July

 

Yikes!  Did the last month or so get away from me or what.  I had honestly started this, well prepped this a month ago, and then apparently life happened.  So before I'm two months behind, what did I make in July.  

I made lots of things with cream cheese, and if you keep up more will come, a because these mini cheese cakes were a bit of a cheat while I yet again wait on buying something that I may not have room for in my kitchen right now.  Yes a springform pan takes up less room then a stand mixer, but how often will I use it?  Actually if I had one I might use it as regularly as I am my muffin tin and donut pan.  Well, maybe not but at the rate I'm going at least once every couple months.  

Now I went with mini cheesecakes to lets say ease myself into it.  I've had most if not all the ingredients for a month, and was just waiting for the right time, and I may have pushed back because cheesecake isn't really a summer treat.  After handing these out at work, I think mini cheesecakes might be!  

I did want to make sure I was comfortable making a small version before going for the big guy.  My dad has made cheesecakes for years and he said that over mixing, letting too much air into the cream cheese mixture could cause it to crack.  I wanted to avoid cracking, and I'd say it was a success. 

I would say the muffin liners were not required, but because I was giving these away, I didn't want to be touching them a lot (even though yes I wash my hands pretty constantly while baking).  They did come out a bit lumpy, but I was a little afraid of them over filling, and oozing everywhere, and they didn't.  

Next time I might add a blueberry drizzle in the middle or a fun topping.  There are a million possibilities!

Now to the other food with cream cheese, this taco braid! This one might have also been a cheat because I've done the pizza braid before, and this is basically the same thing, just with taco ingredients instead.  I only made the pizza braid once, and it was a few years ago, so maybe not too bad.  

I honestly think it did better this time. The recipe might call to use premade pizza dough, I had the time to make my own and let it sit out.

So how does this have cream cheese, especially as a taco braid, tacos don't have cream cheese!  Well this does, half a stick of cream cheese mixes with a half a cup of salsa as your base or sauce top with beans, taco meat and cheese (or what ever your heart may desire) twist it up and bake.  

Helpful hint, always assemble your pizza on the surface you are cooking it on.  I though it would be easy to get it from the counter to the baking sheet, not so much.  Didn't this happen in January, shouldn't I have known?