Strawberry Cheescake

In keeping with the mini cheese cake theme, we are sharing with you a light and fluffy strawberry cheese cake. This is seriously yummy; it’s like that lemon one, addictive and something that you’ll want to eat for breakfast!

We doubled the recipe because we fed more people and I also wanted to have some leftovers. You can make this in two pie plates or in a larger dish like a Pyrex glass dish. We used a 9x13 Pyrex dish.

This cake takes a bit more work/time to make so you want to make sure you start it earlier on in the day if you are making it for dessert.

Start by pouring 2 packages (85g each) of strawberry Jell-O to a glass bowl. Then add 2 cups of cold water and 2 cups of boiling hot water to the bowl and mix well. Put it in the fridge but be sure to watch it as you only want it half way set not fully set.

Now for the crust. This crust again is similar to your typical cheese cake crust. We crushed Graham wafers to make 4 cups of crumbs then added 1 cup of icing sugar along with 1 cup of melted butter.

Press into the dish and bake for 5-8 minutes at 350 degrees. We baked it for the longer time. Cool until you’re ready to make the filling.  

While the Jell-O is setting, whip up 500 ml of whipping cream until stiff. Set aside.

When the Jell-O looks half set, mix 2 packages (250g each) of cream cheese together and then add 2 cups of icing sugar and 2 tsp. of vanilla. Mix until the lumps are gone.

Now slowly add the half set Jell-O to the cream cheese mix.

Once the Jell-O is mixed into the cream cheese mix, then fold in the whipped cream until fully incorporated.

Pour over the crust and put in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

Now enjoy!

Key Lime Cheesecake

We've decided to do a mini cheesecake theme before we focus on Father’s Day. We’re making a recipe that I’ve had for ages and always wanted to try, key lime cheesecake. It’s a take on the key lime pie but with a cheesy twist. The pie is very light and fluffy with a Graham wafer crust, the cheesecake has the Graham wafer crust but of course a heavier filling.

Much like other cheesecakes, you start by making a Graham wafer crust. You’ll need 1 ¼ cup of Graham wafer ground up. Then add ¼ cup of melted butter. Stir and pat into a 9 inch buttered spring form pan. Then put aside. This one you don’t have to bake first.

Next take 3 packages of cream cheese along with ¾ cups of white sugar until well blended.

Add in the zest from 2 regular limes or 4-6 key limes along with the juice from the limes.

We used regular limes and I think it made the cake a bit more bittery limy than sweet limy.

Now add 3 eggs one at a time beating on low speed.

Do one final stir and then pour over the crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until the filling is almost set. We started at 45 minutes and opted to leave it in a couple minutes longer.

Once the cake is out of the over, run a knife around the rim to loosen and then let the cake cool completely. Then put it in the refrigerator for about 3 hours or overnight,

Top the cake or the individual slices with whipped cream.

The finished product was pretty good and refreshing. The lime was more potent than the lemon in the lemon cheese cake that we made a few weeks back; I still think that one was my favourite as it was so light and subtle. I do think that using key limes might help make it more sweet and subtle than bitter, but it all depends on how limy you like things to taste. Enjoy!

Money Box Card

Grad season and wedding season are fast approaching. One card that we have never made before but thought it a cool idea to try out is a money/gift card card. Often people have asked if we made these because people want to give a card but instead of a present, put some money or gift cards in it. Nicole found some pretty good guides in how to make this type of card when she was making her Christmas cards for her family members this past year and we thought it’s be a good idea for a post and as Grad card. So take a look at the step by step instructions we have created for you below. It’s a bit more time consuming and complex than some of the cards that we have made before, but the end product is pretty neat so it’s worth the time. Also take a look at the tutorials that Nicole found for her inspiration - here and here.

Start with a 8 ½ x 10 inch sheet of paper. We chose red for our card.

With a pencil mark scoring lines at 2, 3 ½, 6 ½ and 8 inches along the 10 inch side and do the same on the opposite side. Now do the same on both the 8 ½ inch sides at 1 ½ and 7 inches.

Once the markings are down, score the paper. You can use a special scoring tool if you have one or something that is sharp but not too sharp that it will cut through the paper. We used a dull letter opener that we had. The point is to make lines to make it easier to fold your paper but you want to make sure you don’t cut your paper.

Next mark at 5 inches on both the 10 inch sides. From the 5 inch mark score lines 45 degrees to the nearest score line.

Cut and remove all four of the corners with your scissors along the score lines.

Now cut along the score lines from the new inside corner to the corner at the bottom of your triangle.

Time to fold! Now fold the corners that were just cut inwards.

Fold along all the score lines.

Now fold back the diagonal triangle score lines at the end.

This is what it looks like all folded.

Glue on any layers or do any stamping that you want at this point while things are still flat. We have chosen to use a patterned paper on the front “doors” which measure 1 ¾ x 5 ¼ inches. You can stamp on the front panels instead if you want.

You can also stamp some words on a different colour layer for the inside which would roughly measure at 2 ¾ x 5 ¼ inches. We decided to just leave ours as is but we did include a patterned decorative piece on the inside which measures at 1 ½ x 3 inches.

Now we are going to make it into a box.

Glue all of the little square flaps and fold and attach them to the side of the box card. Then press flat. Make sure all the folds are pressed down.

Finally we are making a band/belt for the outside and a grad hat to go on top.

For the band you need a 8 ½ x 1 inch strip of paper. We chose bright green and then fold it around the card like a belt, but make sure not to fold it tight around the edge because it will be hard to get it on and off once it’s stuck together. Glue the end bits. Now you should have a band/belt that should slip off and on the card and that will hold it shut.

We cut out a black grad hat with the Silhouette that we’ve used on our other grad cards before. You can cut whatever shape you want or you can stamp or punch out shapes too. This will get attached to a layer and glued onto the center top the card on top of the band.

The end result is a super cute card. It may take some time to make but you’re sure to impress whoever you give it too. 

Take a look at some of the ones that Nicole made at Christmastime for her family.