The unbelievable 3-step Lemon Cheesecake

Today, I tried making a cheesecake with Baker's One's cheesecake mix. I always love having cheesecakes, but the thought of the many steps it takes to make one usually turns me off.

But, then came along B1's cheesecake mix! I would say it takes just 3 steps to make this!

Step 1

Make the crust, but if you get really lazy like me, BUY the crust....that cuts down 1 step!

Step 2

Mix the cheesecake mix, with stipulated amount of water and whisk. For a bit of flavour, I tried lemon rind and juice.

Being ever the greed, I tried the batter, it really didn't taste cheesecake-like at all, but was pleasantly suprised after it set.....so do wait for step 3 to be done before you decide if you like it!

Step 3

Chill to set!

Viola!!!!, 3-step cheesecake that tastes unbelievably like the ones that take 10 steps or more! Its cheesy and had the right amount of tartness from the lemon. Great way to impress guests with minimal effort!

Jelly updates - Brave Heart Care Bear and Mousy

Managed to get a couple more done the last few days....

08.08.08

Weeks before the auspicious 08.08.08, I edged my daughter to ask papa, what is so special about 08.08.08....the conversation goes like that

Isabel: Papa, what's so special about 08.08.08?

Papa: Very big day! Its Beijing Olympics......we must stay at home to watch everything!

Me (emmmmm)

Isabel: Whatelse?

Papa: Rafael's (our son, not the Nadal) birthday!

Me (emmmmm), I prod Isabel to ask, what else?

Isabel: Whatelse?

Papa: hmmm, let me think.....Roger Federer's birthday! (very pleased with himself that he remembered this very important fact)

Me (not amused), I prod Isabel to ask whatelse...

Isabel: Whatelse?

Papa, declares, confidently: NOTHING! what can be greater than the Olympics!

Me (really really unamused): Our 10th wedding anniversary
Papa: Oooh, opps and that too....

And so the story goes, if not for the Olympics, my dear husband ( i'd like to think) would have put up a show of his own to celebrate our wedding anniversary!

The first half of august was really exciting for the kids. It was Che Che Isabel's 7th birthday! This one is different, cos at this birthday party, she has her own friends to attend, and not mummy and papa's friends and their kids....

As with my quest to be a mini-martha stewart, we tried to do everything from scratch and everything homemade, yes, the deco, the pinata, the food and the cake!

Just to record this effort, I'd like to showcase my ala-martha stewart attempts!

The rainbow pinata

The cupcakes

One of the girls said: Why is Isabel's birthday cake so small and plain? As I arranged it in a shape of the no. 7....I said, well, if you girls weren't busy helping yourselves to the cupcakes before it was supposed to be eaten, I would have made the word Isabel and not be left enough for a no. 7 only, and I proceeded to sprinkle some leftover M&Ms to make it look a bit more exciting.....these girls sure can wallop the sweet stuff......

The party food -thanks to Godma's patience and culinary skills to do everything mini form for the little people to enjoy.....

Then came the auspicious 08.08.08 - it was Rafael's 2nd birthday! Being a mere 2 year old and the 3rd kid in the family, all the excitment of planning for another party for him waned....luckily he was clueless on what he was not getting!

I did make him a Lightning Mcqueen jelly, which,alas, looked sadly a wreck, cos it was the first time I was using this mould....thank goodness for the forgivingness of a 2 year old. He was still really excited with it and he couldn't stop poking it!

We then enjoyed a night of the opening ceremony, which was spectacular!

On sunday, me and darling hubby, got a 36-hour reprieve from the kids to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, still watching the Olympics, but in a different country, being spa-ed silly and without 3 kids badgering us! What bliss!