Brownie Sunday Cheesecake

In Evan's words "If you are looking for one slice of cheesecake to satisfy a double date, pick this one."

Delicious? Of course. But it is also the atomic bomb of rich desserts.

Imagine to yourself a gooey, thick, chocolatey brownie, slathered in ice cream with a cherry and fudge topping on top. Plus the whip cream and almond slivers. The epitome of a brownie sunday right? Now, substitute the ice cream for a slab of cheesecake. Now try to eat it. It was definitely worth the work of chewing through all the gooey goodness, but after two bites your stomach begs you for a cease fire.

I would also like to note that Evan is sitting beside me editing every word, but refuses to type himself. "Not every word, or I would correct a lot more!" Oh, excuu-uuuse me!

Also, his dino of a computer apparently can't handle the VCU wireless connection as well as mine. Take that 'imagery' man!

Cheesecake Saturday

Friday night was, busy. In a good way. It was fun all around, we just never made it to the Cheesecake Factory. For starting, I went to Amber's house for some fabulous food and good company. Then I met up with Evan and Steven for a birthday party at The Bank. Now, I have never heard of the bank, but it was surprisingly fun. For a place with no cover charge it was a pretty classy set up. I say classy set up because, for some reason, the people that ended up there were far below the class level of the design of the club. For one, there was some guy judging everyone that was dancing, deciding who he would challege to a dance off. He went with the 'pick the inebriated single chick' route. Which led to far too much unattractive grinding. And touching. Plus some chick with pounds of hair doing her 'ballerina' twirls around them. It was scene straight out of a surreal dream. But our little group had lots of fun. Whether we could dance or not we stuck to ourselves and had a blast.

Saturday, we finally got our cheesecake. We went with the Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cream Cheesecake. So pretty much, all the stuff we avoid on a daily basis :) It was good, it is cheesecake factory after all. But, I was not crazy about the coffee flavor. it was a little overpowering. Evan finished it off no problem, he claimed adding whip cream diluted the coffee flavor. I can say, that those that enjoy coffee flavored things would enjoy this cheesecake very much.

Ps- 39 days til the wedding!!

Cheesecake sees the capital!

Friday night Evan and I headed up to DC to meet his family so we could have an early morning temple trip. We for sure were not going to mess up tradition so we picked up our cheesecake before we left and took it with us. White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake. A mouthful to say AND eat :)

Unfortunately, my title is deceiving and the cheesecake didn't even make it to I-95. It was however, delicious. It had some very subtle flavors with a wonderfully chewy gooey crust and caramel all over. I would recommend this to many people, but it is still not my favorite. I am worried that no other cheesecake will ever make me hyperventilate the way my beloved Dulce de Leche did. I will still love all cheesecakes for their special qualities though.

The temple was beautiful. Evan and his parents did a session while Abby and I did baptisms. And boy was it a struggle to get in! After many phone calls to verify that I do in fact have a recommend and that I really did just leave it at home, we went inside and got to do wonderful work. I love the temple and I am so excited to go back so soon!!

After that, we went to the zoo and walked around for hours admiring the animals in their cages. On the way home we stopped at Lonestar Steakhouse for dinner. I have some things to say about that place:

#1- I was sure this would be the only time Evan and I would go together because there is no way we can afford a steakhouse dinner!

#2- That was not true

#3- Their food is delicious and generously portioned

#4- You can get an appetizer, two entrees and four sides for $20.

#5- We found a new date restaurant!

A New Favorite!

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake.

If not for the goal of one different piece each week, I would go back for this one again, and again, and again. It was perfectly creamy, and cheesecakey, and dulce-y. ohhh goodness. It is at the top of my list and it will take a lot to de-throne it.

Cheesecake Factory, please never stop making this cheesecake. Also, please bury it with me so that I may enjoy it for all of eternity.

For ten years from now

Dear Future Evan and Sarah:

I really hope you have overcome that nasty habit of procrastinating. Remember when you had less than two months until your wedding and still hadn't... Had the dress altered? Tux ordered? Flowers ordered? Picked out wedding bands? Invitations printed? Attire for the attendants? And countless other things?

I'm sure all those things worked themselves out and your wedding was beautiful. Because the most important thing is the marriage, not the wedding. So really, more important than anything else, I hope you are still madly in love :)

In talking to other brides, I have come to realize that things have happened very easily for us. We didn't have to search for a ceremony venue, the temple is open everyday, all day, waiting for appointments. No problems there.

Evan's mom took on booking the reception site, and found it quickly (THANK YOU!).

I waited pretty late to look at dresses so I could do it with my mom, and we found one. In my price range. On my first visit. And even though they typically don't sell dresses off the rack (unless they are discontinued), they sold this one to me so I could have it instead of risking not getting it until the day of the wedding and not doing any alterations.

My mom helped me pick out flowers and do a mock up of my bouquet. it took us ten minutes and I love every piece of it.

We have been so blessed with the entire process, and I can only hope it goes this smoothly for the next two months! We have a lot to do, but we have not lost site of what is important and I think that has been the most helpful thing. Our marriage, being sealed to each other for eternity is the most important part of this. The reception is a celebration of our union, and all the details are there to make it look nice and be fun for ourselves and our guests. But the marriage is forever, the wedding day is only one day.