Snowstorms and Cheesecake!

So as we know Texas isn't normally blessed with the beautiful white, fluffy snow that most states across the U.S. get EVERY year. Normally we get the flurries and just maybe the roads might have spots of what they call "black Ice." But for some reason God said let there be snow and boy did we get snow! This is the second year in a row that we have had more than 8 inches of snow fall.

A few weeks ago we not only got the snow but under the snow was 3 inches of ice. Literally no one knew what to do. They cancelled schools and my work was closed for 4 days!! We all swore that if we even had snow plows in Texas that they were all in Arlington at Cowboys stadium for the Super Bowl.

Me, My mom, The Apple Family and Dick spent 4 days couped up and let me tell you we had a BLAST! Lost of Rockband, yummy treats, playing in the snow, and of course wedding planning!

Katie broke her herself! The snow was misleading with the THICK ice underneath. We could barely walk down the street!

Everything is so much prettier with snow!

My dogs IgLoo was actually an IGLOO!! :)

 Now for the best part of this blog... CHOCOLATE EXPLOSION CHEESECAKE. Only would Paula Dean make such an incredible yet so bad for you dessert! I am not joking this is the best Cheesecake that has ever touched my lips!

Here is the recipe... It is long and lots of layers but thats what makes it AUH-MAZING. But in short it has a graham cracker crust, a layer of chocolate, a layer of carmel, a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough, and then cheesecake.

Prep Time:

30 min

Inactive Prep Time:

8 hr 35 min

Cook Time:

1 hr 30 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

1 (9-inch) cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted

Chocolate Layer:

• 6 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer:

• 1/2 cup caramel syrup
• 1 (16 1/2-ounce) package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Chocolate Ganache:

• 6 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs and sugar. Add the melted butter, stirring to combine. Press the crust into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 minutes; let cool.

For the chocolate layer: Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter (or microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes total). Whisk in the sugar, eggs, and flour until just combined. Pour into the bottom of the cooled crust and bake for 15 minutes; let cool.

For the cheesecake layer: Spread the caramel topping evenly over the cooled chocolate layer. Cut the cookie dough crosswise into 1-inch slices. Place the slices in an even layer over the caramel, pressing gently together to seal the edges.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and flour until just combined. Stir in the sour cream. Pour the mixture over the cookie dough layer and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and gently run a knife around the edges to release the crust from the sides of the pan. Let cool completely.

For the ganache: Using a double boiler, combine the chocolate and cream and melt (or microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 minute total). Spread over the cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.

I originally made it for Dick for Valentine's day BUT he loved it so much that he is actually serving it as his groom cake for our wedding in November! We are very excited about it.

Look at those layers! I actually left off the top layer of chocolate gnosh because I thought that I might have a heart attack! BUT it was plenty sweet with out it!

He was in heaven! Cheesecake has always been his favorite!

With warm hearts and a tummy full of cheesecake,

Abigail

Baby Jonah's Dedication

Have I told you about my sweet nephew? I'm pretty sure if you know me  you know that I have the cutest baby nephew named Jonah Dalton Apple. He now is four months old and a few of his hobbies include: dancing a jig with one leg, eating bananas, sitting in his Bumbo for extended periods of time, laughing out loud, flirting and watching sports. Here are few pics of this little hunney...

 

This past Sunday this little fella was dedicated at our home church Prestonwood Baptist Church. He is such a blessing in our lives and it is so exciting to see what God has planned for his life. We continually to pray for this gift and LOVE watching him grow!

The Apple Family

Not the best pictures! But he is with Pastor Graham in his snazzy suit and tie! There is no doubt that this kid will be best dressed..


Now let's just hope that his first words are on the lines of Ab, Abbs, Aunt Babs, I'll take any of them!  :)

Loving on this little boy everyday,
Abigail

Viva Las Vegas!

Our very own Miss Arkansas, Alyse Eady, gave us every reason to go to a little town called LAS VEGAS! So me and two of my best friends packed up fancy duds that glittered and shimmered then headed to the city that literally never sleeps.

Not only did we get to see all the shopping, casinos, and crazy people  Vegas offered, we got to go and support our EEE sister in the 2011 Miss America pageant. So here are a few highlights of our weekend.

We got the privilege of staying at the hotel Bellagio! I highly recommend this place. It was absolutely incredible and we stayed on the 11th floor facing the amazing fountains. It was incredible! 

Erica and Joy

When we first arrived at the airport and our town car limo
was awaiting us. We felt a little bit special to say the least!
The guy quickly gave us a list of do's and don'ts while we stay. 

View from our hotel window of the strip and fountains.
It was glamorous!

"Lady Chocolate" was in our hotel. I wish she would have fit in my suitcase.

So during the day we spent all our time going into all of the hotels to see the special attraction in each one. We also did our fair share of the amazing shopping and eating! And YES we walked everywhere but ate everything! It cancelled out :)

Inside the Venetian. If I was to pick the most romantic hotel, this would win gold. The river ran through the entire length of the hotel and the guys steering the boat would sing these sweet love songs in Italian. In some parts of the day the hotel the ceiling was painted like a sunny day day in Paris the other half was Paris at sunset. 

The sunny day. There was lots of little bistro restaurants, accompanied by the best shopping in the Venetian.

First day of shopping down the strip. This was outside of Cesar's Palace.

The fire/lava show outside the Mirage Hotel

Paris
You could eat in the top of Eiffel Tower

Some of the moving statues and show inside of Cesar's Palace Hotel and casino.

Second day of shopping. Outside of a much needed Starbucks. Our feel were dying and we were exhausted.

The biggest H&M ever! Manicans were hanging from ceilings everywhere and it was 3 stories.

Inside our hotel room about to headed out for dinner

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum! It was fun but kind
of creep to see all the celebrities! They look so real!

Since she is my favorite Actress of all time
I got a little excited to see Cameron Diaz!

The only picture from the pageant just to prove we were THERE!

 That was just a few of the hundreds of pictures from our trip! The only sad part was we couldn't take our cameras into the actual Miss America pageant! Well we snuck them into our dresses but couldn't take "flash photography" cause it was live television. So we snapped one very quickly at the end. How many times in your life do you get to go to Miss America?! So we couldn't take any of the beautiful girls on stage in Planet Hollywood or of Alyse but she was absolutely stunning and represented the State of Arkansas so well. We thought she won the won the thing but came into a VERY close 1st runner up. Talk about on the edge of your seat and leaving with no voice!!

It was one of the best trips ever! Congratulations to Miss Alyse Eady once again!

With glitter still coming out of my suitcase and tired feet,

Abigail

Backtracking to "Merry Christmas!"

EEEKkk.. So during the holidays we were constantly on the go, then the new year hit, and now the 1st of February, on this record cold snow day, I get to finally catch up on blogging!!

So back up a few months ago to Christmas after I got engaged (I'm still giddy), we celebrated the holidays in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and then Christmas Eve we traveled back home to Pretty's house. So not to make it a picture overload blog, I tried to pick out the highlights of the Dunham's family Christmas. We have lots of traditions which is why Christmas is so special to my family.

Annual GINGERBREAD house making contest! Not to
brag or anything but I took the gold!

This year the competition was fierce! It was the Apple family, Angie Strange, me and Dick! My mom judges on attitudes, sports like conduct and creativity! ha!

Lucy also had an amazing Christmas. She got a
whole stocking full of toys and a Christmas card from Santa.
She was hilarious as she pulled each toy out of the bag.

Lucy's Christmas card bone from Santa.
It was edible!

Dick and I had our own little Christmas together. You can tell it was a Texas Christmas because Dick has SHORTS on!! But he got me a white North Face and I got him UGG brown loafers! Since we are supposed to be saving, we tried to keep Christmas light this year.

After heading to Pawhuska, Oklahoma this is a shot of all the Great Grandkids
in our family minus the oldest Kayia. The bottom 3 were born this past year. Crazy how quickly our family is growing!

Pretty and Jonah!! It was his very first Christmas.

 What is Christmas without FOOD! We started a new tradition this year to have breakfast Christmas Eve. So here were my favorite foods. Extra large Cinnamon rolls, breakfast egg casserole, and kiss cookies

 

Look at that cute fella! We usually try to play games all night long!
Rock Band, Mexican Train Dominoes, Scattegories and cards are a few of our favorites.

 Just a few other party pics from our Christmas! 

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Dunham household!