Celebrating Kohlton's 17th Birthday + Denver Cheesecake Recipe

Kohlton turned 17 last Sunday. If you follow my blog you already got to see the extra special and amazing present Ellie made for him. Here's what they did to actually celebrate his birthday:

They went to the Zoppw' Italian Family Circus and LOVED IT!

Grandma Gay hosted a picnic style dinner at her house. Ellie made cheesecake from scratch for the first time. It was excellent. (I have included the recipe below. It is best made at least one day ahead of time so that the flavors can blend.)

And when you are at Grandma gay's house, you have to check out the costumes. It is always a fun time!

Then we went down to the city park for a fireworks display. The band that was playing was excellent!

Then back home for a little more cheesecake and the trick candles that keep relighting themselves.

Now, I think we would think that was a bang-up birthday, but we are not done, yet.

The next day his mom hosted a family party where he received some pretty funny presents.

Mark, Kohlton's dad, gave him some nice presents and then he gifted him a box of bacon and cheddar flavored crickets. Kohlton was having no part of it. They were going to become a curio on his shelf until Mark and Ellie decided to try them. They declared that they taste like popcorn, but you end up with legs caught inbetween your teeth. Yucky and haha.

Ellie made tiny one-bite cheesecakes with phillo cups. Some were topped with dark chocolate, almonds and pearl colored dragees. Others sported homemade salted caramel, or blueberries. Some were left plain, simple and delicious!

Now, how will she ever top that!? Surely Kohlton feels very loved.
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Denver Cheesecake
via: Creme de la Colorado Cookbook by the Junior League of Denver
(an old, trusted and loved volume of reliable, awesome recipes.)

Crust:
12 oz. box Vanilla Wafers, crushed (place them in a large ziplock baggie and use a rolling pin to crush them)
6 TBL Butter, melted

Filling:
40 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 3/4 cups Sugar
3 TBL Flour
1 tea. Lemon Peel, freshly grated
1 tea. Vanilla Extract
6 Eggs
3/4 cup Heavy Cream

In a small bowl, mix together the crushed wafers and the butter. Press into the bowl bottom and partially up the sides of a 10" springform pan. Chill while preparing the filing.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese. Add all the rest of the ingredients except eggs and cream. Mix until it is well blended and creamy. Add one egg at a time, beating well after each. Blend in the cream. Pour in crust. Use a 10" springfoam pan. Bake at 500 for 10 minutes. Then turn down temperature bake 225 for 70 -80 minutes. (You are looking for the filing to be almost set) Cool at room temperature. It is best to refrigerate it for at least 8 hours before serving to allow the flavors to blend and meld.