Mini- cheese cakes

I searched through several recipes and each one was slightly different then the others... so this is what I came up with adding different components of other's recipes

.. I've gotten rave reviews on how little a bite packs alot of flavor!!

1 8oz package cream cheese

24 vanilla wafers

1 egg

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 c sour cream

1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp almond

1/4 tsp nut meg

1/2 tbs lemon juice

375 for 20-25m -tops get a light golden....

in mini-muffin tin- I used the mini-cup cake papers - place 1 vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cup.

In medium bowl, mix softened cream cheese, sugar and sour cream with beater on low to medium, add egg. Mix well until creamy. Add all other ingredients & mix thoroughly. Spoon cream cheese mix by rounded teaspoon full on top of each vanilla wafer. Should make 24 easily, may have a little extra, go back and fill in if you think a few need a little more.

Bake as directed above until light golden brown on top.

Serve with jelly- I put three different kinds of jelly in small dishes with a spoon for guest to choose which fruit they would like. My fav is red raspberry ( seedless jam!) , Blueberry, and Cherry. Have of course used strawberry too and even spooned apple pie filling & drizzled with caramel- that was a huge hit!!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

McCormick Red Velvet Cupcakes (taken from family circle magazine nov 09)

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp slat
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 bottle (1 ounce) Red Food Color
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
vanilla cream cheese frosting (directions to follow)


Mix flour ,cocoa, baking soda, and salt.set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs., 1 at a time. Mix sour cream , milk food color, and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. BAKE in preheated oven 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans ; cool completely. spread with frosting... makes 30 cupcakes

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat 1 package (8ounce) softened cream cheese, 4 tbsp softened butter, 2 tbsp sour cream and 2 tsp pure vanilla extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 box(16 ounces) confectioners' sugar on medium speed until smooth.