Thursday, October 5, 2017

{Write 31 Days} Family Tradition?



One of the writing prompts for Write 31 days asks for my "favorite family tradition." Really, who can choose a favorite of those?? 

It may not exactly be a family tradition, but there is one thing I am thankful for EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. and that is music. I'm pretty sure I have my Dad to thank for that. I just don't remember a time in my life when I wasn't hearing music.  In the beginning, it was my Dad's favorites that we listened to.   I could make a list of the artists I heard through my childhood from the record player and Daddy's large vinyl collection (or the oldies station).  

Here's what I can remember:
Elvis Presley
Righteous Brothers
Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Kenny Rogers (I think this was mostly for my Mom :-) ) 
Buddy Holly
The Four Seasons
Fats Domino
Bobby Darin
Chuck Berry 
The Drifters
Ritchie Valens
Dion & The Belmonts
The Everly Brothers
Bing Crosby's Christmas Album

I'm sure there are so many more because he had 8 tracks, vinyl albums, and cassettes.  

My mom has told me most of my life how much I always  loved music.  Apparently, I used to walk around the house singing Crystal Gayle's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" when I was less than 2 years old. I don't remember that, of course, but it's a great story.


These days, one of the things I love most about my Amazon Prime membership is access to music and custom radio stations. It's really great when we're on vacation and I'm in a different musical mood everyday.  Today I wore my Elvis shirt, so I looked up an Elvis station on Amazon music.  AND what do you know?! There they all were: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, The Drifters, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dusty Springfield (I think the lone female artist that came up in the mix). Just listening to this station as I got ready to go today was a stroll down memory lane.  It was like the soundtrack of my childhood! It made me think of ways I might be able to share it with my Dad. (I can't say too much about that because it has me thinking on what I can get him for Christmas.)

Looking back, I remember how much I hated that the car radio was always tuned to Oldies 100.7.  I couldn't understand why we couldn't listen to "regular" music.  As much as a contradiction as it now seems, elementary school for me was equal parts New Edition, Madonna, and Whitney Houston with "Suspicious Minds," "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," and "Rockin' Robin" mixed in.
These days, I wouldn't have it any other way!

I realize that not everyone is as moved by music as I am.  Even so, I've begun teaching my kids about some great music and artists from before their times.  My kids love Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, but also recognize some Elvis, Hall & Oats, and *maybe* Michael Jackson. 
 As we ate dinner at a local pizza place tonight the song "The Day the Music Died" by Don McLean. I briefly told my kids about the plane crash that killed Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and "The Big Bopper," inspiring the song. 


I think that's the reason music means so much for me: there's a story behind it and there are memories tied to it.  It's amazing how a song can just take me back to a different time when I used to listen to it or hear it all the time.  Sometimes if I close my eyes, I can almost feel what it felt like so many years ago when that same song played.

I know a lot of people are mourning the loss of Tom Petty right now.  It is a terrible and tragic loss and maybe that's another reason music has been such a theme for me today and yesterday. I'm not sure.
My kids don't know who Tom Petty is; I'm not sure I'm ready to explain "Last Dance with Mary Jane," you know?!

What about you? Do you have music that when you hear it instantly takes you back to another time? Isn't it great to have something so simple to evoke fond memories?!

P.S.  And just in case you thought Alan Jackson was the first to record "Summertime Blues," think again! Eddie Cochran originally recorded that song in 1958. I heard it today.

P.S.S.  If you've never really listened to the lyrics of "Shake, Rattle, & Roll," you should do it.  It might shock you! I was a little offended today but I don't want to spoil it for you :-)

 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Grace Covers...Unfair Comparisons


Less than. Greater than.

Equal. Not equal.

When you're talking about math, comparisons are a must. As I walk my son through 4th grade Saxon math, comparisons are where we are. He already understands the concept, but as with all concepts, mastery improves with continued practice.


Photo credit to my daughter




All around me, different kinds of comparisons are raging. Judgments are flying. Comparisons based on color, ethnicity, religious belief, socioeconomic status, educational choice, politics, etc, etc., run rampant in our society.
It isn't really a compare & contrast situation like I learned in elementary school.
Not so much a "one of these things is not like the other," situation.
Not even "how are these things alike & how are they different?" It seems all we can see are differences & we don't often see them as good.

In the past, I remember discussion, disagreement, & debate being a good thing. Something to practice.
I can remember debating sides of an issue with friends over lunch in high school. We often disagreed. No one ever won, & no one ever lost. We remained friends even with different opinions on the same subject. 



Why is it in today's society, we constantly feel the need to compare? It's almost like we have to "one-up" everyone all the time.
"You think you had a bad day? Well let me tell you about mine!"
"You think you're busy? You won't believe my schedule!"

I think women, more so than men, tend to compare ourselves to other women.
"She has it all together."
"She & her husband look so happy together."
"Her kids are so well behaved! Why can't mine be like that?" 





Life has cautioned me a lot about comparisons lately. 


You see, I'd been feeling a little sorry for myself. 


In mid-June, at my annual physical, a sizable nodule was discovered on my thyroid. Additional blood tests were ordered to access my thyroid function, & I was referred for an ultrasound of my thyroid.
In early July, the ultrasound revealed I had not one, not two, not three, but at least 4 thyroid nodules spanning both lobes of my thyroid. As the endocrinologist explained later in July, my thyroid is enlarged to roughly twice the size it should be. A biopsy was ordered to rule out cancer & try to find out why my thyroid was so enlarged.
In the meantime, I repeated the thyroid bloodwork panel, twice.
All three panels showed all my thyroid numbers in normal range: T3, T4, TSH, TPO...all good; every time.

So I waited...a lot. It took 2+ weeks to get an appointment for the biopsy. Once I had it done (ouch!), it took 2 1/2 more weeks to get the results.
Patience is not my strength.

I made my husband go with me for the results. Thankfully, it was not cancer. In fact, I didn't even get the other possible diagnosis, Hashimoto's disease.
Because my thyroid appears to be functioning normally & my biopsy showed a clean pathology report, I can't actually get an official diagnosis. I can just say I have thyroid disease & I go back every 6 months for follow ups. 

All is not well, as I'm still experiencing cycles of extreme fatigue & lots of hair loss. I'm working on correcting these issues with natural supplements, real food, & dietary changes. Time will tell, I guess. Overall, I'm still feeling much better on all fronts - physical, emotional, spiritual - than I was 8-9 months ago. 

 


Unbeknownst to me, a dear friend had been going through a similar journey. During an MRI for a bulging disk in her neck, someone spotted a nodule on her thyroid. She went through an ultrasound, endocrinologist appointments, & a biopsy just like I did. On the same day I went for my biopsy results, August 21, she went for hers.

Because my results had gotten pushed back an extra 5 days (they weren't back from the lab on my original appointment day), I'd gotten worried that my results revealed cancer, or at least, were indeterminate (a whole other issue in itself).
My friend was pretty sure she was going to find out her results were benign. But she didn't. Instead, she got the shocking news that at 33 years old, she has thyroid cancer.
Her doctor gave her options, but together they arrived at the decision to remove her entire thyroid in September.
I haven't heard from her since then, but I'm praying there is no metastasis of the cancer and that the thyroidectomy is all that's needed for immediate treatment.

This situation taught me a lot.


First, don't lose touch with your girl friends. Not even for a few weeks or months. My friend had moved from an address 5 minutes away from mine, to an address 30+ minutes away. It sounds silly, but it definitely makes a difference not having her "right down the road."
Life goes on; life flies by.  We're both busy homeschooling Moms & the last time we actually talked or saw each other was in May. In just 2-3 short months, both our lives changed drastically and I had no idea until I got her text.
Because her surgery was coming quickly after her diagnosis, she apologized for the news by text, but sent it to me that way. That text prompted a phone call where we immediately caught up! I wish it hadn't taken such a big event for me to make that call. 




Secondly, you never know what someone is going through. You can't read the news on someone's forehead: 

  • I couldn't sleep last night because my marriage feels shaky.
  • I couldn't sleep last night because our debt is so high.
  • Not sure how we're going to pay the bills this month.
  • I just got devastating news from my doctor/my Mom's doctor/my husband's doctor, etc.

We forget so often that the person who just cut us off in traffic, is human too.  They might be having the worst day of their lives and instead of compassion being our first response, we only think of ourselves and how THEY just inconvenienced ME.




Lastly, don't OVER-estimate your own challenges.  I saw a quote one time that said if we all threw our worries and burdens in a pile, once we saw other people's challenges, we'd quickly grab our own back.  Because when it comes down to it, we don't ever know exactly what someone else is going through.  It's easy to be all "woe is me," until we see someone else is experiencing something far more difficult.  And what it boils down to is this: God can help us grow through life's challenges.  But the growth journey meant for me, isn't meant for my husband or my best girl friend.  My friend's journey, which might seem easier than mine, isn't meant for me. 

Yesterday, I had to remind my daughter (who's 13 now! How did that happen?), that comparing yourself to others doesn't make sense and it only serves to make you forget what you've accomplished.  She ran a Cross Country race with approximately 170 other middle school girls and could only see her NUMBER.  

Where she fell in line.  

How she compared to everyone else. 

She couldn't focus on her own pacing; the fact that it was crazy hot yesterday (almost 90 degrees); and the fact that the course was uphill for at least half the distance. 

She forgot that until June, she wasn't even a runner! She has come so far in a few short months, and is actually the fastest middle school girl on her team. 
She couldn't see any of that past the comparison she was making.
I'm learning about self-comparison too lately.  Sometimes comparing myself to myself isn't the best practice either. If I compare my current self to the person I was even 9 months ago, it's an unfair comparison, knowing what I know today.

I love the little lessons in grace that constantly come my way, and here recently, they've been very personal lessons.  Reminders to give myself grace and in turn bestow it on others.  I really hope I'm doing a good job of teaching that to my kids. Now that Sweetpea is a teenager, I'm noting the greater importance of setting realistic examples for her.  I so want to model grace for her as she grows!  Not grace (poise) the world recognizes on the outside, but the grace that comes from within.  The God-given grace we've been given and can hopefully then extend to others. 

Because GRACE is an amazing multiplier and we are all GREATER than the sum of our parts.  

Or our challenges.  
Or our flaws and shortcomings.  
Or our "issues."

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."  2 Peter 1:2 





Thursday, May 11, 2017

It Is Well...and so am I


"They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul..."
{From Even If, by Mercy Me}



When I was a kid, I can remember hearing these words a lot…
“You’re going to do great things…”
“God has great things in store for you…” or “God has great plans for you…”
“You are so smart! You can do anything you want when you grow up…”

I’m sure there were more variations of this, but these are the ones I remember.

At the risk of making you think I’m bragging, I’m going to go a little further with this.

A few months before my 5th birthday (maybe only one month, but close), I became a Christian.  I’d met with the pastor of our church at least once (seems like more than that) & I absolutely felt the Lord tugging at my heart. I knew I was a sinner in need of a Savior, & while I was scared and shaking, I knew I had to walk that aisle & make that commitment.
My Mom had told me she would meet me at the altar, but that I had to make that walk by myself.  If I was old enough to make such a big decision, I was big enough to walk down to the altar on my own.


Photo Credit

I remember some of the details while others are blurry. 
For most of my Christian life after this, I too felt like God must’ve had great plans for me. After all, why else would he "call" me at such a young age?

I was mostly a good kid; I tried to be honest; I tried to be fair; I did well in school & mostly stayed out of trouble.  But as I got older, I began to let other people & situations influence me in ways I shouldn’t have.  I now know that I was born a “people pleaser,” & it really bothered me when people didn’t like me.  I wanted to be accepted…approved…appreciated…applauded (though not in the way that may sound).  I’m a complicated personality, because I’m an introvert but there are times when I need praise, even if I prefer private over public.

I’m not sure if I truly didn’t get that kind of attention I was seeking as a child or if the lack of it was simply perceived. I do know that at some point, I began to seek it from the wrong sources; friends, sometimes the wrong ones, & definitely boys (also the wrong ones in many cases).  Anyone who made me feel important – pretty – wanted – special – was who I spent my time with.  


They say hindsight is 20/20.  I see now that I spent so much time with other people that I was almost never truly alone.  At least not in a way that I could discover who I was on my own.  Somehow, as a young child, I’d decided I didn’t like myself very much.  Even though I was mostly a good kid, I carried a huge burden of guilt for every little thing I’d ever done “bad.” Every lie I told, every time I hurt one of my brothers (intentional or accidental), anything I hid from my parents, wrong answers in class or on a test – literally any little wrong I committed, I remembered & they haunted me.  God gifted me with an amazing memory; while I consider that to be mostly a blessing, there are parts of that blessing, I’d like to leave behind.

At some points, I was so afraid that other people would find out I was a fraud, that I just tried harder to be someone else.  I tried to be whomever I thought they wanted me to be.  If I was with preppy/popular kids, I tried to act & talk like them.  If I was with the punk rock / heavy metal kids, I tried to have an “edge” so I would look cool to them.  If I was with friends from church, I tried to appear as “good” as possible. If I wasn't quite sure, I'd be mostly quiet & hope I appeared mysterious.

I praise God for the handful of friends who really knew me.  The ones who stuck with me long enough to see through the façade.  It was a blessing to get to be myself (whoever that was) with a few people.



Why am I thinking about & talking about this now? I haven’t written in this space in quite some time.  There are a lot of good reasons for that & I can’t explain them all right now.  What I can say is that the need for approval from others still plays a ridiculously large role in my life.
The last two years have been the most difficult & trying of my life so far.  The BIG personal tragedy was the death of my father in law in late 2015; but on top of that many small hardships piled on until I felt like I was being buried alive.  

That’s another story for another day, but I use it as a vehicle to say this…no matter how desperate I was to journal my feelings, I was just as desperate to keep people from knowing what I was going through and feeling.  I was so paranoid about it, that I wouldn't write anywhere for fear someone,  sometime would find it & read it.
I lead a small group women’s bible study, what would they think if I actually said aloud some of the
fears I had? Some of the things I thought to myself?! Some of the feelings I was having were just so  heavy & I couldn't imagine confiding them to anyone for fear of being judged. I felt like my faith must be minuscule if I was allowing myself to feel this way rather than trust God for healing.

For whatever reason, during this time, I had people tell me that I always looked “put together.” I didn’t know what to make of that when, on the inside, I felt completely unglued.  I felt shattered & cracked and like my internal ugliness was literally spilling through the cracks.

With each new hardship, the dark cloud I was walking under grew blacker and darker.  Looking back now, I feel like I’d covered myself with a cape and hood of the blackest black.  I was hiding and trying hard not to let anyone actually “see me.” I guess I did a good job of hiding, because I continued to get those remarks about being put together. 




It feels ridiculous that at 40 and 41, I had reverted to the same façade I wore in high school.  I’m pretty sure even my husband didn’t know how deeply depressed and hurting I was. 
Part of what clued ME in to how deeply depressed I was, actually came very recently. 
After Christmas, I changed the way I was eating and eliminated a lot of toxic foods from my diet – sugar, grains, soy, artificial sweeteners, etc.  It wasn’t until I started to realize how much better I felt, that I also realized how bad I'd been. 

Since then I've read more about how mental illness & depression, among other things, starts in the gut. When your gut & digestive systems aren't healthy, it can cause a multitude of other issues in your body. I'm sure this was key for me, and I feel I've started to heal in multiple ways.

This morning** as I prepared for my weekly bible study meeting, I had to do some hard homework. The study had us draw a personal timeline; it had my birth and current points in time on it with a line in between. I was supposed to draw a cross at the point of my salvation & then notate other highlights of my Christian life. It wasn't lost on me that though God tugged on my heart at such a young age, most of the following 36+ years haven't been very full. I'm not dumb enough to think I've literally done nothing, but compared to that hope that God had big plans for me...the timeline seems a little sparse.

My timeline included 5 people who have been key in my spiritual journey. That part was easy.
What was harder was trying to find 5 people who I may have influenced in the same way. 
I'm not sure there are 5, to be honest. 



This particular bible study (Entrusted, by Beth Moore) is making me feel like my spiritual life is about to change paths. I don't really even know what that means, & I'm not sure I could put the feeling into words, but I have to tell you, it's unsettling. It's an odd feeling. I feel the need to say, "yes, Lord," but truly don't even know what exactly I'm saying yes to. I'm simply agreeing to be a vehicle for His plan.

This recent season of hard, & dark, & deep has tested me. It's tested my faith, but more, it's tested my confidence in my faith. It's made me ask myself, no matter what, can I truly still choose to worship? Can I truly still say, "it is well with my soul," when I'm physically unwell & my life seems a mess?
I know it's the right thing to do & I hope no matter what, I can have that response. But I've definitely wondered. 

This song is a current favorite and I love the testimony at the beginning...




I'm so grateful for a few close Christian sisters whose presence in my life lent an accountability they weren't even aware of. Just knowing what they WOULD say to me had I confided in them, gave me enough buoyancy to keep from sinking further on some days. I know they have my back. I know they all have traveling their own rough roads. 

I'm also grateful that God created me with an intense love for music. Praise & worship music has literally been my saving grace on more days than I can count. 
I absolutely believe that God sent me songs like "Thy Will" and the one above to remind me that "even if, "the hard times continue, I should remember that He has a plan for me. That His will for my life, is better than one I could've picked for myself. And that I can CHOOSE to say, it is well with my soul. 

I've realized that I have to put myself first sometimes, or I'm no good to anyone else. Not my kids or my husband, my bible study group, or lost people who need Jesus. I'm not saying that my health accounts for 36+ years of my life when I feel like I could've better lived Gods plan for me. I am saying that inner wellness has so changed me in a few months, that I feel the next 36+ years of my life will be different.
I don't want earthly accolades for surviving tough times. Everyone has those & most of us survive them. What I want is to know I've done my best with the gifts God blessed me with. I want Him to say, "well done, my good & faithful servant."

I'm not worthy of that just yet, but I will be.

If any part of sharing this can help someone else, I'm glad I did it. I definitely felt led to share, because being transparent is hard and I wouldn't choose it on my own. It requires a vulnerability that makes me terribly uncomfortable, but that's another reason I think I'm supposed to.  I want Christians and non-Christians alike to know that this walk with Jesus is blessed & it can be sweet, but it isn't always easy.

And that's ok and so am I.






Photo Credit     

*I found Armed with Truth just before this past Christmas & recently discovered their "Designer Tattoos." Phrases like "Thy Will be Done," "Be Still," & "It Is Well" were so appropriate for me in this season.  My kid who I thought would think they were "uncool" has really enjoyed them and applies them himself.  I bet your kids would love them too!
 
**I wrote this post over a week ago and it took me this long to feel comfortable with posting it. 😆

Friday, March 10, 2017

Grain-free, Sugar-free Turtle Cheesecake in the Instant Pot


This is not a food blog and I don't normally post recipes here.  I also realize I haven't written in a really long time - that's another story for another day 😀.   Several people have asked for this recipe and this was the easiest way for me to share it, so here it is!


Instant Pot Turtle Cheesecake (Grain Free, Sugar Free)
This recipe was made in a 6 inch diameter, 3 inch deep, push-bottom cheesecake pan (this is the exact one I have).

If you plan to make this in a standard pie pan or tart pan, you’ll need to double the crust portion of the recipe.  The filling may or may not completely fit in a standard depth pie or tart pan.

I made this in a pressure cooker; I have no idea how long to bake this in the oven. From what I've read about baking cheesecakes, it's best to cook them in a water bath, low and slow (low temperature for a long time).

Crust:
¾ Cup Fine Ground Almond Flour (I used Wellbee's)
3 T good quality cocoa powder (I like Rapunzel)
2 rounded Tablespoons Swerve Confectioners sweetener
2-3 T melted butter (2 is enough to bind the crust ingredients, but 3 makes it more fudgey)

Filling:
20 oz regular cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup regular sour cream, room temperature
½ cup sugar or other granulated sweetener (I used a combo of Swerve, Xylitol, & Stevia)
½ tsp pure Vanilla extract (I beg you - do not use imitation!)
2 eggs, room temperature
1 egg yolk, room temperature
about ¼ cup caramel sauce (recipe link and tips follows)

Caramel Sauce * (All Day I Dream About Food - Best Low Carb Caramel Sauce)

optional fillings and toppings:
Lily's brand dark chocolate chips
toasted pecans
additional caramel sauce


* I discovered this caramel sauce on her site a year (maybe 2) ago and have made it MANY times. It has always worked for me and therefore I couldn’t bear to try something else in my Turtle Cheesecake recipe! I use equal parts of Coconut Sugar and Unsulphured Molasses in mine, but in most recipes, I do not add the extra salt to make it a true “salted caramel.” If you are following a Keto diet, the Coconut Sugar and Molasses are NOT Keto ingredients; HOWEVER, since the caramel sauce makes about 1 ¼ Cups and there is only 1 Tablespoon of each of those ingredients, I see no harm in it.  The carbs are still quite low, and a serving of the sauce is 2 Tablespoons, but 1 T. is really enough to drizzle over your cheesecake slice.  So unless you plan to DRINK the sauce, I don’t believe this recipe is something that would stall weight loss or throw you out of Ketosis.*

1.) In a small mixing bowl, combine all DRY crust ingredients.  Whisk or toss with a fork to combine and break up any lumps, before adding melted butter.  Add butter and mix well until butter is uniformly distributed.  I recommend a light spritz of a coconut oil spray or otherwise greasing your cheesecake pan, so the crust releases without issue. Press crust into prepared pan, going partially up sides for a thinner crust , or keeping all in the bottom for a slightly thicker crust.   

Technically, you do not have to prebake this crust, but I like to.  Put it in the oven at 350° for about 10 minutes (if you’re doing a full size pie/tart, you may need longer).  In my opinion, this makes the crust sturdier to better support the filling.  It also keeps it from getting soggy during the cooking process.

2.) While the crust bakes, start your caramel sauce. When finished, set aside to cool.

3.) In a large mixing bowl or a food processor, cream together cream cheese, sour cream, sweetener, and vanilla, until smooth.  If you start with cream cheese that is not room temperature, your cheesecake will be lumpy!

4.) Once you have a very smooth texture, add your eggs and egg yolk ONE AT A TIME. Pulse or mix briefly after each addition; you do not want to over mix the eggs.  In fact, you may still see some yellow around the edges of the bowl after the final yolk addition, and that’s okay.

5.) Pour HALF of your filling into your pan and smooth out surface.  Pour or scoop up to ¼ Cup of the caramel sauce randomly over the cheesecake surface.  {You want to be using room temperature caramel sauce here, not too warm, but definitely not too cooled.) Using a long toothpick, cake tester, or butter knife, swirl the caramel sauce into the cheesecake batter.
I also sprinkled one serving of Lily’s (Stevia sweetened) Chocolate Chips over the surface of the batter.  Add the remaining cheesecake batter to the pan, smoothing the surface (in the Fat Daddio pan I used, there was still 1/2 to 3/4 inch clearance of the pan over the top of the filling).  Tap the pan gently on the counter or stovetop to help release any air bubbles in the filling.

Instant Pot, IP-DUO, 6 Quart

**If using a pressure cooker (I have an Instant Pot IP–DUO, 6 quart electric pressure cooker), survey your set-up.  You’ll need a trivet to hold your cheesecake pan up from the bottom of your cooking liner.  You may also need to make a foil “sling” to go under your cheesecake pan during cooking which makes the removal of the finished cheesecake easier.  (A foil sling is just a long piece of aluminum foil, folded lengthwise into thirds or fourths to reinforce it and make it more like a strap. It should go underneath your cheesecake pan and come up high enough on each side that you can easily grasp it and lift the entire cheesecake out after cooking.)

The trivet that came with my Instant Pot has long handles, and my cheesecake pan has enough space on each side that I can just remove it with the trivet.  Just be careful doing this, as the trivet can also get hot during cooking.  Usually after a natural pressure release, it has cooled enough for me to touch it.  Otherwise, use an oven mitt or other protection for your hands. 

You will also want to cover your cheesecake pan snuggly with aluminum foil; this is to keep water from accumulating on the surface of the cheesecake. **

this is my trivet and cheesecake pan inside my instant pot

a little difficult to see in the picture, but the handle to my trivet comes up over the top of the pan by almost an inch, making it easy to lift both the trivet and the cheesecake pan out of the instant pot at the end of the cook cycle.


6.) Put your trivet and/or foil sling, and cheesecake pan into the pressure cooker and secure the lid in place, turning the pressure valve to “seal.” Use the manual feature to cook the cheesecake at high pressure for 50 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for at least 20 minutes or until the pin drops indicating the pot is depressurized.   

7.) Open the pot and check the cheesecake; you will likely need to lift it completely out and onto another flat surface to do this.  If there is water on the surface of the cheesecake, tilt the pan and use a papertowel to soak it up.   
The cheesecake should not still be wet.  If it is, you will need to return it to the Instant Pot for additional cooking.  I recommend 3-5 minute increments to make sure you don’t overcook it; allowing for a natural pressure release each time.  For me the NPR was only 10 minutes or less after these small additional cooking times.
If the cheesecake jiggles a little in the center (no more than a 1 inch diameter), it is done and will finish setting during the cooling and chilling process.  

8.) Allow to cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before refrigerating.  I recommend refrigerating overnight; 4 hours is a bare minimum.  You can remove the cheesecake from the push pan after the first hour in the fridge,  or wait until you’re ready to transfer it to a cake plate or platter. I find it helpful to loosen the sides and crust with a butter knife before pushing up on the bottom of the pan.

9.) When you are ready to serve the cheesecake, warm additional Caramel Sauce and/or Lily's Chocolate Chips (for 2 servings of chips I use 1/2 tsp butter  - not margarine - and 1/2 tsp coconut oil.  Heat slowly and stir every 15-20 seconds, especially if using a microwave).  Drizzle caramel and melted chocolate over cheesecake. 

10.) Garnish with toasted pecan halves or pieces.  Because the pan I used is so tall, the cheesecake is also tall.  It was easily divided into 8 tall slices and no one complained about them being too small. In fact, a couple of people couldn't finish their slice 😊



I hope you enjoy this recipe! I have loved using my Instant Pot since I got it for Christmas.  Although this was the first time I made a cheesecake with this flavor combination, I have made several cheesecakes now and can't see ever going back to baking them in the oven.  In my honest opinion, the pressure cooker gives the best texture - somewhere in between a traditional New York style cheesecake and the super-creamy, no-bake varieties I grew up with.