Just for Bonnie- but reccomended for everybody

Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

1 pouch oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 cup cold margerine
2 pkgs cream cheese- let soften awhile
1/2 cup sugar
2 T flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 can apple pie filling (or two- I like to chop with a knife so it is chunks rather than slices)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
optional walnuts (yuck)


Cut margerine into oatmeal cookie mix until it is coarse crumbly texture. Reserve 1 1/2 cups for topping. Press other into a well greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 for about ten minutes or until it looks mushy

In a large bowl mix cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with a mixer until it is really soft and smooth. Apply to baked crust by spooning uniformly over the crust- if you try to spread it the crust will just come up.

Mix the cinnamon with the apple pie filling and then spoon this over top of the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the leftover crumbs from the crust on top of this. I added a little bit more cinnamon for good measure.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes and then move to the fridge. Chill for at least two hours.

If you cut the pan into 24 pieces, each piece only has 240 calories and it tastes WAY better than a snickers bar!

These are sooo good, a little rich, so really good. Hint though, if you have any left over, eat them by the next day because the topppiong will start going really soft and gooey and kinda gross.

Oh boy, oh boy... here we gooooooo

Let's start off with a few seasonal favorites, shall we?

Licorice Carmels

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup margerine
1 1/2 cup light karo
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

Cook all above ingrediants in a heavy pan, stirring CONSTANTLY to 234 degrees on medium heat. BE PATIENT
Remove from heat and add

1 1/4 tsp. anise flavoring
1 1/4 tsp. black paste food coloring

Stir well to mix and then pour into a greased 9x13 pan to cool. When cooled cut into logs and wrap in plastic wrap.

My mom or my grandma have made these every Halloween that I can remember. I usually make them but I am the one who ends up eating the majority of them. They are so good. The anise really isn't that strong, and they do NOT taste like the black licorice you buy at the store. Kids think these camels are pretty cool because they quickly turn your whole mouth a purpley black color that stays for a while. So much fun... enjoy!



Pumpkin Bread

1 can 15 oz caned pumpkin
(I use 2 cups of home mushed pumpkin- more moisture)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. ginger

Mix all liquid ingredients then stir in flour and spices
Pour into 2 8x4 loaf pans
Bake on middle rack at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes- I usually check mine at about 50 minutes with the toothpick. After removing from oven, loosen sides with a knife, allow to cool 10 minutes then remove from pans and cool ono racks for about an hour.
If you want a glaze, mix

2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 tsp. warm water
1/4 tsp vanilla

drizzle over top of cooled bread