Turtle Cheesecake

Photo courtesy of verybestbaking.com

1 3/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons caramel sundae syrup or ice cream topping
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 cup nestle miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 F. Grease 9 inch spring-form pan.

Combine crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in large mixer bowl until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, lime juice and vanilla extract; beat until combined.

Microwave morsels in medium, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

Stir 2 cups of cheesecake batter into melted morsels; mix well. Alternately spoon batters into crust, beginning and ending with yellow batter.

Bake for 1 hour 10 to 15 minutes or until edge is set and center moves slightly. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; run knife around edge of cheesecake. Cool completely. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Drizzle chocolate and caramel syrup over cheesecake. Sprinkle with pecans and mini morsels. Enjoy!

A finalist in the 2001 Nestle Toll House Share the Very Best Recipe contest, this dessert was submitted by Audra Burtch of Chandler, Arizona. This family favorite is a marbled cheesecake topped with a decadent combination of pecans, chocolate morsels and caramel and chocolate syrups.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef
1 egg
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons chopped onion (can also use a couple shakes of dried chopped onion.)
dash of pepper

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together with your hand. It will be somewhat sticky. Form into balls and brown in a small amount of oil (or bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until juices run clear.) Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil. Pour the meatballs and oil into a dish and set aside.

Sauce:

1 small can pineapple tidbits (and juice)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons vinegar
6 tablespoons water
1/2 cup sugar

Mix the above ingredients in frying pan until it thickens. Mix water and cornstarch separately to avoid lumps. Put meatballs back in sauce and heat through. Serve over rice.

Yields about 17 meatballs depending on size.

Chocolate - Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa, sifted if lumpy
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all-purpose flour, chocolate chips, sugar, cocoa,salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Create a well in the center.

Beat egg in a small bowl. Add milk, cooking oil, and vanilla. Stir and pour into well. Stir until just moistened.

Grease 12 muffin cups with cooking spray. Fill cups 3/4 full.

Bake at 375 for 15 minutes until tops are firm.