Legendary Recipes

Amy Vanderbilt’s Best Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 ½ crushed graham crackers into crumbs

¼ C melted butter

2/3 C sugar granulated

1/4t ground cinnamon

1 pound cream cheese

2T flour

1/4t salt

1 1/2t vanilla extract

4 eggs

1C heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously butter a 9inch spring-form baking pan.

Crust:

Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, 1/4 C. sugar, and cinnamon.

Mix thoroughly and press evenly on the bottom of the prepared springform pan.

Mash cream cheese.

Add flour, remaining (1/2 C.) sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.

Beat until smooth, creamy, and fluffy with an electric mixer at medium speed.

Add egg yolks, one at a time, and beat well after each one is added.

Stir in cream.

Whip egg whites until stiff but not too dry.

Gradually fold the cream cheese mixture into whipped egg whites.

Pour batter over crumbs in spring form.

Bake for 1 hour or until the center is completely set. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Cut around the cake’s edge and remove the pan’s rim.

Chill the cake.

Strawberry Jam is a good topping.

Spring and cleaning go together like peanut butter, jelly, peas, and carrots (or so the sayings go!) What, then, are some top Spring organizing that helps kick-start your Spring cleaning?

1) Use the throw-away, keep, donate method by choosing a room or area and three boxes. Sort each item appropriately, and then remember to donate that week so that you are not storing or leaving these items in your car.

2) If you are in cold weather states, start organizing your closets where most of your cold weather gear is stored. Use the above method to help with this process.

3) Think Small (junk drawers, under bathroom cabinets, and kitchen sink.) Starting with smaller projects gives you a sense of accomplishment and almost instant gratification.

4) Go through bookshelves and TV/electronic areas. These can catch all areas that affect the room’s overall aesthetics.

5) Organize dressers and closets. Although this may seem daunting, setting aside an afternoon almost always puts a good dent in this organizing project.

6) Assess what needs to be done the most, make a list, and schedule this spring organizing project.

If you are still motivated, then begin detail cleaning of each room by washing walls and floorboards, deep cleaning carpets, and caring for window treatments. Enjoy your betterorganized home and consider summer or fall deep cleaning if you are cleaned out.

So, welcome Spring with open arms and a betterorganized home!