Recipe Monday

Chessy Chewy Cake

Crust:

1 package plain, yellow cake mix

8 tablespoons (1 stick) melted butter

1 large egg

Filling:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

1 box powdered confectioners' sugar

Place oven rack in the center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Crust directions: in large mixing bowl, pour cake mix, melted butter and egg and blend with an electric mixer on low speed for two minutes. Stop mixer and scrape down the sides fo the bowl with a rubber spatula. The batter should come together in a ball. With your fingertips, pat the batter evenly over the bottom of the pan, smoothing it out with your fingers until the top is smooth. Set the pan aside.

Filling directions: place the softened cream chesse in the same bowl and use the same beaters. No need to clean either first. Blend on low speed until fluffy, about 30 seconds. Stop mixer and add eggs, vanilla, and melted butter. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Stop mixer and add the sugar. Beat until the sugar is completely incorporated, about 1 minute more. Stop and scrape the sides down. Mix a bit more, if needed. Pour the filling onto the crust and spread with the spatula so that the filling covers the entire surface of the crust. Place in the oven and bake until well brown but the center still jiggles when you shake the pan, 45-47 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on wire rack to cool, at least 39 minutes. Cut in to squares and serve. Store covered with aluminum foil at room temperature up to 4 days or in fridge up to 1 week. May be frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

On Friday I made a Chess Chewy Cake, aka Gooey Butter Cake. I made it to take to my daughter's in Charleston. She lives with five, yes five, men. Last year she lived with eleven women and she declared never, never, never again! Testosterone is much easier to deal with than estrogen starts monthly cycling all at the same time! The crying, the screams, the name-calling, the hurt feelings were just entirely more than she wants to ever deal with again. You see my daughter is in college. Last year she lived on campus but in one of the school's historic houses. It is in an incredible area, beautiful and handy to all her classes and across from the library. She gave all that up, moved to a much less desirable area about 9 blocks away just to NOT live with women!!! Anyone relate? She has one girlfriend who will show up in two weeks and will also be living there. She was one of Hanna's roommates last year and is definitely more like Hanna, calm, easy going and no screaming. Well, all six of these 20-somethings loved this cake and I think you will too. I have been making it since the 80's and it is always a hit. It is very rich and can be cut in small serving pieces and served at showers or luncheons. It is a great afternoon tea dessert and is wonderful with a cup of hot coffee.

I don't have a picture of the cake. I forgot to take my camera and I left the small amount that was left. Instead, I will share a picture of my beautiful daughter instead! This picture was taken while she was on vacation in San Diego. The second photo was taken on the same trip. It is Hanna and her boyfriend, Kevin. He is from San Diego.

My sweet daughter, Hanna. I love her fun spirit.

Hanna and Kevin

San Diego, CA

at the famous San Diego Zoo.