Mackenzie's 15th birthday!!

Some people don't like Friday the 13th, but our precious Mackenzie was born on a Friday the 13th, and I would most DEFINITELY say she certainly was not bad luck!! Happy 15th birthday to you, sweet little girl -- you're one of the best presents God ever gave me!!

2nd birthday --


3rd birthday --


4th birthday --


5th birthday --


6th birthday --


7th birthday --


9th birthday --


10th birthday --



11th birthday --
15th birthday -- TODAY!!

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

Ingredients

CRUST:
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted

FILLING:
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup sliced peeled apple

TOPPING:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cold butter

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, oats and brown sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a 6-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray; set aside.

For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the sour cream, cinnamon and ginger. Pour over crust Arrange apple slices over filling. For topping, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apple.

Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

Caramel Cheesecake Bites

 I keep running across yummy sounding recipes and then promptly losing them. I'm going to start posting them on here for safe keeping!  If you try one and enjoy it, please let me know!

 

Caramel Cheesecake Bites
 
19 ounces cream cheese
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
 
Caramel:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
 
Crust:
1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine Sea Salt
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 cup melted butter

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Crush your slivered almonds.
In a mixing bowl whisk together the almond flour, almonds, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter and combine with a spoon.
Line a muffin tin with liners. Push the almond mixture into the bottom of the liners.
Bake for 10 minutes to set.
Turn oven down to 300°.
In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy.
Spoon mixture into the muffin tins with prepared almond crust.

Bake for 40 minutes.
While cakes are cooking, start on the caramel.
Combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring gently for 3 minutes.

Stop stirring and continue cooking 10 minutes or until the color of light brown sugar. Remove from heat; carefully stir in butter and milk. Place pan over medium-high heat until caramelized sugar melts. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute.

Remove pan from heat; cool caramel to room temperature. Cover and chill 1 hour or until slightly thickened.
Take cheesecakes out of the oven when they are done. Once cool, the middle will slightly fall and this is the perfect indent for the caramel.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon caramel over each cheesecake.