It was Charlie’s birthday, and the boys always get to choose what kind of dessert they want.  When we had gone out to dinner a few weeks ago, he had gotten cheesecake and loved it, so… Cheesecake it was.  He is my fellow peanut butter lover (I have it everyday in some way, shape, or form!), so I suggested a peanut butter cheesecake~SOLD!  I remembered my mom making one when I was little, and I was pretty sure she sent me the recipe at some point~she did!

A few things that mark a GREAT recipe from my mom…

1. It’s got her handwriting on it suggesting changes to the recipe

2. The recipe has food stains on it  🙂

3. It’s from Bon Appetit 1982! Love it!

The crust was a bit of a happy accident.  It originally called for vanilla wafers, but you can see my mom scratched it out and put chocolate wafers.  Well, I always follow the handwritten notes~they are tried and true!  I couldn’t find just chocolate wafers at the store, so I got the combo pack that showed chocolate and vanilla.  I found out that they HID the strawberry flavored ones after I opened the package… This probably would have been a bigger hit if it was a cheesecake for a girl, but I played it off that it was meant to be a PB & Jelly cheesecake.  VERY colorful crust…

I’m not sure why or when it started, but every time I open up a jar of peanut butter I make a wish and put a smiley face in the top.  Figured since it was Charlie’s birthday, I should do a little more than a smiley face 🙂

Mmmmmm…final product…and birthday boy 🙂

I’ve been dying to use these paper lanterns from our wedding again, so instead of balloons…

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Here’s the actual recipe in its entirety.  Totally fat and calorie free of course!  🙂