Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
I brought this cheesecake to work yesterday, to share as a birthday treat for Leisa, one of our Customer Service Rep’s. If you like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, you’ll love this recipe. I found it the other week, in a Better Homes & Garden magazine. It takes a little prep work to make, but is well worth it.
Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
- 18 chocolate graham cracker squares, finely crushed (1 1/2 cups)
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 2 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- Peanuts (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine crackers, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside. In bowl beat 1 package cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in peanut butter and 1/4 cup sugar until combined. Fold in 1 lightly beaten egg; set aside.
2. In saucepan stir chocolate over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Cube remaining cream cheese; add to chocolate. Stir to combine. Stir in milk and vanilla until smooth. Fold in 2 lightly beaten eggs. Spread half the chocolate mixture into pan. Carefully spread all the peanut butter mixture over layer. Evenly spread remaining chocolate mixture.
3. Bake 45 minutes or until top is set when lightly shaken. Outer 2 inches of the top will be slightly puffed and dry-looking; center will look darker and wet. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Use a small sharp knife to loosen crust from sides; cool completely on rack. Cover; chill 4 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with peanuts. Makes 16 servings.
P.S. I added a chocolate topping before serving, so the peanuts would stick better, and of course for more chocolate.
Chocolate Topping
4 Squares Semi-sweet chocolate melted
1/4 cup butter melted
In a micro-wavable bowl, melt the chocolate and butter. Stir and drizzle over the top of sliced cheesecake. Add the peanuts. Serve.
Enjoy!
Barb
Posted in Cooking in your kitchen on February 5th, 2010 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Mix And Match Granite Colors For A Dramatic Kitchen…
Over the last several years, we have noticed it has become more popular to mix and match granite when remodeling a kitchen. With a vast array of colors available, it makes sense that some customers are interested in picking more than one. Choosing several granite colors, also gives more flexibility when it comes to matching cabinets, paint, or flooring.
We have fabricated and installed a variety of colors to go together, including a lighter toned granite with a darker toned grantie, as well as two darker tones used together. We have also installed a flowing granite in one area, (such as an island) along with a more consistent-looking granite for perimeter tops.
No matter if you are interested in using just one color for your granite countertops, or several colors together, we are happy to help you with your selections. Please make sure to visit our showroom.
Following are a few photos I wanted to share:
Giallo Napolean and Opalescence
Blue Pearl, Soapstone, and Cafe Brown
Tropic Brown Island, Opalescence Perimeter Tops
Rosewood Island/Table, Dakota Mahogany Perimeter Tops
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite on February 3rd, 2010 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Visit Us At the 2010 Home & Garden Show!
Visit us at the show!
The Minneapolis Home & Garden Show will be held February 24-28, 2010 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Come see what this year’s show has to offer including, granite countertops. See the latest color trends, and products offerings. We are happy to answer any of your questions, and provide a bid for your prospective project.
Please make sure you visit us at:
Booth 3054
For more information and discount tickets, visit www.homeandgardenshow.com
You’ll save $3 off adult admission tickets!
Thanks for reading and hope to see you at the show!
Barb
Posted in Company, Granite, Industry News on February 1st, 2010 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Go Ahead—Add A Splash Of Color To Your Kitchen!
When customers come to our showroom, we often ask if they have a color in mind for their countertops? With so many colors available these days, some customers may feel overwhelmed. By eliminating some colors from the start, we can help narrow the search, and make the selection process easier for the customer. When remodeling, sometimes customers mention that they want to add color to their kitchen. This can be done in a number of ways:
- Add a vibrant colored granite—
You can choose a color such as red. (e.g. Ivory Coast, Wineberry, Desert Glory, etc.), or a a warm colored granite with a lot of flow, or veining. (e.g. Sedna, Amber Storm, Golden Fantasy, etc.),. and then choose a paint color that will compliment the granite, and make it stand out. - Choose a vibrant, warm paint color—
You can choose a paint color such as red, brown, or gold, and then select a granite that is more neutral toned with accents of the paint color with in the stone. (e.g. St. Cecilia, Venetian Gold, Bianco Ramano, Lapidus, etc.)
No matter which way you choose to add color to your kitchen, we are happy to help. Please feel free to stop by our showroom to look at our countertop selections.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite on January 29th, 2010 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Learning Links: 01/28/10 Best Books To Read in 2010
Today as I was paging through my January/February 2010 issue of Selling Power magazine, I came across a section titled, The Best Books to Read in 2010, that I thought might be of interest to some of you out there. Although I haven’t read any of them personally yet, it looked like a good list to share and might be of value for business owners, sales people, etc.
Following is the list:
- ProActive Sales Management
- The Optimal Salesperson
- Coaching Sales People Into Champions
- The Market Has Changed Have You?
- The Funnel Principle
- Playing Bigger Than You Are
- B2B Street Fighting
- Becoming The Vendor Of Choice
- Listen To The Dinosaur
- http://www.sellingtozebras.com/
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Learning Links, Marketing on January 28th, 2010 by Barb | | 0 Comments
