CHOCOLATE MUD CHEESECAKE & HOMELESS BLOGGERS

Ingredients

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• Harris Teeter
• 120 Saint Albans Dr Ste 100
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• Food Lion
• 5426 Six Forks Rd
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• CVS
• 3500 Wake Forest Rd
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• Walgreens
• 4309 Wake Forest Rd
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• Walmart
• 1725 New Hope Church Rd
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• Kroger
• 350 E Six Forks Rd Ste A
• RALEIGH, NC 27609

• Lowes Foods
• 2900 E Millbrook Rd
• RALEIGH, NC 27604

• Big Kmart
• 6200 Capital Blvd
• RALEIGH, NC 27616

• Crust:
• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed animal cracker cookies
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• Cheesecake:
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  Philadelphia Cream Cheese Original 
   

  
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• Topping:
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  Nestle Toll House Morsels Semi-Sweet 

  
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup marshmallow creme
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• Add all ingredients to list

Directions

Print 

• Prep
  40 m
• Cook
  4 h 20 m
• Ready In
  10 h

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
2. Mix together the animal cracker crumbs, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and mix until evenly moistened. Press into the prepared springform pan and set aside.
3. To make the filling, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, the cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons instant coffee, and the cornstarch in the bowl of an electric mixer; stir until blended. Add the softened cream cheese and beat until the sugar mixture has been incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding the vanilla extract with the last egg. Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, then pour into the prepared crust.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) and continue baking 2 hours. Turn off the oven, and let the cheesecake stand in the oven for 2 hours more before opening the door. Remove and cool to room temperature.
5. Once the cheesecake has cooled, melt the chocolate chips and milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan, and spread the marshmallow cream evenly over the top. Spread or drizzle the chocolate over the marshmallow cream and sprinkle 1/4 cup of chopped pecans overtop. Chill completely before serving.  Thanks to Allrecipes for this tasty chocolate treat!

When we think of those who are homeless, disheveled clothing, body odors, cups for handouts, or sign holding is what comes to mind.  But did you know that according to the National Health Care for Homeless Council, the true definition of homelessness is this: "A homeless individual is defined in section 330(h)(5)(A) as “an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing.” A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation. [Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C., 254b)] An individual may be considered to be homeless if that person is “doubled up,” a term that refers to a situation where individuals are unable to maintain their housing situation and are forced to stay with a series of friends and/or extended family members. In addition, previously homeless individuals who are to be released from a prison or a hospital may be considered homeless if they do not have a stable housing situation to which they can return." 

With that definition, you may be surprised to know that the people you work with, meet in the pharmacy, or see sitting in a supermarket parking lot, are actually homeless and hungry.  So that means that some of the bloggers you know may be using the library, McDonald's or other places to blog every day, but could be living in their car, sleeping on someone's couch, or in a shelter. Some even have kids that need to get to school on a daily basis.But somehow, something drives them to keep blogging and focusing on the positive, no matter what.

Sadly, the people who end up in this type of situation are more embarrassed than you can imagine, and they're often looked down upon.  Many are ill. Even if they're lucky enough to live with a relative or friend for a short period of time, they're considered to be the black sheep of the family, ridiculed and treated differently.  The showers they've been accustomed to taking is a thing of the past. They can't find a job, they've left abusive relationships, they're veterans who are unable to get back on track, or they can't take the nonsupport of family who profess to be helping. Just because you see them blogging, does not mean they are okay. They feel alone, frustrated and unloved. On holidays they'll read about families who are enjoying a good meal, or watching movies on television.  This is the plight of the homeless.