Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Below is one of my fave recipes.  If you love chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake, this is for you!

Cookie Layers

2¼ cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons butter, melted 

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

Cheesecake Layer 

8 oz cream cheese, softened

¼ cup sour cream

1 egg, slightly beaten

¼ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line an 8 x 8 pan with greased parchment paper. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugars.
5. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract.
6. Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients just until a soft dough forms and flour mixture is incorporated.
7. Press half of dough into the prepared pan in an even layer.
8. Cover with 1 cup chocolate chips (can use more/less chocolate chips if desired).
9. Prepare the cheesecake batter by mixing together the cream cheese, sour cream, egg, powdered sugar and vanilla extract into a large bowl until creamy.
10. Pour cheesecake batter over chocolate chips and spread evenly.
11. Mix ½ cup chocolate chips into remaining cookie dough.
12. Drop remaining cookie dough over cheesecake layer until completely covered.
13. Sprinkle on more chocolate chips (if desired).
14. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center of cookie is set and golden.
15. Allow bars to cool in pan and then refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
16. Slice into bars.
17. Store in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!!

Loaded Potato Quiche

Ingredients

1 homemade or store bought pie/quiche crust
1 1/2 cups cooked ham, chopped
1 1/2 cups diced hash browns, thawed
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 medium green onion, sliced (3 tbsp.)
5-6 eggs
3/4 cup half-and-half
2 gloves garlic, minced
Salt & Pepper, to taste
3 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
Sour cream, if desired
Additional green onions, if desired


Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2.  Sprinkle ham, potatoes, cheese and 3 tablespoons onions in crust. In medium bowl, beat eggs, half-and-half, garlic, salt and pepper until blended. Pour over ingredients in crust.
3.  Bake 1 hour 5 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Top with bacon, sour cream and additional onions.  Enjoy!

 

Sun-Dried Tomato & Kale Chicken Sausage Jambalaya

Ingredients

2 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
1 large bell pepper, seeded and chopped
dried red pepper flakes (to your degree of heat)
1 lb. Sun-Dried Tomato & Kale sausage, cut into 3/4 inch rounds (from Costco)
2 cans Rotel, undrained
1 can okra, drained
1 can black beans
1-2 tsp cajun or creole seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
brown rice, cooked

Directions

Heat oil in dutch oven.  Add onion and green pepper, saute until translucent.  Add garlic and red pepper flakes, saute until garlic is fragrant.  Add sausage and cook until sausage is heated through.  Pour in Rotel, okra, black beans and cajun/creole seasoning.  Cover and reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.  Once done, spoon mixture over cooked rice and serve.

It's Fall Y'All!!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  Brisk air, falling leaves, pumpkins, football, baking, bonfires, sweatshirts and, of course, Vintage shows and craft bazaars.  I went to Farm & Frills for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I loved it.  The fall show is located in Enumclaw, WA in a few old rustic buildings.  The vendors were great and I loved some of the displays.

Kissed by Chloe was one of my favorites at the show.  The booth was so girly with a touch of romance.  I love how she used the ladder to hold the chandelier.

JOHNBob had so many interesting and unique items.  There were a few items that I really wish I had taken home with me.  One is that AMAZING chair!  I'm still kicking myself for not buying it.

 

For those of you that don't know, I am obsessed with anything that has little cubbies or slots.  I would be in heaven if I could use these to organize my craft room.

Just a little peak at some of the other items from the show.  There is another one is spring and I can't wait to check it out.  There are a few more shows coming up this fall that I am very excited about, so stay tuned for those.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  It means cool air, football, crock-pot meals and pumpkin recipes.  Below is my recipe for Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.....it is my all time favorite fall cookie recipe.  Pumpkin + Chocolate = a win win for everyone!


Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup canned pumpkin
1-1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until smooth.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Add pumpkin and mix well.  In separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking soda and cinnamon.  Slowly add dry mixture to cream mixture, stirring well as you go.  Fold in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350* for 11-13 minutes or until lightly browned.  Place on wire racks to cool.

The Upcyle Girls

My obsession for all things crafty, vintage and upcycled has finally turned into a business venture.  My friend Jessica and I started Upcycle Girls in the spring of 2014.  Our passion is to find old, vintage items and bring them back to life.  Furniture, old cupboard doors, wood, metal......really anything we can get our hands on.  Along with that, we also make one of a kind pieces......wreaths, cake stands, menu boards, chalk boards, banners, coasters, burlap crafts........the list is endless.  Right now we have a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UpcycleGirlsAmberandJessica and we plan on doing a few bazaars this fall.  Stay tuned for where we'll be so you can come out and shop!  Our ultimate goal is to one day have a booth in one of the fabulous Vintage shops here in Yakima.......fingers crossed. 

Special order chalk boards and menu boards.

Special order menu boards.

I love wreaths!  And check out the special order Seahawks menu board.

A chair I repainted.....you should have seen it before.

An old hutch my grandmother gave me.  I just gave it a little facelift.

Our old dining room set......I just had to make it match the old hutch.  :-)

Cajun Mac & Cheese

Last night I decided to try a new macaroni recipe.  My husband loves homemade macaroni, so I knew he would like this Cajun recipe.  Let me tell you......it didn't disappoint.  You must try it!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients
12 ounces macaroni pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

8-10 ounces andouille sausage, diced
2 bunches scallions, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped
1-1 1/2 tablespoon Cajun spice blend, depending on your taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
8-12  ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1-2 cups pepperjack cheese, shredded

 

Directions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, combine the olive oil and sausage in a large skillet over high heat and cook, stirring, until the sausage starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the scallions and bell peppers and cook until the vegetables are slightly soft, about 3 more minutes. Add the Cajun spice and flour and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue whisking until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 5 more minutes.

Add the pasta, cheese and reserved cooking water to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, tossing to coat the pasta in the sauce and melt the cheese, about 1 minute.  Place mixture into a 9x11 baking dish.  Top with pepperjack cheese and place in oven.  Place oven on broil and leave macaroni in just until cheese melts.