Yummy! Pumpkin Cheesecake

This the most wonderful pumpkin cheesecake ever! I have made this a few times and everyone loves it. That Martha!!!

Serves 12
FOR THE CRUST
1 1/4 cups graham-cracker crumbs (from 10 whole crackers)
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
FOR THE FILLING
4 packages (8 ounces each) bar cream cheese, very soft
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons pumpkin-pie spice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, room temperature
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. Assemble a 9-inch nonstick springform pan, with the raised side of the bottom part facing up.
Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter until moistened; press firmly into bottom of pan. Bake until golden around edges, 10 to 12 minutes.
Make the filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on low speed until smooth; mix in flour (do not overmix). Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; mix just until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.
Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour filling into springform, and gently smooth top. Transfer to oven; reduce oven heat to 300 degrees. Bake 45 minutes. Turn off oven; let cheesecake stay in oven 2 hours more (without opening).
Remove from oven; cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. Unmold before serving.

Fun way to display~

So, I do vinyl lettering for home decor. I was given another challange from one of my favorite stores "Hoity Toity" located in Marysville, Wa. Their challange for me was to come up with a family crest. They sent me a pic of what they wanted and I went from there~ Today, I finished what I think is very chic... I cut the vinyl out on my handy dandy cutter and instead of placing it on a wall. I placed it on my dining room mirror! This adds such an extra touch that looks just FABULOUS!

I out did myself!

My very good friends at Sweet Peas Boutique in Lake Stevens, Washington gave me some cabinet doors to see what I can do with them... They were sitting in my garage for a few weeks, because I had know idea what I was going to do with them. Then, they were in the house after Jackie wrote to ask how they were coming...the doors just kept staring at me everytime I walked by them. Another, week went by and they finally made into my craft room. I tossed a couple of ideas out to the Sweet Pea gals... but, I was never really happy with either of the ideas. So, a few more days looking at them... it just was not coming to me. I wasn't seeing the vision.

This morning my daughter was home sick. Even being sick she is the sweetest thing ever. Then the idea popped in to my head. Today was the day! I am going to finish this once and for all. This is the finished project~ Enjoy and they will be at Sweet Peas very soon!

I can almost see it!

I have been a busy little bee lately... and I can almost see it now! The vision of having my website finished. Everyday I spend a few hours trying to set it up just right, only to change it once more. Spending way to much time researching other websites to see how they flow and what makes it inviting for me to stay to check things out. So many questions and ideas... wanting to have it appeal to everyone... knowing it will appeal to a few. I am ok with that! My website is up... www.thechichousewife.com Retail & Wholesale with new items being added daily. I am working on some new products that will be added very soon!

Roadside Find

One of my sister's roadside finds~ My sister called me the other day and said "I found you a pie safe!" I was so excited. I been longing for one for quite some time. On Christmas day she brought it over. It was totally broken apart. I just had to laugh! She knows me all to well. =)

My husband and I were determined to have a pie safe! The next afternoon we set out to the garage to assess the damage. After, working on another piece that I had in the garage... it came to me! We worked on it for about an hour and then waited for the paint to dry. This is the final product~

Looks so good in our dinning room! It hides all the little things I don't want people to see... I sent my sister a pic of the finished product and she wants to place a picture of it on the door of the house she found it in front of with a free sign. Sound like a show on HGTV!