Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake

I have been holding on to this cheesecake recipe for a while now and after realizing that I had all the ingredients in my pantry I rolled up my sleeves and started baking! Plus, my friend had a meeting the very next day so I got to share it with others and get a feedback. Plus I didn’t have to feel guilty for eating it all myself, lol!

Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake
(from The Martha Stewart Show)

Ingredients

For the crust
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar

For the Cheesecake
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar

For the Pumpkin Mousse
1 (1/4-ounce) envelope gelatin
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 large egg whites

For the Whipped Cream Topping
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Direction
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 x 13″ baking dish; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Stir until well combined. Press mixture into bottom of the prepared baking dish in an even layer; set aside.

Make the cheesecake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together cream cheese, eggs, and sugar until fluffy. Spread cheesecake mixture over crust in baking dish. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Make the mousse: Fill a small bowl or liquid measuring cup with 1/4 cup water, sprinkle gelatin over the top and let soften. In a large heatproof bowl, mix together pumpkin, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, milk, salt and cinnamon. Set bowl over (but not touching) simmering water; whisk pumpkin mixture until thickened. 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in gelatin mixture. Let cool to room temperature.

In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue whisking until medium peaks form. Fold into cooled pumpkin mixture. Then spread over cheesecake. Cover and transfer to refrigerator until set, at least 8 hours or overnight.

Make the whipped cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread over cake or serve the cheesecake with a dollop on the side.

Note: you can garnish with sprinkled cinnamon over the whipped cream.

When I see a pumpkin recipe what comes to mind is Autumn or Thanksgiving, but my wishes for you and everyone else is to be inspired by this recipe and make it any time of the year. It seams complicated, but trust me when I say is not. This recipe is super easy and takes very little time to make, the key step is to have all the ingredients laid out in the kitchen counter and the rest is like a walk in the park; goes on smoothly. Enjoy and repeat this recipe as many times as necessary. It’s super worth every minute.

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Brunch with Foodies (food bloggers)

Have you ever had a great and well deserved girly time with your friends? That’s exactly what some food bloggers and I did this weekend. When I say food bloggers I’m talking about none other than Robin from Simply Southern Baking, Katie from Katie’s Cucina and Lenore best know as OrlndoFoodie also found in Insatiable.

Even if some of us didn’t know each other until that day, it really felt like we had known each other forever and we where re-taking a conversation from the day before. Have you ever had that experience before? It’s amazing how those things happen. They are all the sweetest girls and very talented. But, don’t take my word for it, go on and browse around their blogs and you’ll see what I’m talking about. We all have in common a great passion for food. Some sweet, others savory and some enjoy blogging about both.

The morning started at Keke’s Breakfast Cafe down at Winter Park, Fl. after a great brunch and lots of talking, laughing and eating some of us headed a couple of streets down to the Farmers Market. We where looking around and Katie found this great booth where she had been before and also knows one of the owners and introduced us. I was so happy to see it was a vanilla extract booth. Let’s just say that it’s an awesome high quality vanilla and it’s a family business, which made me loved it even more!

I can’t wait to start baking and experimenting with Mannix Vanilla. It’s so nice to know that they are a family working together for their future and the future of the next generations to come. Plus they are local food owners and I believe everyone should support their local business. I want to thank them for the gift and please stay tune for what’s coming up in future posts. Some sweets made with Mannix Vanilla are in the future of My Sweet Zepol’s blog. Can’t wait!!!!

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A Christmas Hostess Gift

I guess there is no such thing as a late blog post, so here is one that may seem a little late to some of you, or not, because you see this is a post meant for December 2011. A little overdue, maybe, but still here it goes!

We were invited to a dinner with friends for the night of Christmas Eve. It was a delight for us, because we love spending time with great friends. When I got the invitation I started to think what to get her. I believe in bringing a hostess gift with me when I’m invited over for dinner. It doesn’t have to be something edible, but I did wanted to make my dear friend and hostess something sweet and special.

During the Holiday Season I tend to bake lots of cookies and give them out in pretty packages. I bake for family members, for friends and for teachers too. Trying to change things up a little this year I made some cake pops instead. Still keeping the pretty packaging concept in mind. Take a look at what I made for my friend and other special people for 2011 Holidays. Cake Pops!!!

 

Like it? I hope more for you, I hope you can feel inspired by it and try giving cake balls or cake pops to dear friends or new friends for any occasion. Make any day of the year a special day with pretty edible gifts like this ones.

I also wanted to surprise my friend by making some cake pops on a stick so she can give them out as favors to all her guests. I made about two dozens and put them over a red kitchen towel inside a basket. Pretty, right? Sadly I didn’t take a picture of the basket, but I did take one of the cake pop. She was very happy when she saw what I had made for her and that I had taken some time aside for her. It really strikes deep inside of me when I can experience how small things like this cake pops can make someone dear to me smile.

I guess that to end this post a Merry Christmas should sound appropriate, even though December of 2011 already past, but here it goes….Happy Holidays 2011 and be inspired for many other holidays to come. Remember all your friends, old and new, and make them something sweet and special. Have a wonderful 2012 year and share with me your sweet projects.

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