Apple Pecan Cheesecake!! (with recipe)

For this Christmas, I made an Apple Pecan Cheesecake, this is the 2nd time I made it. This time is very successful. I didn't burn the side and the crust like the 1st time. It tastes so delicious!!!

It doesn't take long to do, the recipe said it takes 20 mins to prepare plus 1 hour to cook. But actually, it took me an hour to prepare, like mixing and cutting the ingredients. And it took longer than an hour to cook. Now the cheesecake is cooling down, after it is cool down, it needs to be refrigerated for 4 hours. Now is 3:17pm, it will be ready around 8pm. I don't think I can't wait till tomorrow to taste the cake. Coz my kitchen smells delicious and sweet, I probably will try it after dinner tonight.

Here is the recipe if anyone of you are interested to try.

1 1/2 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup (1 1/2 stick) Butter, melted
1 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar, divided 2 tbsp brown sugar
4 pkg (8oz each) cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
4 cups chopped peeled apples (about 3)
3/4 cup chopped pecan
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 325F. Line 13x9 inch pan with foil.
Mix crumbs, butter and 2 tbsp sugar, pree onto bottom of pan. Bake for 10 mins

Beat cream cheese. 1 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add sour cream, blend. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

Mix remaining 1/2 sugar, apples, pecans and cinnamon, spoon over batter.

Bake 1 hr to 1 hr 5 mins. Let it Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil to life cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve.

Makes 16 servings.
(Recipe is from Kraft Foods)

I cut the ingredients in half, no way that I can finish a 16 servings size cheesecake by myself.

When I was cutting the cake, Wai Wai (one of my dogs) waited right next to me. He looked so desperate for the cake. So we took a pic of him. It is a great shot!!

Taiko no Tatsujin DS Game Review

Taiko no Tatsujin (this is the 2nd Taiko no Tatsujin DS game that Namco releases) DS Game is a rhythm game, similar to "Guitar Hero". It is very addictive game, the songs include Jpop, anime theme songs, classical music etc. The DS game comes with 2 stylus. For Wii or PS2, the games come with a drum, so you hit the drum. But for DS, you use your stylus to tap the touch screen.

There are 2 game modes, one is "story mode" and one is "song mode". For story mode, there are four destinations, each destinations has about 5 challenges. And you choose "Easy" or "Difficult" for each destination. After you passed all challenges, then you own the destinations. So far I go thu 2 destinations, but the last 2 destinations, they lock the last challenges, since I can't read Japanese, I don't know how to unlock. It is a little frustrated.

For Song Mode, you can just pick a song to play. Each song has 3 difficulty levels. If you passed, you would get a silver metal. If you got 100%, then you would get a gold metal.

When you pass certain level, you will unlock some of features, like the costumes for the Taiko, different music instructment, my favorite is "Butt", it is literally a "Butt", and it makes the "Farting" sound. It is so hilarious.

So far, my husband and I have so much fun with this game. Once I play, I can't put it down!! It is really addictive.

Here is the commerical for the game (the 1st game, not the one I write the review for), but you will get the idea how the game looks like and how does it play.

Taiko no Tatsujin DS Game

I haven't updated my blogs for months, coz I was so busy with my school. Finally, I have so time to update my blog.

I didn't have time for craft last several months. I feel bad about it. But my semester will end next Monday, so I will have time to make something. I want to crochet a scarf and make some soaps. bought a lot of new fragrance oils and essential oils, I really want to try them out.

Last few weeks, I bought a several new Nintendo DS games: Ninja Town, Taiko no Tatsujin (imported from Japan) and Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 (also imported from Japan). Because I just ordered Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, so I haven't received it yet. But I should get it next week.

So far I love Ninja Town and Taiko no Tatsujin. Ninja Town is a very cute Ninja Strategy game, the graphic is so adorable, but don't let the graphics fool you, it is not just for kids. I have so much fun with it. And Taiko no Tatsujin, it is a rhythm, similar to guitar hero, but it is a Japanese Taiko (Drum). It is so much fun, and very addictive. Once I start to play, I can't stop it.

Here is the Ninja Town:

















This is Taiko no Tatsujin:



















I will write a detail reviews for both games after I finish my final exams.

In case, you are interested in Japanese Games, there is a good website you can buy from. I bought mine from them too. They are cheaper than Ebay. Just click on the "banner" below, it will get you to the play-asia.com.