Mini Cheesecakes with Cherry Filling

I have made these individual cheesecakes countless times and they are a huge hit everywhere! You can use any filling you like- cherry, strawberry, blueberry, apple, or seasonal fresh fruit - the variations are limitless.... They are absolutely delicious, so versatile, and really easy to make!

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins (tassie pans) with foil/paper liners.

Place one vanilla wafer into each paper cup.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool. Cheesecake will most probably sink in the center but that is okay- you actually want that because this indentation is the perfect home for the topping- a teaspoonful of cherry pie filling in each mini cheesecake.

Recipe adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mini-cheesecakes-i/detail.aspx

Pineapple-Raisin Cake

One of my personal favorites, simply delicious without any icing. Very, very moist and bursting with flavor!

Apple Struesel Bars

I just made this dessert today. The original recipe called for an 8-inch pie dish but I found that the crust was too much for just an 8-inch pie dish, so I put mine in a 9x13-inch baking pan. This way, it wasn't too thick and I think it was somehow better balanced in relation to the apples. Also, I ended up baking it for close to 45 minutes (instead of the 35 stated in the original recipe) because the crust was too pale on both top and bottom at the 35-minute point. Otherwise, once done, the taste was very good- my husband and I both had three servings each! :)))

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chilled butter, diced
2 egg yolks, beaten

1 1/4 pounds Golden Delicious apple - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)

Sift four, 1/2 cup sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in egg yolks (mixture will be crumbly). Remove 1/4 of mixture, and set aside. Press remainder onto bottom and sides a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place apples into crust, and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking 20-25 minutes, or until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Courtesy: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-shortbread-pie/Detail.aspx

Very-Berry Mini Muffins

These were a little tricky to make but still worth it.

More Scones!

This was an encore on the cranberry-lemon scones. They are such a big hit in my family!

Irish Soda Bread

With St. Patty's day approaching, I figured I'd make my own Irish soda bread. :)