Happy Birthday Emily! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!! 
Wow!  Seems like we just brought you home from the hospital, a tiny little baby all wrapped in blankets.  How did the years go by so fast?!?!?  I can't believe you are turning 24 today. It has been 24 wonderful years for your Dad and I, we are so grateful to God for letting us be part of the lives of two fabulous children!  Because I'm a sentimental mom, I've been looking back at birthday photos.  Here are a few I'd like to share with you.

Here you are celebrating your first birthday at the Tonn's. Harriet made your cake!  We also had a "party" with Donald Mathers and Steven Langmaack, you were all born around the same time and celebrated birthdays together for years.  You took your first steps on the day you turned 1 year old. 

We spent your second birthday at the Minnesota Zoo with Aunt Shirley and Uncle Dwight.  You loved going to see the animals.  Looks like you had a Rice Krispie treat for a b-day cake! 

Be careful blowing out those candles Sweetie!  We celebrated birthday number three with family on the Sunday that Tyler was dedicated at church.  What a big day!  You loved being a big sister! 

On your fourth birthday you celebrated with Kelly and your little friends at a "Peter Pan" party.  Aunt Shirley painted the cake topper for your cake!  You still have it in your room and Peter Pan is still one of your favorite books!

Last year we celebrated your special day with our "in-town family".  I am so grateful for all the people, family and friends, in your life who have surrounded you with love.  As you celebrate today, remember YOU ARE LOVED!

Part of your celebrating in the past few years has included cheesecake.  Today will be no different.  Chocolate Chip Cookie-Dough Cheesecake has become one of our favorite recipes and it is definitely celebration worthy!  Enjoy it tonight with your friends! Happy Birthday Emily!!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 cups crushed chocolate chips cookies or chocolate wafer crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 
  FILLING:
• 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  COOKIE DOUGH:
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in up the sides of a greased 9-in. pan. Place pan on a baking sheet; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low just until combined. Add sour cream and vanilla; beat just until blended. Pour over crust; set aside.
• In another bowl, cream butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add water and vanilla. Gradually add flour. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls over filling, gently pushing dough below surface (dough should be completely covered by filling). Place pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove sides of pan. Sprinkle with remaining chips. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12-14 servings.

Cherry Winks Update

I got a letter from Aunt Janice yesterday on this cute note card.  Here is a bit of what she had to say:
I have enjoyed reading your blog.  The one on Cherry Winks got me thinking.  I have Mom's recipe box and so, years after looking through it, I once again got it out.  I found the Cherry Winks recipe which looks like the same one you used.  Isn't it funny how we can remember things in the past as being so good, but when we relive it, it isn't!  (Recipes, old movies, etc.)
It was fun to look through the recipe file.  Many are handwritten by Mom and Grandma R.  Also, many recipes by friends and relatives!  We should look at it sometime when you're home! 
Speaking of vintage, this note card is one I've had since I was a teenager.  Fun to send it to you!


I loved getting this envelope of goodies! 
First: I totally remember these note cards of Janice's!  Just one of the very cool things about my "Big Sister"!  The girl's hair, skirt and shoes are bedazzled with gold glitter, something I would have loved! 
Second: The recipe card.  I actually remember these cards Mom had with a picture of a happy woman putting something into her very big old cast iron stove.  Mom had typed the recipe onto the card with her typewriter, using the red ink setting.  I remember my Mom using her typewriter so it brought back lots of memories.  In the line that tells who the recipe was from she has written "Mother Renshaw".  I don't know if this is what she called my Grandma, but it seems very dear.
Third: It has solved part of the mystery about the recipe.  The only difference I could find was that Mom's recipe used 1/4 cup less flour.  I guess that could make the cookies a bit less cake-like.  Still, I don't think I will try the recipe again for a long time, if ever.  Some memories are best just the way we remember them.  Thanks Janice for sharing this with me and for wakening new "old" memories!