Merry Berry Cheese Bars

Happy noon-time on this lovely Tuesday! It’s certainly a sunny one here, and I’m quite thankful that I work in an office with AC. This summer has been a scorcher! While I love summertime and all it brings, I am counting down the minutes until I can wear cardigans, hoodies, long jeans, and scarves. Only a few short months J

I hope you have a sweet tooth today because I have the recipe for a treat: Merry Berry Cheese Bars.

This recipe (including its cutsie name) is not my own; Lauren actually introduced me to it. We made these bars together and I have decided to add this one to my recipe box.

Merry Berry Cheese Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups white flour

1 ½ cups oats

¾ cup brown sugar

1 cup butter softened

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

¼ cup lemon juice

1 can raspberry pie filling (or cherry, blueberry, strawberry, apple, etc.)

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.       Mix flour, oats, sugar, and butter together until crumbly

3.       Set aside 1 ½ cups of this mixture

4.       Press remaining mixture into the bottom of a 13x9 pan

5.       Bake this crust for 10 minutes or until golden brown

6.       Beat cream cheese with a mixer until fluffy

7.       Gradually beat in condensed milk and lemon juice

8.       Spread this mixture over the baked crust

9.       Spread the raspberry filling over the cream cheese layer

10.   Finally, top with remaining oat mixture from steps 1 & 2

11.   Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown

12.   Let cool and cut into bars

Roses, these bars delish! Yum, yum. Make them with a friend or two. As always, thank you for reading! It is a pleasure being a part of your busy days. If you want to follow and don’t know how, just ask J

XO.

Harry Potter and Coffee Cake

Hello, almost weekenders! Three cheers for Fridays!

What a week it has been. Late last night and into the early morning, I had the pleasure of going with a group of friends to the midnight showing of the final Harry Potter movie. Not only was the movie enchanting, but the entire evening of festivities was wonderfully enjoyable. We arrived at the theatre around 8:45 pm to find over a thousand people waiting in anticipation. People were decked out in HP gear, talking in English accents, and casting spells on each other. There was even a wizard band. You don’t believe me? Check it out yourself.

For real.

Now, I’m not a die-hard fan. I haven’t read the books; I haven’t seen all the movies. But, the excitement was contagious and I thoroughly enjoyed the anticipation and the motion picture. I am even inspired to read the books! Crazy, right? Downfall to the night: we got back around three this morning, and I had to work at eight. I definitely didn’t get the beauty rest that I wanted. However, one thing made my Harry Potter hangover not so bad. Six words: banana, chocolate chips, cinnamon, coffee cake.

On my day off yesterday, I really wanted to bake something. I checked the pantry and fridge, assessed my ingredients, and searched around the web for something delicious. I came across several recipes for coffee cakes and adapted them to fit my interests, taste buds, and ingredients. Thus, I bring you: banana coffee cake with chocolate chip and cinnamon streusel.

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate chips (milk or dark chocolate- your preference!)

½ cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup white sugar

1 ½ cups flour

½ cup butter (room temp.)

1 egg

3 large mashed bananas (I usually use frozen bananas; they are easier to mash once thawed)

1 6-oz package of Greek yogurt (some recipes call for buttermilk-I prefer yogurt)

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.       Grease a 9x9 or 8x8 inch baking pan

3.       Make streusel topping- stir brown sugar, chocolate chips, and cinnamon together

4.       Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl

5.       With an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and egg together for two minutes

6.     Mix in mashed bananas and yogurt

7.       Gradually add bowl of dry ingredients

8.       Blend well

9.       Pour half of this batter into the baking pan

10.   Pour half of streusel mixture on top of batter

11.   Repeat steps 9 and 10, layering the remaining batter and streusel

12.   Bake for 44-48 minutes, or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean

13.   Allow to cool for a few minutes

14.   Enjoy with coffee or English tea

Easy-peezy, lemon squeezy.

I brought this coffee cake into work this morning and it was hit. So, TRY! You will have no regrets J

Till next week, flowers.

XO.

Simple Pleasures

Good morning and merry Tuesday! I had a fabulous Monday and have high hopes for the remainder of this week. I wish I were better at remembering to thank the Lord for the many blessings he pours out on me; none of which I deserve. He is constantly surprising me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about simple pleasures, the little, day to day things that make me smile.  I’ll share a few of mine with you and, together, let’s appreciate the details.

Falling asleep to a good book

I’m currently reading “The House at Riverton”

It’s about the war, love, and an aristocratic family. Read reviews. Highly recommended!

The ten minutes after finishing a workout when endorphins are in full swing

Hot deals while shopping; aka more bang for your buck!

Playing with children and witnessing their imaginations, innocence, and joy

Slowly sipping an iced coffee in the summer time

3 pumps caramel and a splash of milk, please. Aj’s Fine Foods knows what’s up.

Talking on the phone with a dear friend

When time seems to fly by at work

The sound of rain on a rooftop (hello, monsoon season!)

Those outfits that I adore and don’t mind waking up extra early to compile

Great hair days; these make me feel borderline invincible

Writing myself encouraging post-it notes

Yes, I just admitted that

& reuniting with great friends

This is JACK: Jane, Alexa, Chelsea, Kristin

These girls have seen me through thick and thin, and I love each of them very much.

Cheers to the past, present, and future!

Dandelions, I hope today is sunshine for you. The good kind, not the AZ heat kind. Be warm and be loving.

XO.