Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars {Baking with Sisters, Part 7}

Well, friends, the blogging bug bit me today and I realized I haven't shared with you some of the delicious creations my sisters and I tried out when they were here...over a month ago...

Anyway, just to give you a run-down, here is my evaluation of the pass/fail status of each of the dishes we tried (in no particular order):

1) Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars (EPIC SUCCESS! Hence this post- we couldn't stop nibbling at them!)
2) Zucchini Chips (EPIC FAIL...seriously, we ruined two of my cookie sheets)
3) Thai Peanut Sauce Noodles with Veggies and Chicken (MODERATE SUCCESS- veggies were a bit soggier than I had hoped for and the sauce needed something)
4) French Toast Roll-Ups with Nutella and strawberries (SUCCESS- the girls surprised us with these for breakfast and they were to die for!)
5) Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taquitos (SUCCESS- easy, healthy and full of flavor!)
6) Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles (EPIC SUCCESS! Thankfully they took half the batch home with them or I would have been an elephant by the end of the week)
7) Honey Mustard Mozzarella Chicken (EPIC SUCCESS! I think this easy recipe has earned a coveted spot on all our dinner rotations)
8) Braided Cinnamon Wreath (EPIC FAIL/SUCCESS- it was atrociously ugly (not at all like the picture) and the dough was incredibly dense (don't know where we went wrong)...but it tasted good!)
9) Traditional English Crumpets (MODERATE SUCCESS- I'm on the fence about these. They were incredibly salty (could the the 3 tsp be a typo?), but toasted and smothered with jam, they are just the thing to nibble on while watching hours (and I do mean hours) of Downton Abbey)
10) Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas (EPIC SUCCESS- of course almost anything in the taco realm is generally amazing...I used my own recipe for salsa crock-pot chicken which I really should share with you one of these days)

So there you have it. Pretty much our menu for the week. And if you're wondering, yes, I did gain weight.

My lovely sister, Jewelissa, tackling the spreading of the Nutella

But back to the Nutella Bars....oh, my, if you love cheesecake, graham cracker crusts, and Nutella to boot, you will be all over these yummy bars. They're easy too! Or at least I think they were easy. I had 3 helpful young ladies in my kitchen. Oh, well. If you think these look too hard, recruit yourself a few helpful young ladies because seriously, you're going to need someone to help you finish them. Or to state the case more truthfully, you're going to need someone to restrain you from finishing the whole pan yourself. Think of it like a safeguard.

Jessica, looking longingly at bars that still have to cool for. three. hours.

Sally from Sally's Baking Addiction says she thinks the hardest part of these bars is swirling the Nutella (which is rather tongue in cheek since that is not difficult at all really), but I think the hardest part is waiting during the 3 1/2 hrs of chilling time!!!

Oh, and as a side note, Hubby accidently picked up cinnamon flavored grahams for me instead of regular and it added this amazing flavor to the crust! So there's an option for you. Accidental discoveries are the best!

Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars

(printable version)

from Sally's Baking Addiction

makes 16 bars

Crust:

12 full sheet graham crackers, finely crushed (or 1.5 cups crumbs)

6 TB melted unsalted butter

1/3 cup sugar

Filling:

16 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup Nutella, slightly warmed (makes it easier to swirl)

Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8x8 baking pan with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.

Make the Crust:

In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press into lined pan. Bake 5 min. Allow to cool as you prepare the filling.

Make the Filling:

Beat cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla with a hand blender or stand mixer until smooth and creamy, about 3 min. Spoon filling onto the crust and spread out evenly. Drop large spoonfuls of Nutella on top of the filling and swirl gently with a knife.

Bake 30-35 min. or until the cheesecake has set up and the edges are lightly browned. The bars will be very puffy, but will sink slightly as they cool. Allow to cool for 30 min. at room temp. on a wire rack and then chill in the refrigerator at least 3 hours. 

Lift foil out of pan carefully and cut into bars. Store covered in the refrigerator if you have any leftovers (ha!).

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars {Baking with Sisters, Part 6}

When planning our "baking together" menu, the girls and I knew we needed one special treat that would be over the top. As we scrolled through the yummies on our Pinterest boards, the one recipe that kept calling "pick me!" (okay to be honest there were about 20 calling that, but we only had so much time you know!) was the one for Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars.

Do you see why? With such a promising name, along with a scrumptious, caramel-drizzled photo from The Girl Who Ate Everything, how could we resist?

We decided not to.

It may sound like a fall dessert, but you can typically get Granny Smith apples and Hershey's caramel sauce anytime of year in America.

And Starbucks Iced Coffee, apparently...

We've provided chilly weather, dismal outdoor scenes, a cozy indoor environment and four (no make that five with Hubby...or maybe he counts as two...) healthy appetites...who really needs leaves floating down from trees?

Anyway, we decided it sounded perfect, fall or no.

The recipe was perfectly divided into four parts for us- Crust, Cheesecake Filling, Apples, and Streusel Topping. Oh and for the record, my computer is trying to tell me that streusel is not a word. How about substituting "stressful"? Thanks for the help, but no. No Stressful Topping for me, thank you. The thought of the calories is stressful enough. A little more stress sprinkled on top? No. Streusel will be just fine.

See? Streusel. Not Stressful.

But I'm getting off topic.

Working beautifully as a team, of course, we assigned ourselves each a role.

I made the crust...

Jessica manned the KitchenAid (a new experience for her!) to make the cheesecake filling...

Jewelissa chopped the apples and added spices (the girls had a blast with my "amazing" apple peeler!!)...

Armed and dangerous...to apples, of course.

...and Janell ground out a beautiful streusel topping!

Four hands (oh wait, that's eight hands) sure made the load lighter and the time in the kitchen immensely more fun and the bars were assembled in no time! We played cards while it was baking and lovely smells were wafting out of the kitchen before long.

A game of "Nerds", anyone?

Now the recipe advises chilling the bars and serving them cold, and surely you should store them cold, but don't pass up an opportunity to sneak few bites while they are warm! We certainly couldn't wait and practically before the lid was on the caramel jar little (okay, large) warm forkfuls were disappearing.

Conclusion? The layers of buttery crust, creamy, sweet cheesecake, bursts of tart apple and cinnamon and crumbly topping, all finished off with a drizzle of delectable caramel are simply irresistible. Add the fun of goofing off in the kitchen with your three sweet, adorable and silly sisters, and you're in heaven!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

(printable version)

adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

makes about 16 bars

Crust:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:

2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 lg. eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Apples:

3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 TB sugar

Streusel Topping:

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup butter, softened

Drizzle:

1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350.

Crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 pan lined with foil and lightly greased. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cheesecake Filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust, spreading evenly.

Apples: In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, sugar and spices. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.

Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, using a pastry blender or your hands to get everything very well incorporated. Sprinkle over top of apples.

Bake bars 40-45 min. or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve room temperature or cold. Store in refrigerator.

Muddy Buddies {Baking with Sisters, Part 4}

Some of you may remember a 3-part series I did last year called "Baking with Sisters"- well, I'm adding to it! It has become a tradition for my four sisters and I to have a get-together every year (I think this was our fourth year) and no sister time is complete without getting into the kitchen and trying out some new recipes.

In this instance, however, it isn't a new recipe, but rather an old one, and one you likely know well. We call it "Muddy Buddies" but some may know it as "Puppy Chow". This is the original Chex version that we grew up with and it is a classic that holds its own! How can you go wrong mixing creamy peanut butter, smooth chocolate, crunchy cereal and a dusting of powdered sugar? It's the ultimate sweet snack that's perfect paired with a chic flick or a Downton Abbey marathon!

Two of my sisters, of course, fought over who got to "shake the bag" (the fun part!!) so we divided it in half.

If you've never given this classic favorite a try, there's no time like the present to make some culinary memories with your kids (or sisters)! It comes together in a matter of minutes and will certainly satisfy your sweet-tooth snack craving!

Chex Muddy Buddies

(printable version)

from Betty Crocker

makes a lot

9 cups Chex cereal (feel free to mix varieties)

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Measure cereal into a large bowl.

Combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave 1 min. Stir. Microwave about 30 sec. longer or until smooth. Stir in vanilla.

Pour mixture over cereal and stir until evenly coated.

Pour into resealable 2 gal. plastic bag (or two 1 gal. bags). Pour in powdered sugar, seal bag, and shake until all pieces are coated. When cool, store in an airtight container.

21 Scrumptious Cookies and Other Goodies for Christmas

In case you haven't been inundated with enough recipes for Christmas goodies already, I'd like to share a few of my favorites with you!

Apple Pie Bars

Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies

Buckeye Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Cappuccino Fudge

Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Chewy Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies

Chocolate Coffee Cookies

Coffee and Cream Drops

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Minty Frosted Brownies

Nutella Cinnamon Rolls

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Petite Vanilla Scones

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Reese's Peanut Butter Temptations

Soft and Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies

Soft Ginger Cookies

Spiced Baked Cake Donuts

Spritz Cookies

Reese's Peanut Butter Temptations

There was never a truer name for a cookie. Temptation is right.

Be prepared to either gain a few pounds or exercise extreme forms of self-control.

Now that I have duly warned you, you are in for a treat. Packaged up in a delightful wrapping of peanut butter cookie dough, you'll find a miniature melty, of-course-always-amazing-no-matter-how-you-dress-it-up Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Yep. Right there in the middle of a cookie.

Genius, you say? So do I.

I was first introduced to these little gems as a young girl by an older lady on our street named Romayne, who took my siblings and I under her wing as her adopted grand kids. She refers to herself simply as "Grandma Ro" and we are blessed to know her- not only because she is as sweet and grandmotherly as they come, but because she is an amazing cook! After learning that these peanut butter cup cookies earned her accolades at the local county fair, it was with great boldness I asked for the recipe. She was gracious enough to share and I'll be forever grateful! I don't think a Christmas has gone by since then where I have not baked these delectable treats.

You won't regret trying these (unless of course you're on a diet- maybe not even then) for your holiday party or family gathering this year- they're sure to be a hit and may even become your family's new tradition!

Reese's Peanut Butter Temptations

(printable version)

by Hershey's (and Grandma Ro)

makes 40-60 cookies

40-60 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures (make sure you have enough!)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375. Remove wrappers from candies. If desired, line mini muffin cups with paper baking cups. Otherwise, grease lightly.

In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. 

Shape dough into 1 inch balls; place one in each prepared muffin cup. Do not flatten.

Bake 9-10 min. or until puffed and lightly browned; remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup into each cookie. Cool at least 5 minutes in muffin tin, then remove carefully to cool completely.

{Oh-So-Cute} Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Sometimes you just need cute cookies. And most definitely at Christmas. These adorable reindeer cookies deliver the cuteness factor in full force! From their chocolate brown eyes to their shiny red noses, they'll steal your heart away in no time! They are easy-peasy (being just a simple peanut butter cookie dough) and fun to put together! Kids will love helping poke the M & Ms into the cookies (just make sure you help them so they don't burn their fingers!).

If possible, do try and find mini chocolate covered pretzels for the antlers. As you can see from the picture, I did not. I couldn't find any that I thought suitably small, so I opted to try using regular mini pretzels. Unfortunately  there isn't any chocolate "glue" to hold these antlers on, so I improvised by using brown frosting to stick the "antlers" to the cooled cookies. It worked, but it's definitely more tedious. So scour your supermarket- surely the mini chocolate covered pretzels are out there!

However you assemble your team of reindeer, the effect on your friends will surely be worth it!

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

(printable version)

adapted slightly from Bakergirl

makes about 40

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3 TB milk

1 TB vanilla

1 egg

1 3/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

chocolate covered mini pretzels

mini brown M&Ms

regular sized red M&Ms

Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Divide dough in half and roll each half into a log about 8-10 in. long. Shape logs into triangles (3 flat sides), wrap in wax paper and chill about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375.

Working with one log at a time, unwrap and slice into 1/4 in. slices. Place on cookie sheet about 2 in. apart. Bake 7-8 min. or until set and just beginning to brown.

Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops  of the cookies (one of the flat sides of the triangle is the top of the head) for antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose (at the bottom point of the triangle). 

Allow to cool 2 min. on the sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies

I was so excited a couple of weeks ago when Hubby came home from helping out at the Food Bank with two beautiful bags of Hershey's chocolate mint chips! These are not always easy to find in stores, so it of course got me thinking about all the scrumptious things I could make.

First off, I checked the back of the bag since Hershey's always has amazing recipes on their packaging. Sure enough "Double Chocolate Mint Cookies" just leapt off the bag and into my oven! Well, okay so maybe it didn't happen quite like that, but it might as well have. Just under my fanatical love of the chocolate/peanut butter combo is the absolutely genius marriage of chocolate and mint. Mint especially shines on a backdrop of rich, super chocolaty chocolate.

Like these cookies. The dough is dense and fudgy and rich, and there is even more chocolate in the chips themselves!

So what do you think I should make with the second bag?

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies

(printable version)

by Hershey's

makes about 2 1/2 doz.

2/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 cup Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 2/3 cups (1 10 oz. pkg.) Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips

Heat oven to 350.

Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well.

Stir in mint chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 min. or just until set- do not overbake. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

What could be more natural to pair with a soft, spicy molasses cookie than a healthy dose of pumpkin?

Nothing.

These cookies are flavored fabulously with creamy pumpkin puree, which of course gives them a beautiful golden-orange hue, but definitely maintain their identity as molasses spice cookies. Besides the healthy heaping tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice, a dash of black pepper gives them a delightful kick!

After a crisp, cool day of romping through the leaves, roaming the pumpkin patch or trick-or-treating, treat yourself to a cup of tea and a couple of these soft, comforting cookies that look and taste like a beautiful bite of fall.

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

(printable version)

by My Baking Addiction

makes 24-32 cookies (depending on size)

2 1/3 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 TB pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp black pepper

8 TB butter, room temp

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

2/3 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar for rolling

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.

Working with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or an electric mixer), beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar, molasses, and pumpkin puree and beat for 2 min., scraping down the sides as needed. Add the egg and beat for 1 more minute. Reduce speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing until the flour and spices disappear. Dough will be very soft and sticky.

Divide dough in half and wrap each in plastic wrap. Freeze at least 30 min. or refrigerate at least 1 hour. The dough is sticky, so the longer time it has to chill, it will be easier to work with.

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment or spray with cooking spray.

Put the sugar in a small bowl. Working with one half of dough at a time, divide it into 12-16 pieces (each piece should be about a heaping TB). Roll each piece into a ball and roll each ball in sugar to coat. Place on baking sheet- do not overcrowd. Using your palm or the bottom of a glass, flatten each ball slightly.

Bake 12-14 min. or until the top feels set to the touch. Cool 5 min. on the sheet, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Repeat with second batch of dough.

Buckeye Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Okay, you all know that the marriage of peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favorite things ever. So we won't go over that.

But have you ever had a buckeye? Not the actual nut, but the delectable candy made to resemble it?

Someday I need to make them myself and post the recipe here because ohmygoodness they are so yummy! A beautiful expression of the aforementioned perfect pairing.

So, these cookies.

Buckeye cookies!! Peanut butter cup cookies!! Whatever you want to call them, with a fudgy chocolate outside, concealing a creamy, sweet, peanut buttery filling, seriously, how could you go wrong?

Oh, and you want a confession? I actually was short on peanut butter when I made these, and I substituted Nutella for the peanut butter in the chocolate dough!

Buckeye Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

(printable version)

by Brown Eyed Baker

makes about 2 dozen cookies

Cookies:

1 1/2  cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp

1/2 cup sugar (plus more for rolling)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Filling:

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Set aside a dish of sugar for rolling.

With an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together butter, sugars and peanut butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture and mix until combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together peanut butter and powdered sugar until smooth.

Take about a heaping TB of cookie dough and flatten in with your hands. Take about a tsp of peanut butter filling and place it in the center of the chocolate dough. Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, pressing to seal. Roll the cookie into a ball and roll in sugar to coat. Place on baking sheet about 2 in. apart. Flatten each cookie slightly with the palm of your hand.

Bake 7 to 9 min. Let cool on the baking sheet for 2 min., then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Crock-pot Pumpkin Applesauce

Hubby and I recently went fruit picking! We love a spot in Spokane called Greenbluff, which is home to over 40 small family owned farms- not only are the farms beautiful and often quaint, but you are treated to a lovely view of the valley from the top of the bluff! Last summer we picked strawberries, cherries, raspberries and pumpkins. This summer we picked strawberries and cherries. In early September we made our way to the bluff to score some end-of-the-season peaches as well as some early apples (Honeycrisp)! We ate many of the peaches fresh (they were so good!) and I froze enough to fill over a gal. freezer bag to put in our smoothies we enjoy every Sunday night. I used some of the apples for the delicious Caramel Apple Crumble Bars and then I made this amazing applesauce!

The particular flavor of the applesauce will of course depend on the type of apple you choose (I hear a variety is best!), but the addition of cinnamon and some smooth pureed pumpkin is sure to win the approval of your tastebuds no matter what you use! I found that the Honeycrisp apples provided a perfect pairing of sweet and tart.

I also got to use a fantastic gadget that was a Christmas present from my in-laws- an apple peeler! If you don't own one of these, I highly recommend them! This particular one has the ability to peel, core and slice at the same time- truly a time saver! If peeling apples keeps you from baking pies, making applesauce, etc, consider this a good investment (only about $20). It will change your life. :)

Crock Pot Pumpkin Applesauce

(printable version)

adapted from Stockpiling Moms

makes...a lot. :)

8 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

2 tsp lemon juice

5 tsp brown sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

approx. 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)

Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low about 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove cinnamon sticks and blend using stick blender to reach desired consistency. Store refrigerated, up to two weeks, or freeze.

Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Are there two things that say "Fall is coming!!" more than apples and caramel? Together? I think not.

Every year I struggle with the fact that summer is waning and fall is moving in.

Even now, as I write about a delectable fall treat, the war wages! It doesn't help that it's still about 80 degrees outside.

And hey people! Fall isn't officially here until Saturday!

Maybe you're welcoming fall with arms wide open, already stirring the soup kettle, scouting out the pumpkin patches, lighting up your apple scented candles and drizzling caramel and/or shaking cinnamon on everything imaginable.

But, if you're like me and you need something to get you in the mood for crisp cool nights, boots, pumpkin lattes and spiced cider, here's a surefire recipe. Watch out! It'll be here before we know it.

Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

(printable version)

adapted from Annie's Eats

makes about 16 bars

Filling:

2 TB unsalted butter

4 large (or 5 med.) apples, peeled and sliced

3 TB sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

9 oz. caramel candies, unwrapped

2 TB heavy cream

Dough:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

12 TB cold butter, cut into small pieces

1 lg. egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375. Line a 9x9 in. baking pan with foil or parchment paper. Grease.

To make the filling, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the apple slices, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are golden brown and caramelized, about 15 min. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, prepare the dough. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, oats, sugars, baking powder, salt and cinnamon and stir to blend. Add in the butter and cut into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add in the egg yolk and vanilla and stir with a fork just until a crumbly dough begins to form. Transfer about two thirds of the dough to the foil lined pan and press down into an even layer. Bake until light golden, about 12-14 min.

While the base is baking, combine the caramels and cream in a saucepan set over medium heat. Melt the caramels, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is totally smooth. Remove from heat. Once the base layer is baked, pour the caramel over the top. Layer with the cooked apple slices. Crumble the remaining dough over the apple slices.

Bake 22-25 min. or until the top is golden brown. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool.  Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Berry-Lime Granita

So, this is seriously my new favorite thing about summer.

My wheels are turning with all sorts of ideas for different flavors. I can't wait to try them! With all the fresh fruits available during the summer, the possibilities are endless.

The first flavor combo I have tried for a granita is strawberry-blueberry. The inspiration came from the fresh fruit I have and the recipe came from the web, of course. I sort of tweaked it a little and it was fabulous! The icy treat was so refreshing after a hot day and it fairly burst with fruit flavor- most noticeably, the fresh lime. In addition to the deliciousness of this treat, other added benefits are that it's crazy easy and it's  actually good for you! Full of fresh fruit, lightly sweetened, this is the guilt-free summer dessert I've been searching for!

Berry-Lime Granita

(printable version)

adapted from HMH Designs

serves 4-6

2 cups fresh strawberries

1 cup fresh blueberries

Zest and juice from 1 lime

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

Put berries in blender and puree until smooth. 

Combine water and sugar in saucepan or microwave safe bowl and heat until sugar is dissolved.

Add lime zest, juice and sugar/water mixture to berries and pulse to combine. Pour into glass baking dish and freeze. 

Every 30 min. or so, using whisk or fork, scrape mixture and stir frozen edges toward center. Total time, about 3 hrs or until mixture is frozen, but not solid. Scrape mixture again before serving, breaking up any solid pieces. 

If granita becomes too hard, simply leave it out for a few minutes, scrape, and return to freezer.

Strawberry Shortcake Skewers

I have been away too long! I apologize for leaving you recipe-less for over a week, but Hubby and I had a rather unexpectedly full and emotionally tiring week. I cooked {for us} only a handful of times the whole week (4 potlucks were involved in the craziness) and every time I had time I tried to squeeze in a load of laundry or do something totally mindless.

For the fourth, I did manage to make these skewers and a pot of phenomenal baked beans which I will share with you very soon, I promise! Hint: they got rave reviews at our church barbecue!

But back to the skewers.

These adorable little creations are, of course, Pinterest inspired. I was intrigued by Lady Behind the Curtain's idea to put strawberry shortcake on a stick! Genius! Everything is more fun on a stick. In her recipe, she used Grand's refrigerated biscuits, strawberries and Cool Whip. I decided to go a step or two further and use my favorite biscuit recipe and make my own homemade whipped cream (the perfect use for that carton of whipping cream leftover from the strawberry icebox cake!).

So, in the first attempt, I made a double batch of biscuits and, in the spirit of patriotism, cut them out with a cute little star shaped cookie cutter.

These I stacked with thick slices of strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. For the red-white-and-blue effect, I topped the whole thing off with a blueberry. They were delicious, and very cute, but I'm sorry, I have no pictures. However, there were several problems with these...

1) Whipped cream is very difficult to "skewer"- I imagine Cool Whip would be the same.

2) Due to the whipped cream, the skewers are almost impossible to stack, which makes presentation and preparation difficult.

3) Not enough strawberry.

Going to a potluck the next day, I still had leftover star biscuits, so I decided to try revising the process. I simply skewered a biscuit, topped it with a whole hulled strawberry (end also removed), followed by another biscuit, another strawberry, and finally, another biscuit. They were stackable, transportable, and I served them with the whipped cream on the side for dipping or smearing or what have you. Definitely easier to handle (and better for preparing in advance!). And- more strawberry!! :) Problem(s) solved.

So, try it either way, but do try it! These little gems are so fun for summer get-togethers- my friends couldn't stop talking about them! They are cute and tasty and so unique!

Strawberry Shortcake Skewers

(printable version)

makes about 3 dozen skewers (cut in half if desired)

wooden skewers

doubled recipe for biscuits (or use you own favorite recipe)

sugar for sprinkling

enough strawberries to allow 2 per skewer

blueberries, if desired

whipped cream or Cool Whip for dipping

Make biscuit dough as directed. Roll out to 1/2 in. thickness. Cut out using a 1 1/2 in. cookie cutter in whatever shaped desired. Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle biscuits with sugar. Bake slightly less than directed (since biscuits are small). Cool completely.

Wash and hull strawberries.

To assemble: Skewer a biscuit and slide it down the stick, leaving room for a "handle". Follow this with a strawberry and repeat once, then end with another biscuit. Top with a blueberry if desired.

Repeat for each skewer.

Serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip for dipping.