Mini-cheesecakes ♥

For this recipe, you can use any sort of little cookie (I used gingesnaps, but you can try vanilla wafers...I even saw some with oreo cookies), place it in the bottom of the muffin cup, and then pour or scoop the cheesecake batter on top and then bake.  I used gingersnaps from Trader Joe's.

Mini-cheesecakes with cookie-crust:

• 20 little cookies
• 2 packages of cream cheese (8 oz. each)
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature, when it is warm, it will mix better.  Mix the cream cheese until smooth in a bowl.  Then, add the eggs and sugar.  Blend until smooth and add the salt, sour cream and vanilla.
Put a cookie in each cupcake liner and pour cheesecake batter into each cup.  Bake at 325'F for almost 1 hour.  If it starts to brown on top, take out immediately and allow to cool.
Top them with a few blueberries or raspberries!  Then, enjoy with your friends ♥
(I got little matryoshka cupcake liners from TJ Maxx.  I used 20 of them, but they are smaller in circumference than the average cupcake liners, so you may only make 12 using this much batter if using the regular size ones).

I brought these mini-cheesecakes to church yesterday, as we celebrated Nativity (old calendar)!  It was a potluck dinner after the service.  Some of my favorite people in our church:

Many of you have been praying for my dad.  He is doing well, managing his Parkinson's.  In the mornings he is pretty good, using just his cane to get around.  In the afternoons and evenings, though he needs to use his walker most of the time.  He has 2 wheelchairs (one manual and one electric, that my in-laws gave us) but thankfully he hasn't really needed them!  I think the key is that he knows when he is able to do things himself, and when he needs to ask for help.  My mom does a lot to help him out and she ends up doing most of the chores.  May God bless her.  Last week, though my dad took the garbage out, so he is able to help sometimes!  I know he would like to do more.  

I'm reading a great book by Rohinton Mistry called Family Matters right now.  The main character, Nariman Vakeel, is 79 years old and in rapidly deteroriating health due to Parkinson's, when he breaks his ankle.  His step children who are grown adults, are living in the flat he owns with him and feel the burden of taking care of him, then get their sister, Roxana, who is poor, with a husband and 2 children to take care of him.  There are some very beautiful and poignant passage in this story...one when the 9 year old grandson feeds his 79 year old grandfather, spoonful by spoonful and wipes his chin.

My husband took a photo of my parents with my sister and her 3 girls & me and my girls!  It was a lovely sunny day...with a little snow still on the ground, although it was warm, and it is all melting.