Daring Bakers: Cheesecake versus Organic Chemistry

I've been considering a career change for a while now. To help me along, I've been taking classes at a local community college to explore possible new career choices. This semester I've been taking organic chemistry or as I like to refer to it; my worst nightmare. This class has been a educational Mount Everest for me. It requires hours and hours of studying and class time and labs, plus working full time in my current career. What was I thinking?
Some crazy person in the world likened chemistry to cooking, adding various chemicals to create a compound, is like adding the ingredients to your favorite recipe. Well, I beg to differ, there is no delicious treating awaiting me at the end of my chemical equation just more confusion.
Needless to say this class has been consuming my time taking me away from the kitchen. I was excited about all the possibilities of this challenge but in the end I ran out of time and my creativity suffered. I used ginger snaps for the crust instead of graham crackers and had every intention of ginger syrup and candied ginger pieces but in the end I only managed the crust.


This April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake as the challenge.
Thanks to my boyfriend for plating the cake, accessories and all and of course tasting the cake and declaring it "Delicious!."

The Elusive Kitchen Aid Mixer

Why? Why kitchen aid mixer do you continue to elude me? I covet the kitchen aid mixer, sad but true. Every gift giving holiday and birthday I yearn for someone who truly understands me to "surprise" me with this miraculous gift, yet it never happens.

I've waited so long that I really should just buy it for my self but it's an expensive item that's hard to justify right now, so for now my arm will remain sore from whipping and mixing.

Mmh, salad...

Time is a very precious commodity and I have very little of it. My cooking in turn has suffered. I tried planning better, starting some of the prep work over the weekends but alas by the time I get home at 9:30 I'm hungry and tired and looking for something quick. So salad is the answer.


This salad however was no ordinary salad, with grilled asparagus, heirloom tomatoes, feta cheese and a reduced balsamic dressing it was a salad to be reckoned with.