The biggest problem with writing comedy or humour (for me) is trying to be funny. Chances are, when you actually try to be funny you don't succeed. Humour tends to be impulsive and it works best when it isn't expected.

The funniest stuff isn't someone having an accident or getting hurt. Pain and suffering are not funny. Though people will laugh when they are nervous or upset. Is that really the kind of laugh you, as a writer, are looking for?

Humour works best when it takes us by surprise.

Some books, once read, stick with you for the rest of your life whether you like it or not. I can think of a few which won't leave my mind alone. 'The Most Dangerous Game' (written by Richard Connell) is one of them.

Others include 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' and 'The Lottery', both by Shirley Jackson and 'The Monkey's Paw' (written by W. W. Jacobs) which was a short story I read from a book I found at my Grandparent's house a very long time ago. I still remember the sick feeling of wondering what was at the door. If you have never read it and want a good short story, give it a try.

Did you Read "The Most Dangerous Game"?

'The Most Dangerous Game' is about hunters and being hunted. Which do you think is the most dangerous animal to hunt? Lions, tigers and bears... oh my! Not any of those, according to the book. I don't want to give away the story for anyone who doesn't already know it. But, I can say there has never been an adventure quite like the chase which goes on in this book. The ending leaves you guessing, unless you choose to assume things ended in a better way and leave it at that.

You don't need to be into hunting to enjoy this book. If enjoy is quite the right word. It is not a story for children, though it was a story we were required to read when I was a school kid. The story impacted me - I didn't stay up late to sneak downstairs and watch horror on TV as my brother and one of my sisters did. I liked to avoid the gruesome stuff. I still do. But, there are some stories you need to read, some ideas which should be explored, or at least tempted a little. Not that I'm taking up hunting, not as a sport, not after having read 'The Most Dangerous Game' at least once in my life.

I had the idea for an upsidedown cheesecake. Thinking it would have more fruit and less crust. The crust could be just a sprinkle of a nice crumb on the top. I didn't find a recipe I wanted to try, most were for pineapple upsidedown cheesecake, looking like a flip on an outdated idea with pineapples and cherries. Still, it would be a start to trying the idea with different fruit.

I did find a recipe for apple pie cheesecake which looks really good. I only wonder how the pie crust on the bottom is cooked, and not burnt. I think that would be the tricky part. I will try the recipe sometime with my niece. Leaving myself the link and the recipe here so I know where to get it.

APPLES: The best apples to use for baking include Honey Crisp or Granny Smith. Apples should be peeled and sliced.

CHEESECAKE: Just like our homemade cheesecake, this layer needs just 4 ingredients. Cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, and eggs. Simply mix and pour.

Cheesecake:

• 24 ounces cream cheese softened, 3 x 8oz packages
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs, room temperature

Make Cheesecake Layer: Combine cream cheese mixture & fill the pie crust.

Make Apple Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine apple filling. Gently place on top of cream cheese mixture.

Add Crust: Top apples with second pie crust. Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 7 tablespoons unsalted cold butter cubed
• 7 tablespoons shortening cubed
• ⅔ to 1 cup ice cold water

Instructions Combine flour and salt in a large bowl with a whisk. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles the size of peas.

Add ice cold water a tablespoon at a time to one area of the dough and mix with a fork. Move to one side of the bowl and continue adding water just until dough is moistened (you don't want it to be sticky). Once mixed use your hands to quickly and gently fold over the dough a couple of times. Divide into two balls. Roll one of the balls into a 12" circle on a lightly floured surface. Gently roll the dough onto a rolling pin and unroll over a 9" pie pan. Cut the edges so you have about ½" overhang. Crimp the edges and bake according to recipe directions.

Tips for perfect pie crust

• Make sure the butter is COLD for the flakiest crust.
• Use just enough water to hold together.
• Mix only until the fat pieces are pea sized.
• Handle the dough as little as possible.
• If time allows, chill the dough before rolling.

Bake (per recipe below) & serve. VARIATIONS: Sprinkle with a few pecans, and drizzle with this homemade easy caramel sauce. Or, serve with ice cream! Skip the top crust and use an apple crumble topping instead.

Tips for Perfection

• Cream cheese should be softened to room temperature.

• Don’t overmix the cream cheese mixture.

• Ensure the apples are thinly sliced so they cook through.

• Be sure to cut slits in the top crust so that steam can escape.

• For a glossy crust, combine one egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Wisk until combined and brush over the crust.

• Depending on your apples, the pie can sometimes bubble over so place the pie plate on a pan lined with parchment to save my oven any mess.