Monday, December 20, 2010

Be Jolly Blogfest

It's Christmas week! And I'm scrambling... but I love participating in holiday cheer, so here's my contribution to Jen & Melissa's Be Jolly By Golly blogfest.

First, a photo of my Christmas tree. (I think that would've been better at night...)

The truth is, since we got our cat Flower, we've had to switch to a smaller, artificial Christmas tree. And while I want to say that bugs me, honestly, it doesn't.

You see, our cat is appropriately named. She loves to eat any live plants brought into the house, be it Christmas poinsettias (which are not poisonous, btw), or lovely bouquets of flowers (all of which must go on top of the fridge), or fragrant Christmas trees...

For fun I'll give you a photo of our booger cat (below). My daughters added a bow to her head. To make her festive, I guess. To me, that look says, "I'm about to bite your leg." (Which she does without warning.)

Back to the blogfest!

Part of the deal is we have to include a recipe for our favorite holiday treat, and then our favorite holiday drink. First the favorite holiday treat!

I love Christmas cookies, but my buddy PK Hrezo noted that everyone posted Sugar Cookie Recipes this year. So here's the link to her recipe, which is pretty similar to mine.

And I'll give you a recipe I was afraid wasn't "Christmasie" enough. But it is so good and super easy. I had it at a work party and asked for the recipe, which I discovered is from Weight Watchers, so Bonus!

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:  (Makes 2 eight-inch pies)
Crusts
22 reduced-fat chocolate grahams
2 Tbsp. margarine
Filling
2 cups nonfat cottage cheese
One 8-oz box nonfat cream cheese
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water
4 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).

Now for the Truth: I buy my graham cracker crusts. (I think you can even get the RF kind if you want to be faithful to the Weight Watchers spirit of the recipe.)

My brother who lives in Key West sent
me these seagrass wreaths that he says
are traditional Christmas decor there.
But if you want to make yours, here's that part: Spray 8-inch pan w/nonstick spray. In food processor, crush grahams, pulse in margarine. Transfer to pan, pressing firmly over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides. Refrigerate until chilled (15 mins).

Filling: Puree cheeses; blend in sugar, etc. (all other ingredients). Pour into crust. Bake until set (approx. one hour). Turn off oven, prop open door and let cool one hour. Then cool completely on rack. Refrigerate before serving, then unmold and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

As for my favorite holiday beverage... I have to confess... I don't have one. Wah wah waaahhh... BUT! I'm planning to run around and get ideas from all of you. So have a super holiday, guys.

No post Thursday! MERRY CHRISTMAS~ <3

58 comments:

Stina said...

Thanks for the reminder. My husband strongly hinted I'm supposed to make cookies this week.

Have a great Christmas, Leigh. :D

Unknown said...

I love Flower's eyes in your fb pic. They say, yeah yeah. I'm here.

My favorite Christmas drink is Sierra Mist cranberry soda. I always buy a bunch to last through the year. (Which is only a week or so. Don't judge :p)

Christine Danek said...

Your kitty is so cute. Thanks for the recipe. I didn't have any recipes so I'm running around getting ideas. WE also have a fake tree and love it.
Have a wonderful holiday!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Love your tree, and it seems everyone is into sugar cookies. So many different recipes, though. Nice. Thanks and enjoy your Christmas!

DL Hammons said...

That's an awesome tree!! Your kitty should be proud. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

PK HREZO said...

I think we all have the same sugar cookie recipe! lol

We have a fake tree for the same reason, but no cat anymore--a big clumsy dog instead. :s

Hope you and your fam have a wonderful Xmas!

DEZMOND said...

AH, your tree is like a rainbow :) And I love when bloggers share recipes :)
I'm making blackberry cake this Christmas and Apple baklava for New Year's Eve :)

Vicki Rocho said...

Love your tree (and your booger cat).

This is great--I get to peek inside everyone's house AND get yummy recipes!

LTM said...

I emailed all of you that I could... Yes, my cat is a biting booger. She's really more of a nipper because she doesn't break the skin.

@PK-You're right, so I went w/my first choice recipe instead. Your cookie recipe is awesome! :o)

Merry Christmas! <3

Emily White said...

That does NOT look like a happy kitty! :D

Cheesecake is appropriate for any time of the year. Thanks for the recipe and have a great Christmas!

Unknown said...

Your tree is beautiful and bright - gorgeous. It was great to see a calorie controlled recipe too.
Happy Christmas!
The cat Flower is a hit with me - my first ever attempt at so-you-think-you-can-write is called FLOWER.

Nicole Zoltack said...

Your tree looks awesome. Hubby wants to go artificial next year - I'm greatly opposed - but if it looks like that, I wouldn't complain! And chocolate cheesecake - yum! I'll try anything chocolate. :)

Matthew MacNish said...

What is your cat wearing on his head?

Patti said...

Very cute cat and it seems others with cats have to scale back Christmas a bit.

Old Kitty said...

Yay!! Love the tree and the sweet kitty too!!!

A weight-watcher's chocolate cheesecake recipe!?!??!?! My christmas is complete! Thank you! Take care
x

Ellie Garratt said...

Happy Christmas to you and your family!

Your cat is so cute. Bless. Chocolate cheesecake? And Weight-watchers? I think I've gone to heaven.

Be Jolly By Golly

Roxy said...

Thanks for the recipe. Looks delicious. Merry Christmas!!

Colene Murphy said...

OH Cheesecake...blaahhhhhyummmm. (it is an appropriate drooly kind of noise)
Your tree is so lovely! Bow-kitty is cute too!!

Merry Christmas!!

Laura S. said...

Your tree is so bright and festive! I love it. That seagrass wreath is beautiful. Have a very merry Christmas!

LTM said...

I could email most of you back--@Roxy: Thanks, and so glad you visited! Merry Christmas to you~ :o) <3

Summer Ross said...

That is a lovely tree and your right the kitty looks like it wants to attack something! LOL great pics and recipe!

Ann said...

Oohhh Chocolate Cheesecake!!! Merry Christmas!

Tracy said...

I LOVE your tree too! Those are some big honkin' decorations. They freaking rock!

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas over in your neck of the woods!

Carol Riggs said...

Chocolate cheesecake, oh BOY! Yummers. Haha, that look on Flower's face... Merry Christmas!

Sondrae Bennett said...

Mmm...chocolate cheesecake sounds fantastic! And I don't have a favorite drink recipe either but I'm getting some great ideas from everyone else's posts. Have a great Christmas!

Candyland said...

Haha cute cat pic! My one cat is a Christmas grinch a-hole. Because of her, we're constantly cleaning up pieces of the tree she upchucks.

Chris Phillips said...

Chocolate Cheesecake sounds amazing.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

I got to the cat and couldn't go any further. 'm laughing too hard. The expression is priceless!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Unknown said...

Love this!!! Chocolate cheesecake, my family would die!! They are already in love when I mentioned it, lol.

N. R. Williams said...

You cat looks like my daughters. Maybe their cousins. LOL Nice post.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Tara said...

Hehe. Flower does not appear amused.

Happy Holidays.

RaShelle Workman said...

Hey Leigh - Your tree's adorable! And your cheesecake sounds yummy.

Jan Markley said...

That cat looks like she's ready to go all 'gangsta' on you! Great decorations and the cheesecake recipe looks great!

Unknown said...

This is such a fun blogfest! Your tree is so pretty and colorful. I love the look on your cat's face. She looks serious! We have a black cat too, but she's not tuxedo -- she's solid black, even her nose!

Happy Holidays, Leigh!

Carolyn Abiad said...

What a pretty tree! We have a real NC fraser fir...support the local guys you know. But this year I bought it off the lot, cause I was too sick to trek up into the mountains. Not such a great idea. The base has a crack, which makes it list to the left like it had to much spiked egg nog. Hence, the internet will be spared any pics of my freakish fraser. I'll just enjoy yours!

Happy Holidays! :)

LTM said...

to those I couldn't email!
@Summer--she's giving me her "I'm gonna bite you" look... :D

@Ann--it is soooo good! I used to make it all the time for Nothing! ;p

@Tracy--*snort* umm... I think it's more *small tree* than big ornaments. But thank you! :o) <3

@Chris--yes, you will be hooked. I promise~ ;p

@Jan--she's already gone gangsta. sigh. ;p I think you'll like the dessert. It's very addictive and so simple...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL! :o) <3

Vanessa Morgan said...

Your chocolate cheesecake intrigues me. I'm going to put this recipe in my favorites and try it out one of these days.

Avalon Lion said...

Holiday greetings from Avalon the cat. Headbonks and purrrrrs for your cat Flower.

Talei said...

Beautiful tree! And that choc cheesecake sounds wonderful! Merry Christmas! ;)

LTM said...

@Vanessa--I think you'll like it! And it's super easy. All the best!

@Avalon--LOL! Flower's a nipper... But I'll give you a chin scratch and tail rub in her place!

Merry Christmas to you guys!!! :o) <3

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

choc cheesecake YUM!!!!!!!!

Hope you have a very merry Christmas
Lyn
W.I.P. It: A Writer's Journey

Shannon said...

Your tree looks AWESOME! I love it! Chocolate cheesecake and a picture of a cat? I *knew* I liked you! =)

Lola Sharp said...

Love the tree. :)

Our cat bites too. Hard. Comes at you all ninja-style and sinks her teeth into whatever she get get.

Merry Christmas!
~Lola

Renae said...

My family would devour that chocolate cheesecake! Love all of your pics, especially the cat!

Kelley said...

I agree with the looking like she is gonna bite your leg, but she is still adorable. The tree is pretty even if it is fake :) Happy Holidays!
~Kelley

Anonymous said...

Those tree ornaments look awesome! Cheesecake is a favorite dessert in our house. I'll have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing it.

Ella said...

Leigh,
I love your tree, so pretty! I love all the festive color. You flower looks pissed. I think the bow on her head through her over, lol.

Recipe is heavenly, chocolate and cheesecake a great combo!

Thanks for the peer into your home. I love items like your brother sent you, reflecting other cultures.

When you figure out that favorite beverage, be sure to pass it on ;-D

Happy Holidays!xXx

Jennie Bailey said...

I love your tree! We're totally going with the artificial tree next year, cats be damned (or hopefully not, hence the fake tree). Your cat is adorable even with the "I'm going to bite you for this bow" look! Have a Merry Christmas Leigh!

Melissa said...

Your tree is gorgeous in the light! And that cheesecake sounds delicious. I feel like I am gaining weight just from looking at all this great food people are telling me about!!!

Thank you so much for participating in our blog fest!

Michael Di Gesu said...

What a festive tree! And I love chocolate cheesecake...YUM!

Merry Christmas, Leigh, to you and your family...

Michael

LTM said...

@Melissa--you bet, this is such a fun thing to do! Thanks, and I know! So many great food and drink ideas~ :o)

@Gideon--Thanks! And that cheesecake is so easy to make. You might get addicted... ;p

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Lisa Potts said...

Never apologize for cheesecake. It's one of my favorites and your recipe sounds wonderful! Cute kitty!

Anonymous said...

Alright, more Christmas recipes. Wifey and I like to watch the cooking channels this time of year. Lots of great ideas to chose from. The chocolate cheesecake sounds awesome, but we're taking it easy this year on the treats. Have a great holiday season!

Unknown said...

I love it when bloggers post recipes and especially when they post yummy recipes. Thank you. Cookies! Shouldn't eat them, but love them.
CD

Talli Roland said...

Aw, I want me a Flower kitty! Sigh. I have Kitty envy! :)

Love your pics.

LTM said...

@Stephen--I love watching the cooking shows this time of year, too. Mmm...

That cheesecake's weight watchers if you want to cheat... ;p Merry Christmas!

Natasha said...

Love your tree. Am going to do just that from next year.
And I never knew Poinsettias were not poisonous.
Merry Christmas, Leigh

LTM said...

@my Indian twin (Rayna)--just guess how we figured out poinsettias aren't poisonous... yep. The "hard way." ;p

Merry Christmas to you and those precious boys! xoxo