The Recipes

Here are the recipes. On the turtle cheesecake, I used light brown instead of dark brown sugar. Also, personally, I think the sugar layer was too thick and won't make it quite so thick next time. Andi, however, thinks it should be thicker - so it seems to be a matter of taste. I also added some toffee bits to the topping.



Turtle Cheesecake

--CRUST:--
1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/4 c. chopped pecans

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 c. melted butter

--FILLING:--
3 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

3 lg. eggs, slightly beaten

1 (8 oz.) pkg. sour cream

1 c. granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

--TOPPING:--
1 c. dark brown sugar

1/4 c. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. whipping cream

1/4 c. chopped pecans

1/4 c. mini chocolate chips

1 c. halved pecans

Mix crust ingredients in bowl until crumbs are moistened. Press mixture over bottom of lightly buttered 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate to chill. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put filling ingredients into large mixing bowl. Beat until well blended. Pour over chilled crust. Bake until edges are set, about 1 hour. Do not over bake. Remove cake from oven; cool on rack. Cover lightly with plastic wrap. Chill several hours. Put brown sugar, butter and cream into medium saucepan. Heat to a boil over high heat, stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly then pour over cake. Sprinkle toppings and add pecans around the rim of the cake. Chill thoroughly before serving.

Autumn Apple Cheesecake

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/2 c. pecans, finely chopped

3 tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. margarine, melted

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese

1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla

4 c. thin sliced, peeled apples

1/3 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. pecans, chopped

Combine graham cracker crumbs, pecans, sugar, cinnamon and margarine. Press onto bottom of 9 inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until blended. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well. Blend in vanilla. Pour over crust. Toss apples with combined 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle pecans over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan with knife. Cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.