Pumpkin Spice Streusel Muffins

Simply because most people enjoy pumpkin, besides who says you have to wait until fall to enjoy it?!

Muffin Ingredients:

• 2 cups Flour
•  1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
•  15 oz Can Pumpkin 
• 1/2 cup White Sugar 
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar 
• 3/4 cup Softened Butter
•  1 tsp Vanilla 
•  1 tsp Cinnamon 
• 2 Large Eggs

Preheat oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, mix flour and baking soda; set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add pumpkin, sugars, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and butter. Beat with beaters for 5 minutes or until fluffy.
Add flour mixture and beat until combined.
Place muffin cups in pan, if not using cups make sure to grease well.
Add muffin mix to just above half way point.

          ******DO NOT BAKE YET****


Streusel:

• 1/2 cup Flour 
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 1/2 stick Softened Butter 
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix well. 
Add softened butter and fork until crumbly. 
Sprinkle of top of muffin mixture. 

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Banana Lemonberry Bread

How does this bread even come together?? It goes something like this...

       While walking to the register on my typical grocery shopping day I passed fresh organic blueberries, which looked simple irresistible and I couldn't pass up. A few thoughts ran through my mind... I could make smoothies, pancakes, or maybe even muffins. All sounded good to me at the moment. I get home and place them on the counter to wash and notice from the corner of my eye, 3 perfectly ripe bananas that are screaming use me use me. The only thing I really enjoy using bananas for is banana bread, so I thought I could make banana bread and put blueberries in there, that would taste great. As I kept unloading groceries and placing cold stuff in the fridge, I see lemon juice and think lemon and blueberries are a great team, and wonder if these three items would good together.......

      I made the bread and waited until after dinner to try it. My husband who practically hates bananas all together, ate half the loaf in a matter of minutes. He ranted about how much he liked it (which he hardly does to this extent), so now I am thinking he is just trying to make me feel good until I tried it... it was perfect! Not one ingredient was overly empowering.

      Here is what I did::


Bread:

• 2 c. Flour
• 3/4 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 c. Sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. California Lemon Peel (Found it in the seasoning aisle)
• 1/4 c. Butter, melted
• 1/3 c. Sour Cream
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 2 Eggs
• 3 Ripe Bananas, mashed (if they are mushy they are too overly ripe and the banana will dominate the taste)
• 1 (6 oz) Container Fresh Blueberries

Preheat oven to 350.

• In a large mixing bowl, add the first four ingredients, blend. 
• In a separate medium sized bowl, add butter, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well combined and then whisk in sour cream. 
• Pour batter into flour mixture and beat until creamy. Add bananas, stir. 
• Fold in blueberries. 

I've made this recipe using 1 large loaf/bread glass pan and then tried it using two smaller loaf/bread pans. I preferred the two smaller ones, but do as you would like.

• Grease your pan or pans of choice. 
• If using 1 large pan, bake for 1hr 20min-1 hr 40 min., or until knife comes out clean. 
• If using 2 smaller pans, bake for 1 hr- 1 hr 15 min., or until knife comes out clean. 

Let cool 5 minutes before taking out of pan and sitting on dish or wire rack to cool completely.



Cream Cheese Glaze:

•  2 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/2 tbsp. Milk
• 1/2 tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1/2 c. Powdered Sugar

 Whisk all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until there are no clumps.
Once your loaf/loaves has cooled, you may ice them.
Serve!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

I love apples and applesauce but when it comes to putting apples on or in things, such as pie, lets just say I don't exactly like it. Seeing that it is apple season, I bought a bag full. I am very picky when it comes to my apples, I will only eat Gala apples..... oh so sweet and crisp! If you get this apple make sure you pick them right, the redder the better, just remember that saying and you'll do fine. As the apples sat in my fridge for a few days, I tried to think of something I could make with some of them. I didn't think I would ever be brave enough to try an apple cheesecake, let alone bake one. It just doesn't sound very appetizing to me but you never know unless you try it.

This is what I got:

I can honestly say I NEVER care to eat another kind of cheesecake again!!

Crust:

• 2 c. Flour
• 1/2 c. Brown Sugar
• 1 c. Butter, softened

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9x13 glass baking dish, make sure to press it.


Cheesecake:

• 2 (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 c. Sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla

Beat or whisk these ingredients until thick and fluffy. Pour on top of your crust.


Apples:

• 4 Apples, peeled and diced/chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. Cinnamon
• 1/8 c. Sugar
• 1/8 c. Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Butter
• 1/2 c. Water
• 1/4 c. Cold Water + 1 tsp. Cornstarch

Once you have peeled and diced/chopped your apples to your liking of size add them to a pot.

Add your cinnamon, sugars, butter, and 1/2 c. water to your pot and cook on medium heat for 4 minutes. At this time, in a separate cup add your
 cornstarch to your 1/4 c. cold water and once
blended pour into your pot. Continue to cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes. Apples should be tender. If you have remaining juice, just drain it, the spices have already cooked into your apples. Pour on top of your cheesecake.





Streusel Topping:

• 1 c. Flour
• 1/2 c. Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 c. Butter, softened
• 1/2 c. Sugar

In a medium bowl, blend all ingredients using a fork. Spread evenly over your apples.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.


Once your cheesecake is out and cooling make your caramel drizzle.

Caramel:

• 5 1/2 oz. Caramel bits (find them on the baking aisle)
• 1 tbsp. Water

Place caramel bits and water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir. Cook another 1o seconds, or until melted.
Drizzle over the top and serve!

Heaven in your mouth!

Crust Layer         Cheesecake Layer         Apple Layer         Streusel Layer        Caramel Drizzle