(blue) cheesecakes and chocolate covered raspberries

As you may know, I live in a 13 x 11 foot rectangle. While I have fun cooking in my cozy dormitory quarters, there's just something about having an actual, beautiful, bona fide kitchen to bake in that makes the whole experience so rich and enjoyable. Countertops, an oven, a sink, measuring cups and bowls, a stove, and cupboards may seem like simple amenities, but when you live in an expensive rectangle, they become pretty special. Okay, I exaggerate a little, but really, it is a very rare opportunity for me to have a kitchen to cook in when i'm at school, so when I got the chance to make cheesecakes in a REAL KITCHEN at a wonderful gal's apartment (thanks BDAY!!), I jumped at the chance. I had so much fun, and definitely satisfied my kitchen addiction. We also made chocolate covered raspberries, which you can also make in your dorm!
Turbinado sugar-in-the-raw, mixed with FIVE blocks of cream cheese!
blue food coloring made these little cakes special. We had to use A LOT!
EGGS! in a SINK! I love sinks.
little mini graham cracker crusts - we doubled the recipe, so we were able to make 12 cheesecake cupcakes, an entire cheesecake pie, and another rectangular pan of cheesecake bars! I feel like we quadrupled the recipe! So much cheesecake. But so good.


isn't it beautiful? Here, you can find over 100 cheesecake recipes for any occasion!
Perfection!

IKEA dark chocolate bar: $1. Making chocolate covered raspberries with your friends: priceless
Raspberries: on sale for 99 cents!
the assembly line...
all the raspberries have little chocolate button hats on!
these sweet treats are simple and easy to make, and very elegant! Impress your floormates with these gourmet creations. Or make them just for you. You can be classy all by yourself. :)

Chocolate Covered Raspberries:

1 bar of chocolate (milk, dark chocolate, or otherwise)

1 pint of fresh raspberries, washed and drained

Break the chocolate bar in pieces, and microwave it in intervals of fifteen seconds - stir with a spoon after each interval. I probably microwaved mine for a total of 45 seconds. Make sure you stir the chocolate so it stays glossy and beautiful! Ina Garten says that the trick to glossy chocolate is to stir it often!

Once the chocolate is melted, decorate your raspberries! What I found to be easiest was to take a small spoonful of melted chocolate, and drizzle it on top of the raspberry. Gently set your raspberry on a serving dish and let the chocolate harden. (or sneak a taste when the chocolate is still melty.) YUM.