Cheesecake on Hiatus

Ok, I owe three weeks to the blog. I have a few pictures to go with, but they are on my computer and I am currently using Evan's... so sorry anyone who stumbles among this pile of words!

Part 1: May 7
In celebration of Evan turning 25, I decided to give him a birthweek celebration instead of just a birthday. So, Friday morning I decorated the apartment, and bought some country style doughnuts. Delicious. I also took him to see Iron Man 2, after we had dinner with his parents. Since we for sure had a fill on cake, doughnuts, movie candy, Aunt Jennifer's brownies, etc., we skipped cheesecake. Saturday was similarly filled with fun and surprises. Each day for the next week I surprised Evan with a gift, some more useful than others, some more desired than others. We had no cheesecake that week, but in its place a grand celebration.

Part 2: May 14
We double dated with Evan's parents. We were planning to go to the movies and they were planning to go to the movies. Evan's dad really wanted to see Iron Man 2, and his mom really didn't. She agreed to go, but was not looking forward to it. So while we were driving Evan presented the idea that he go see a movie with his dad and I could go with his mom to see something more up her alley. I got to see How to Train your Dragon 3-D which was pretty cool. We enjoyed. Plus, I had all the goodies in my purse.
For cheesecake we did a repeat. It was Evan's final day of Birthweek, and so he picked his favorite. We decided it was ok because I hadn't tried it the time he got it (it was from our first week when we each got our own slice). So I tried a couple bites. I didn't care much for it. I mean, it was good, but I am not big on peanut butter in my desserts. However, Evan loves it. It has remained his favorite among all the other slices we have tried.

Part 3: May 21
Chocolate Cake Cheesecake.
Remember the red velvet? Very similar to that but with chocolate cake. Here's the breakdown:
Chocolate cake, cheesecake, frosting, chocolate cake, cheesecake, frosting, frosting flower. As Evan put it, the last couple bites with the frosting flower was like "somebody put on a chocolate boot then kicked you in the mouth. Then you asked them to do it again." And it was. It took many cups of milk to get that all down!

I probably will not be updating again for quite a while seeing as the wedding is this week. I am sure we will skip the tradition this week since wonderful Nerissa is making cheesecake for our wedding. And the following week we will be driving back from Florida and may or may not make it to the cheesecake factory.

Well people, alterations have been done, rings have been sized, decorations have been bought. The wedding is almost here and the flurry of planning is almost over. Can't wait!

A Frantic Journey to Cheesecake

I had to travel home for my grandmother's funeral and was gone for two days (it was a teary trip, but we all know she is much happier in her perfect body). This meant Cheesecake Friday became Cheesecake Saturday. And Cheesecake Saturday was filled to the brim! I landed in RIC at 9am, then rushed to Evan's house to change and clean up, then off to a bridal shower at 10! I wasn't even late, which was awesome!! Then I went and got some wedding stuff done, including looking at wedding bands. unfortunately Evan was sick with a terrible cold so he couldn't come. However, I managed to coax him out with chicken noodle soup and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. Then I drug him back to the jeweler's to look at rings and get his size. It was a full Saturday for sure.

Anyhow, on to the review!

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake.

Usually, I avoid vanilla flavor at all costs. It is kind of like eating white bread for me. Plain, boring, lacking. However, this was a great combination. It made the cheesecake a little lighter, both in texture and taste. I thoroughly enjoyed it as did Evan and Mom.

One thing I am getting from this adventure through the list of cheesecakes (besides a calorie overload every weekend) is the bravery to choose things I would not normally choose. Flavors I find boring, or plain, or too outrageous are now on my list of must haves.

So, I am more exhausted than normal. I think it is time I turn away from the computer and toward getting ready for finals week!

Good luck to all of you studying out there!

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.