recipe: cheesecake brownie

I had the best of intentions with these brownies. They were going to be a thank you gift to a sweet friend who watched Violet last weekend for us. 

But you know how it goes. As soon as I pulled these decedent ,chocolaty, creamy, cheesecakey, gooey pieces of heaven out of the oven, I just had to have a bite of brownie. or two. Okay, I ate the whole darn pan full over 3 day's time. I traded my friendship with my sweet friend for a brownie. And it was totally worth it! (she says dripping with sarcasm).

Now, don't you want to learn how to make this recipe? It is David Lebovitz's amazing recipe. Amazingly simple to make. Even more amazingly simple to consume!

Cheesecake Brownie
recipe from David Lebovitz
One 9-inch (23cm) square pan (I bake mine in 7x10in pan)
6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces (115g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup (130g) sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup (70g) flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (80g) chocolate chips
8 ounces (200g) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk
5 tablespoons (75g) sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line a 9-inch (23cm) square pan with foil, making sure it goes up all four sides. Use two sheets if necessary. Mist with non-stick spray or grease lightly. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180C).

Melt the butter and chocolate in a large steel bowl over a pot of simmering water, stirring until smooth.

Remove from heat and beat in the 2/3 cup (130g) sugar, then the eggs. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt, then the vanilla and chocolate chips.

 Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, the yolk, 5 tablespoons (75g) of sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Distribute the cream cheese mixture in eight dollops across the top of the brownie mixture, then take a dull knife or spatula and swirl the cream cheese mixture with the chocolate batter.

Bake for 35min or until center feels just set (I bake mine at 175degreeC and it took exactly 20minutes. Be careful not to over-bake them)

I don't have a pretty all done picture with the brownies all cut up because I just couldn't wait to eat these lovlies!

Tell me, what is your favorite chocolaty treat? I want to try out some more recipes!

Stacie

weekend inspiration: colorful decor!

who needs some color inspiration!?

source

source

source

source

source

source

Have a very blessed and happy weekend,

Stacie

ffffound: meh owlphabet print

So occasionally... I Google myself (admit it, you do it too!). Imagine my shock and happiness when I literally stumbled upon my owlphabet print on ffffound.com!

Okay, I do not know much about how ffffound works, but from what I can gather: ffffound = neato awesome indie hipster art design goodness (all of which are good things, in my opinion).

Whomever submitted my owlphabet, thanks a bunch! I know feel worthy of wearing skinny jeans with vintage boots and long shaggy bangs. I know that I sounds tongue n cheek when I say this, but seriously, I feel cool now. End of story.

I hope that everyone has a fantabulous weekend, full of pumpkin spice lattes and caviar dreams. I really am thankful for every person out there who takes the time to read my little blog.

-Stacie

reluctant santa print- new at gingiber

Merry Christmas!

Yes, we are gearing up for the holidays here at Gingiber. May I introduce to you my newest holiday buddy, "Reluctant Santa". He is the first of a cute trio of illustrations for the holidays.

As you can tell, this santa is a bit reluctant for the holiday season to begin. His yearly gig at the local mall is around the corner, but he has lost a considerable amount of weight in the past year.  His costume does not seem to fit! I would be reluctant too!

Don't worry, Santa. the kids will not even notice your new trim figure!

I will be offering him as a greeting card, as well as a fun print.

You can buy him here at my Gingiber Etsy Shop.

Alrighty!

What do you think?

this past weekend: blue man group

My sweet husband and I were so privileged to have a few brief hours to ourselves to go see the Blue Man Group Live in Fayetteville this past Sunday. They are kicking off their new tour in Arkansas, of all places. It was beyond entertaining!

Nathan and I have fond memories associated with the Blue Man Group. 8 years ago we were both members of our small school's band. I played the clarinet, and Nathan the tuba. Our 30 member band participated in a band contest in Chicago, Illinois. We voted on the sites to see during the trip. I was the only vote for the Art Museum (whimper). However, everyone did agree upon seeing the Blue Man Group in concert, followed by a lovely trip to the Navy Pier.

Nathan and I were not dating at the time (he was dating a friend of mine, but she was not on this trip... hehe). My future husband was so excited to see the Blue Man Group that he and 4 of his fellow band geeks painted their faces blue! I have a picture, but silly me, I only had black and white film in my camera at the time, so the effect is lost! He was adorably exuberant! Did I mention that I had admired Nathan from afar for several years prior to this trip? I must say, I was smitten!

If you are familiar with the Blue Man Group, you know that they have these incredible homemade instruments made from pvc pipe. Once we returned from our trip, Nathan and his buddies got to work on making their own pvc instruments. They were cool, especially for a group of 18 year old boys.

Yesterday, Nathan and I reminisced about our Chicago trip. He was sad that his mother had sold his Blue Man Group instrument in a garage sale. I admitted that the entire year of band I never actually played a note of music on my clarinet (sorry Mr. Edwards). My clarinet had broken earlier in the school year, so I just coasted off of the musicality of my fellow clarinetists.

Yes, I was a musical mooch. 

And, I have noticed and loved my husband's every quirk even before he noticed and loved me back.

-Stacie

kitchen tour: after (and a few before)

 

Hello! Do you remember a month or so ago when I promised a renovated kitchen tour? Well, here it is! I must warn you, I cannot find many before pictures (the only one's that I have include me and a two day old Violet... please ignore my puffy post pregnant face). Without further adieu, here it is!

Color theme: Black White and Red

1. New quarts counter tops: previously avocado green laminate

2. Removed 70's back splash and replaced with white subway tile with black grout

3. Display case for Cake Plates

4. New Lighting Fixture (previously a long rectangular box system)

5. Refinished cabinetry (previously brown varnished oak, in really bad shape)

6. New hardware (previously an ugly brass)

7. New banjo style kitchen sink

8. New kitchen faucet from overstock.com

9. Put up a door to separate the laundry room from the kitchen. Toped with a painted frame from  IKEA that is being used as a corkboard

 10. New floors (the previous floors were wood laminate, but were ruined by a flood)

Okay, here is a small glimpse of the before:

As you can see in the before pictures, the kitchen was dated and mismatched. Oh yeah, did I mention that it took us 2 years to complete? Yeah, we are definitely weekend warriors. The kitchen remained halfway done for a good year (see last picture).

Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think!

-Stacie

office inspiration

Image source: craftyhues, first seen on paper'n'stitch

Hello!

I have this problem. I am a chronic re-arranger. I am never satisfied with my furniture placement! I have never had a set office area either. I have been "set up" in the dining room for the past 6 months. That has been alright, except my house is a constant wreck. I want my own space. But it is difficult to carve out a proper work space with no extra money to spend on furniture and no spare rooms.

We are going to give it a go and once again turn the guest room into my office. I have spent the better portion of the evening rearranging furniture and trying to come up with a space solution.

I really like the above image. It is pretty and cohesive. I think that I need a cohesive, peaceful space.

Do any of you have a proper office?