The great cheesecake diaster of 2011

It was originally going to be "What else to do with homemade caramel" (See part one here.) and I'm not gonna lie. Its a lot of work. I was in the kitchen all Sunday afternoon. I was exausted. But I read a glowing report from Annie (Recipe came from Annie.) and I was determined..... and this was a test run before I made it for a Thanksgiving party at work.


Get this out and lay it on the counter to soften for later.



Get out the step ladder and find the spring form pan you threw way back in the deepest and tallest cabinet you have.



Get out the parchment paper and




Cut to fit.

Crumble about one and a half packages of graham crackers (eat the rest of the already opened package).

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon and

Three tablespoons of sugar

and because I read the directions wrong, I added a 1/2 cup of pecans into the food processor

to make the crust

then five and 1/3 tablespoons of melted butter

Added to the crumbs

pressed into the pan and baked at 375 for 6 to 8 minutes until it was nice and brown

 add homemade caramel and whole pecans.  ( and then go sit down and rest because your going to be exausted already, and maybe even a little grumpy.)

Find 4 or 5 Granny Smith apples and

con beg cry plead threaten ask your husband to peel  and slice thin because you just dont have any energy left for apples.

while you melt another five tablespoons of butter in a large skillet

with 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Melt and stir together until brown and bubbly and then add apples to cook down.

Cover and cook on low to medium for 15 minutes or so, stirring often. This is not the time to go upstairs and quickly check facebook. Trust me. They will burn. Sit them aside and let cool a little then add to the crust on top of pecans and caramel. Wonder why its getting dark out. Wonder where the whole day has gone. Cant believe you've been in this kitchen so long.

Get the cream cheese you put on the counter a few days ago earlier, and get it in a mixing bowl with

1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla and

a big squeeze of lemon juice.

Blend well and add to top of pie. Put in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or....

Not make it to the oven at all, drop/spill the whole flipping/flapping/dadgumit/freaking thing on the counter, oven door and floor.

lay down on the kitchen floor and cry, scream, and basically throw a fit. When your husband runs into the kitchen to see if your hurt, just point to the cheesecake remains .....do you know how much money I spent on this?!! Do you know how much time it took to make this? Do you know how much energy it took?  My whole Sunday is over!! I could have taken a Sunday nap!!

Clean it up and get out the cookbooks to bring some dessert you've actually made before to the Thanksgiving party at work.