet? Definitely. My doctor actually chuckled a little bit at the size of mine at our appointment on Monday. Maybe one of these days I'll get a picture; they don't get badly swollen every day, though (thankfully!). Difficulty sleeping? Yep, this one is catching up to me as well. I can still fall asleep without any issue, but once I get up to use the bathroom, it's totally a guessing game as to how much I'll toss and turn trying to get back to sleep. And let me tell you, it isn't easy to toss and turn with a massive belly. And general discomfort in the belly? Ugh, don't get me started. As if my bladder wasn't squished enough already, now that BOB is working on getting head down he presses up against it even more frequently. And that whole head-down thing means little baby feet kicking into my ribs--not necessarily painful, but kind of annoying at times. Oh, and speaking of annoying? Hiccups. Seriously. This kid gets them all the time, and he's big enough now that they aren't just cute little ripples of movement that you have to feel carefully for--they're practically massive shakes of the whole belly. Borderline ridiculous.


(Disclaimer: I'm really not complaining. About any of my "symptoms". For as fortunate as we have been in this pregnancy--and even that we were able to get pregnant as easily as we were--I will gladly take a few weeks of swollen feet, poor sleep, and belly-shaking hiccups. In fact, I'd even take months of those things if it meant the end result was a happy, healthy baby. So I'm really not complaining. At all. I've actually rather enjoyed being pregnant and am already looking forward to a "next time". Although that might change after the whole labor-and-delivery thing... But let's hope not.)

Spring?

Dear South Dakota:

Today is the first day of spring. That means temperatures should be higher than single-digits when I wake up in the morning. It also means that the high temperature for the day should be above freezing. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.

I do appreciate the sunshine though. Let's go ahead and keep that up. But can you please bring the temperature up to, oh, forty? And only light winds? I hope I'm not asking too much.

Love, Jess