A Special Day Today.....of What The Lord Can Do!

Hi all you sweet ladies!

First I have to say thank you to those who have wished us a Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!! We were married at 9:59 (don't ask me why.....we were young?) in the morning 38 years ago on the farm we live at. Don't freak by this picture! If you would like to see our story, I have written it  the last few years on my blog. It is a story of redemption! You may go Here August 2010, and Here August 2011. I am not proud of my past, but am thankful for a gracious Heavenly Father who sent His Son to redeem my life and my sweet mans! My whole family has come to Christ thru repentance and salvation......to think He took one young lady a precious sweet man and used our lives, because we said "yes"....I am forever humbled!  If we let Him, He loves to make all things new and washes us clean by Jesus' shed blood! I love my sweet man and he loves me......what a blessing! It will be a special day.... even if we are at the college!!!!!! 

Okay.........I finally have the recipe for you for the........ 

Tressa made these up and it was a hit with the college kids. It would be wonderful for a special dinner also! It might look hard, but it is not! Apples should be available at the stores for fall! Sometimes cheaper also. 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:

2 cups unbleached flour

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:

3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

2 T. sugar

1/2 tea. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 c. unbleached flour

1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 (1 stick) butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium blow, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9 x 13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. /Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, 1 T. sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with homemade caramel and serve cool. Enjoy!

Found the recipe HERE

The recipe asked for carmel topping, but we don't care for that. We like making our own using this recipe we found some time back in a MaryJane Farm Magazine. 

Holiday Caramels

1 cup cream

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Line an 8" square pan with 2 sheets of crisscrossed parchment paper.

2. Combine cream, sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a heavy 3 to 4 quart saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat and cook , stirring, until the mixture reaches 245 degrees on a candy thermometer.

3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and nuts (optional). Immediately pour into prepared pan, and allow to cool at least 2 hours or overnight.

4. After carmel has cooled, remove from pan and cut into 4 equal lengths; then cut each length into 10 equal pieces.

5. Wrap each piece in a 4" square of waxed paper, or store between pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container. 

I made the Sandhill Plum Jelly tonight! Oh my is it wonderful! I will announce the winner when I get home. You all can still sign up whoever hasn't until noon central time!!!!!

Hugs to your day! 

Linda