Apple Cream Cheese Bar

We have been invited to our brother and sister-in-laws home for Thanksgiving dinner and we are tasked with bringing a second dessert, since pumpkin pie will be the star of the show, I decided to make this Apple Cream Cheese Bar. The idea is that this dessert will compliment the pumpkin pie.

This recipe requires multiple steps to prepare it as there are 4 layers in total to makeup this dish. 

                        1. The first layer is a crust at the bottom made of graham crackers and butter 

                               ... bake at 350 degree for 6-7 mins

                                2. The second layer, is a cream cheese mixture. You have to pay attention so it is layered smoothly and evenly. I used the back of a spoon or you could use a plastic knife for this purpose

                                    

                             

                             3. The third  layer is an apple pie filling, Just drop this filling over the cream cheese                                       layer.....

                      

                        ...here is the evenly smoothed 3rd apple filling layer

                  

                         4. The fourth layer is an oatmeal topping, Again tamp it down lightly using the                                              back of a spoon .

                              Bake in the oven for 50 minutes at 350 degrees, 

                              Let it cool completely and then place it in the freezer for 1-2 hours. 

                              Then you can evenly and easily cut your Apple Cream Cheese Bar. 

           

Recipe:

Crust - bottom layer (1st layer )

1 1/2 cup of crushed graham crackers (from a pack of graham crackers )

3 Tbs soften melted butter or oil

2 Tsp sugar

Lined parchment paper on bottom of 8 x 8 pyrex pan dish.

Mix all ingredients and spread evenly on dish, bake for 7 mins at 350 degree.

Cream Cheese Layer

8 oz soften (room temp) cream cheese

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients, with patience, slowly and evenly spread cream cheese mixture using plastic spatula or knife on top of crust layer.

Apple Pie Filling

3 apples peeled and diced into small cubes

2 Tbsp lemon juice (optional)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbs cornstarch

In a sauce pan, over medium heat, cook all ingredients except cornstarch until bubbly.

Add cornstarch as soon as apples are soften/bubbly, stir quickly, turn off stove.

Scoop apple pie filling onto the cream cheese layer.

Again, evenly smoothen apple pie filling topping.

Oatmeal Crumbles layer:

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

6 Tbsp melted butter

Mix well all ingredients, spread over top of Apple pie filling layer.

Lightly tamp down layer.

Bake at 350 degree for 50 mins.

Cool dish completely.

Place dish in freezer for an hour or 2.

Cut Apple Cream Cheese Bar to desired bite size pieces/bars.

Enjoy!!

 

Mini Apple Pie Loaf

  With this being apple season, I really wanted to bake something with apples and fine tune some of my apple recipes. So here is my latest test recipe that I hope will be a big improvement over some of my earlier ones. 

  I was very happy that the taste and texture of this new recipe was really moist and delicate. The apples I used were really sweet and firm, which is what really made this apple cake special. So far the first little cake didn't last more than half a day, so that tells me that I did something right.  So once it is cut, you better get in line fast before it is all gone. So for now, I think this is my go-to recipe....at least for now!!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup oil

1 ripe banana (or 1/2 cup apple sauce which ever you have available, I used banana)

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

4 apples

Additional to sprinkle on top of each mini loaf - cinnamon and 4 tsp sugar.

Directions:

* Line parchment paper on bottom of 4 mini loaf pan.

* peel each apple, quarter and chop 3 pieces of the 4 and line chopped apple into each mini loaf pan, chop the 4th quarter, set aside for topping to the loaf pan.

* In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and sugar together.

* add egg and mix well, add mashed banana, and mix in oil, stir well.

* divide mixture and scoop/drop mixture onto each mini loaf pan

* top each mini pan with the remaining apple, sprinkle each pan with the last quarter of chopped apple, cinnamon and 1 tsp sugar.

* bake at 350 degree for 40-45 mins.

Nyonya Kaya ( Egg Jam )

Tis the season for making treats , so I thought I would try to make "nyonya kaya". Making 'kaya' takes time but I also find it therapeutic to make it, especially when I  need to slow down and take my time. It feels good not to be in a rush :)  This recipe will also make a nice holiday treat for friends when gifted in a mason jar.
My 'kaya' didn't turn out as pretty as my mom used to make because I used canned coconut milk instead of freshly squeezed coconut milk. But it still tastes great, almost the same taste as my mom's recipe.
And here it is....

INGREDIENTS
 10 eggs
 2 1/2 cup sugar
 500 g thick coconut milk
 1 tsp vanilla extract
 1/2 cup sugar for caramel

DIRECTIONS
1. Stir eggs, vanilla and sugar with hand whisk till sugar has dissolved.
2. Add coconut milk into egg mixture.
3. In a separate non stick sauce pan, melt and heat 1/2 cup sugar without stirring. Once it melted, stir till it thickens and golden in color.
4. Stir caramel into egg/coconut milk mixture.
5. Heat double boiler in medium heat, pour egg mixture into boiler.
6. Constantly continue stirring the egg mixture together, this will take 75 to 90 mins until mixture till it has thickened and golden in color.
7. Remove from double boiler and cool thoroughly, pour into 3 or 4 glass containers or mason jars. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Ham & Cream Cheese Pinwheels / Roll Ups

I needed to make a savory dish for an upcoming fellowship function the men of our church are having soon. I talked with my husband about what the men might like and I came up with a neat little recipe. I think it's a simple dish with simple instructions.

I have a bunch of tortillas in my fridge that need to be used, so I make use of them in this dish. I have decided to make an appetizer called pinwheel roll ups. They are filled with ham and cream cheese. I am using 2 kinds of ham, the regular plain ham and the gourmet black forest ham. ( its what I have in my freezer :)  ... that black forest ham is really good. It will definitely be  Delish ;)

 I was able to prepare and finish about 15 or 16 tortillas. Each tortilla makes 4 pinwheel roll ups. I also did a short video showing how easy it is to make these treats. I would recommend these for a fast and tasty treat for your next party!

See a short video below on how I prepare these pinwheels :)  (after the pictures)

This is my first video, take a look ;)

Ingredients:
1 8oz cream cheese ( room temperature)
3 Tbs sour cream
3 Tbs peppercorn dressings ( you can use Ranch dressings as well or just replace with sour cream if you prefer)
1 1/2 pound of ham ( I used 1/2 regular ham and 1/2 black forest ham)
2 bags of 10" Tortillas ( each bag contains 10 tortillas - I didn't use the entire 2 bags)

Mix the first 3 items together in a bowl.
On a flat dinner plate ( or you can use a cutting board ), lay a piece of tortilla bread on plate.
Spread 2 tsp of cream cheese on tortilla.
Lay ham over cream cheese.
Roll tightly and cut into 4 pieces evenly, leave the ends off.
Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Enjoy !