our valentines day.

we love love.
and love to celebrate in a very traditional way.
roses (8 because this is our 8th valentines day),
chocolates,
a dinner date. (side note: i realized last night that the style of date we went on is what i grew up dreaming dates would be, like ones my parents went on. probably to the same restaurant, in fact. quiet, candle lite. it was just perfect.)

a perhaps lesser known fact about shawn is that he is very romantic. and creative.
i had a worksheet of questions to answer throughout the day (he had the same ones) & then we compared answers, memories, funny stories, etc.

i am much less creative (and i suppose romantic, ha!) but i can bake.
and i can bake shawns favorite dessert.
in minis.

mini cheesecake

combine for crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/2 packages of cream cheese (12 total ounces)
1/s cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted & cooled
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

cream sugar & cream cheese. 
add egg, beat well.
stop the mixer & scrape the sides.
add butter & vanilla.
mix until fluffy.

in a cupcake tin, add liners & use 1 tablespoon of graham cracker crust.
pat down & add your filling, about 3/4 full (i used a soup spoon).

bake at 300 for 30 minutes.
let cool for 5 minutes.
top with a mixture of 8 oz sour cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
spread on top of cheesecake & bake for an additional 7 minutes.

refrigerate.
makes 12.

my valentine from bentley! (thanks, andrea!)