Pecan Praline Crusted Cheesecake

Have you ever had your butt whooped by (3) 60 inch televisions?  Well I have my people!! Let me tell you how that went down, because it was a full body work-out by the time I got a new TV in my house.

Picture this – It’s a gorgeous Saturday in sunny Southern California.  You and your hubby have decided that it’s time to upgrade the old boob tube.  No more burning images into the TV when you pause it, upgrade city in the house sha-fizzle whizzle.

We arrive at Best Buy with our two kids, who will not behave by the way.  Did I care that they were running wild???? Heck no, I was blinded by all the beautiful televisions!  I kept my eyes on the kids while the old ball and chain was put in charge of the TV selection.  

So he selects the television and it just so happens to be the floor model, not only is it huge, but it’s highly discounted.  We high five ourselves for being thrifty and then pack that bitch up in the car.  We’re so high on technology we even splurge on some burgers and fries before coming home.

So now we’re at home, we’re full, happy, and ready to mount the beautiful beast.  So after 2 hours of removing the old TV and refitting the new TV to be wall mounted, we hang it up, we hang it up and admire the deep gauge running across its screen.  This is when I almost cried.  I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those people where pretty much nothing goes right the first time!

So now we have to re-pack the beast and load it back into the car, to take it back to Best Buy.  Thankfully they take it right back, believe me I was super stressing.  Hubby brings back a new TV, which takes another 2 hours to mount since every freaking TV requires different sized screws to be wall mounted.  

That night we plan on breaking it in with Breaking Bad and that’s when we realize that the picture quality is that of something made 50 years ago.  I suffered in silence through the first episode of Breaking Bad and then I blurted out “I hate this TV, please take it back!!!”  Husband looked at me in agreement, the sad teary eyes of agreement.  Round three was coming.  The people at Best Buy would probably be suspicious at this point!

So, the next day my angel of a husband takes this one back, after the 1 hour re-packing of it – try getting a 60 inch TV back into the box you ripped apart.  He gets it back to Best Buy and thank the lord they took this one back too.  

The husband then picked out our 3^rd, yes 3^rd TV in 2 days.  He brings it home, we both sacrifice a few animals over the box for good measure and ............SUCCESS!

Yes I do realize this is one of those first world kind of problems.

By the way this cheesecake will make your butt grow 60 inches, this is NO LIE - but dang is it pretty.

Ingredients (Original Recipe Here)

• 2 cups crushed shortbread cookies
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 1/2 cup chopped Pecan Pralines (Trader Joe's)
• 5 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 2 (8-ounce) containers sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• Pecan Pralines for Garnish
• *You can also make your own Pralines*

Directions

Combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into bottom and up sides of a greased 10-inch spring form pan.Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle coarsely crumbled Pralines over crust.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 3/4 cups sugar, flour, and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Stir in whipping cream and lemon rind. Pour in crust. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 350° on lower oven rack 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325,° and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until almost set. Cool on wire rack 1 hour.

Stir together sour cream and 1/3 cup sugar; spread over cheesecake.

Bake at 325° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill 8 hours. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with extra Pecan Pralines