Fried Pies & Fireflies: Chocolate Cheesecake Cake

You know it was a good day

when you didn't hit or

bite anyone...

Nathaniel P., age 4

Oh, Nathaniel, I'm 47 years old and I understand...:)

If you're old enough to remember the show, "Lost in Space", you'll know what the title of my post means!

When I was a little girl, I used to watch this fascinating TV show about a family and a robot that were lost in space.

The robot from time to time warn the little boy about impending doom by saying,

"Danger, Will Robinson...Danger!"

So this post is a warning to all the men who see a potential impending doom situation and try to help a lady out....

BUT...

maybe the lady is tired from an awful day at work....

maybe she's hungry because she hasn't eaten

in a while...

maybe she has then had to stop by the

grocery store on the way home..

maybe she's been stopped to help a sweet older lady

get a gallon container of Gator-Aid from

the bottom shelf of the beverage isle...

maybe...just maybe...you don't need to...at this point in her day...you know...her long...tiring...day.....

be standing behind her when she crawls out from under that bottom shelf in Publix...

with her purse in your hand saying...

"Ma'am, I could have stolen your purse."

THEN...drop said purse back into my buggy

and turn and walk away....

really.....blink....blink...

Ok, if you had wanted to be helpful,

why don't you try assisting older shoppers who cannot reach items on the upper or lower shelves...

DON"T for HEAVEN'S SAKE...BE POKING THE BEAR WITH A STICK!

It took all I could do to not chase him down

and leave buggy wheel marks on his back...

just saying...

I know he was TRYING to be helpful...

Bless his heart!

But sheesh....

It all ended well though...

I was able to rein in the Miranda Lambert

in me--gunpowder and lead is not permitted

in my favorite Publix supermarket!

Anyway, this bad day got better when

I was able to go home and bake!

Yes, bake a chocolate cake!

Any not just any chocolate cake...

but one with a layer of cheesecake in the middle!

Yes, my day needed THAT kind of cake!

It takes just a little extra time, but so worth it!

Hope you enjoy!

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Chocolate Cheesecake Cake

1 box of chocolate cake mix of your choice

(my favorite is Duncan Hines)

1TBSP almond flavoring

1/2 c water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray 2--9 inch round cake pans with Pam.

In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat until smooth.

Pour into pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until done.

Cool in pans 10 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

Place 1 cake layer on plate.

Spread Chocolate Frosting over top of cake.

Top with cheesecake layer.

Spread more frosting over top of cheesecake.

Place remaining cake layer, over cheesecake.

Spread frosting over top layer and on sides of cake.

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Cheesecake Layer

2 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 c sugar

3 large eggs

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 TBSP almond flavoring

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Line 9 inch cake pan with parchment paper.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed

with mixer until creamy.

Add sugar, beating until smooth.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Add whipping cream and almond flavoring.

Pour batter into prepared pan; bake 45 minutes.

Turn oven off; leave cheesecake in oven with

door closed for 1 hour.

Let cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Cover and chill 4 hours.

Remove from pan and remove parchment paper.

*****************************************************

Chocolate Frosting

1 cup butter

12 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

6 cups confectioners sugar

1 TBSP almond flavoring

you can use 2 cans of chocolate frosting of your choice

(again Duncan Hines is my favorite)

If you are making all the way, beat butter until creamy.

Add chocolate, beating until combined.

Add confectioners sugar until smooth.

Add flavoring, beating until combined.

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On this day, even though Duncan Hines is my favorite,

the Pillsbury Dough-boy is the winner

because he is in my pantry and Mr. Hines is not... :)

Add the water...

and the eggs...

add the yummy flavoring...

Pour the delicious batter in 2 -- 9 inch pans (no picture...sorry!)

This is the beautiful result after about 20 minutes in the oven!

Cool completely...

While cooling, it's time to make the yummy cheesecake layer...

(Disregard the sour cream in the picture and add the heavy whipping cream...don't question...I told you it was a bad day....just add the whipping cream and you'll be a happy camper...trust me!)