This pumpkin cheesecake recipe is not only delicious, it is fool proof. It yields a perfectly creamy, dense and rich treat: everything a cheesecake should be. And with the added pumpkin, this dessert is a great alternative to the classic pumpkin pie. Serve this at your next holiday get together and wow your guests with your culinary expertise!

Ingredients

For crust:
8 graham crackers, crushed
5 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar

For filling:
24 oz cream cheese
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
5 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine the crushed graham crackers, melted butter and sugar. Press the crumb mixture in the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.

2. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

3. Reduce oven to 300° F.

4. Combine all of the filling ingredients with an electric mixture.

5. Pour the filling into the springform pan and place in the center of the oven.

6. Bake for 1 hour. After the hour of baking, turn the off and leave cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Allow to cool completely then refrigerate overnight.

photo courtesy of Coombs Family Farms

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
3 medium peaches
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
1/2 cup Coombs Family Farms 100% pure organic maple syrup
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions:
Beat eggs until egg whites and yolks are thoroughly blended. Stir in milk. Sift flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Blend into egg mixture until free of lumps. This can be made ahead, like pancake batter, but must be covered and refrigerated.
Wash peaches and towel dry. There is no need to remove the skin, unless it has a thick coating of fuzz. Cut peaches in half and remove pit. Cut each half into 4 wedges. Heat vegetable oil in a 6-cup saucepan over moderately low heat until it reaches 350 F. Press a fork at an angle into the peach wedge to hold it. Dip into batter, covering each peach wedge.
Slide off fork into hot oil and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. You may need to roll fritters to brown evenly. Remove fritters and place on a paper towel to drain. Keep warm in a preheated 275 F oven (no more than 30 minutes) until ready to serve. Serve drizzled with Coombs Family Farms 100% pure organic maple syrup or arrange on a platter with a dish of Coombs Family Farms 100% pure organic maple syrup for dipping.

About Coombs Family Farms:
100% pure maple has been a way of life at Coombs Family Farms for seven generations. Since 1988, Coombs Family Farms has produced certified organic maple syrup. A champion of small family farming, Coombs Family Farms also sources 100% pure organic certified maple from other small, independent farmers who share the Coombs commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and sustainable forestry management. To learn more, please visit www.coombsfamilyfarms.com or view their videos on Youtube.

photo courtesy of Coombs Family Farms

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Coombs Family Farms 100% pure organic maple syrup
1 T water
4 T butter, chilled
2 T heavy cream
6 T butter melted
1 cup sugar
4 golden delicious apples, peeled, seeded and quartered
1 box puff pastry dough, cut into an 8” circle
Vanilla ice cream

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 F

To make caramel sauce:
In a small pot, combine maple syrup and water. Without stirring, heat over medium high heat until syrup boils and turns to a dark brown. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cream. Be careful as the syrup may be hot and may splatter with the addition of the butter and cream. Pour mixture into an 8-inch cake pan.

To make apple filling:
In a medium bowl, combine sugar, butter, and apples. Place apples in heavy baking pan, over syrup mixture. Place puff pastry circle on top of apples; prick with fork. Bake for 25 minutes or until apples are tender. Remove from oven and carefully remove puff pastry. Set puff pastry aside. Put baking pan (with apple mixture) over medium heat and simmer until the juices have completely evaporated. Watch constantly so it doesn’t scorch.

To finish the tarte tatin:
Put puff pastry back on top of apples and flip pan onto large round platter. Remove pan. Slice and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

About Coombs Family Farms:
100% pure maple has been a way of life at Coombs Family Farms for seven generations (since 1840). Since 1988, Coombs Family Farms has produced certified organic maple syrup. A champion of small family farming, Coombs Family Farms also sources 100% pure organic certified maple from other small, independent farmers who share the Coombs commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and sustainable forestry management. To learn more, please visit www.coombsfamilyfarms.com or view their videos on Youtube.

Ingredients
12 oz. Ocean Spray Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries)
1 McIntosh apple (peeled, cored and diced)
1 large ripened peach (pitted, peeled and diced)
1-2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup pine nuts (chopped pecans or walnuts optional)
3 oz. water
3½ oz. Vino Cotto di Montillo

Directions
In a medium bowl, add lemon juice, diced apples and peaches. Gently toss. In a medium saucepan combine cranberries, lemon-coated apples and peaches, water and 3 oz. of vino cotto. Cover the saucepan. On low heat slowly simmer for 10 minutes then remove the cover and stir. Continue cooking uncovered on low heat until the fruit becomes tender, but not overcooked. Stir frequently so the fruit cooks evenly. When done remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add nuts and mix together. Plate into a serving bowl and drizzle the remaining ½ oz. of vino cotto over the fruit conserve. Serve as a condiment beside turkey, chicken, pork or lamb.

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photo courtesy of Kookiestationery.com

Kookie Stationery was born in 2008 as the result of a serious sweet tooth, and a deep love for the beauty of creating wholesome and fun products. Since its inception, the company has mastered the art of producing edible platforms to share thoughts, love, well wishes, and much more and offers over 40 cookies for various occasions ranging from seasonal treats to everyday messages. For more information please visit, www.kookiestationery.com .

The Giveaway

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Prizes: 3 winners will each receive one Kookie Stationery’s Turkey cookie.

How to enter (required): Visit http://www.kookiestationery.com/ and then come back and leave a comment telling us the name of your favorite product!

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):
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The giveaway ends on Nov. 11, 2009 at the end of day, Pacific Standard Time. Kookie Stationery will ship the prizes.

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
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UPDATE: Are you one of the winners? Check out the results!