Turtle Cheesecake

I used to always find it humorous when putting turtle cheesecakes in the display case at my old job to draw little pictures of turtles with giant grins on their reptilian faces with cartoon bubbles that stated firmly "No turtles were harmed in the making of this cheesecake." on the signs. I guess it doesn't take much to amuse me, because I know it's not that funny. After dealing with angry half-starved vegans for as long as I have you never know what will set them off, so it's best to have a disclaimer sometimes I suppose.

My sweet and sassy neice Jorden had a birthday this weekend, and while her talented mother constructed a Dora castle for her cake, I was in charge of the cheesecake for my brother-in-law, whose birthday is the day before his little ladies'. At first, the health-nut doth protest " One cake is enough! We don't need two, don't be silly Kala." Until he tried my world's (or at least Duluth) famous turtle cheesecake, then he pieced himself half of it for lunch today, and found himself fending off fellow partiers with a plastic fork...

Turtle Cheesecake

Crust: -2 cups crushed graham crackers

-1/2 stick melted butter

Stir grahams and melted butter until incorporated and press into greased 9 inch pie pan. Heat in 350 degree oven 5 minutes until golden brown.

Cheesecake: -8 oz. cream cheese, room temp

- 8 oz sour cream

-2 eggs

-3/4 cup sugar

-1 t. cornstarch

-1/2 t. salt

-1 t. vanilla

-1/2 cup chopped pecans

-1 cup chocolate chips

Directions: in food processor or with hand mixer combine all ingredients and pulse until combined, but not bubbly. Pour into shell and bake 20-30 minutes depending on oven, untl middle is slightly wet looking and sides are poofy but not cracked.

Caramel: 1 cup butter

-2 1/4 cups brown sugar

-2 cups half and half

-1 cup brown rice or corn syrup

-1 t. vanilla

Directions: In a heavy  saucepan melg butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, h alf and half and corn or brown rice syrup amd mix well. Cook and stir over  medium heat until mixture boils. Reduce heat to medium and stir untl candy thermometer reads 248 degrees, or firm-ball stage.

*Cheater method: you can use store bought caramel and save yourself some trouble, but it's not even close to as good! When Cheesecake is cool, drizzle caramel, pecans and chocolate chips on top.

Beautiful, silky caramel and velvety, creamy cheesecake, destined to make every person who eats it dream of you as their personal chef for at least a week, if not more. Everything in moderation, right? Well, good luck with that...