Cupcakes how I love you!!

I have to say I have a new love lately, cupcakes...I LOVE them...mostly red velvet..it's funny the things you never cared that much for and then wake up one day, and WOW, it's your new favorite thing...Actually, I only wish I could eat them everyday, but with training I only get a cheat on Sunday, so I save it for that day..I have also found not just any old cupcake will do, I am only wanting a gourmet cupcake since my cheat is only on Sunday, you have to make it worth it, right...well, my friend Shirley, who is also trains, and is a pro figure competitor just started a business in Atlanta, and it's called Sweet Cheats..and let me just tell you these are the BEST cupcakes in the world...seeing I have to support my friends and their new business, I ordered up some for my family and 2 for me..they got rave reviews..I cannot even tell you how good it was..I had red velvet which had white chocolate under the buttercream/cream cheese topping, yes, both, and Pumpkin Harvest with a gingersnap in the middle and cream cheese icing...Oh, how I wish it was Sunday again...



My two cupcakes...OH MY GOODNESS...they make my mouth water all over again..lol

Now for my family...the left is Chocolate Cookie Dough, and the right is Strawberry Shortcake with a vanilla cookie in the middle...

and a closer view....if anyone lives in Atlanta let me know and I will send you her contact info..really the best EVER!!

Fall days and Fall recipes...

I am so glad I have people interested in my recipes...I really have to confess, I haven't had much time for this because I have a family blog, a family book, recipe blog, etc, etc...so I decided to simplify my blogs, and deleted my family blog, I do a family book that is basically the same thing, and the only reason I do it is for my family, so by doing that, I have more time to work on my recipe blog, which is really my hobby to bake and cook...and now even though I still am in training, I get a cheat meal and dessert every Sunday, which is great, because I can try my own recipes..lol

I had to throw in a pic of me and my sweet girl from this weekend, out at a park enjoying the day..It's always nice to know who the person behind the blog is too!!!

oops, eyes closed..

 now, that is better!! My little baker!!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

What says it's Fall better than apples!!! Then add some caramel and cheesecake to it and you have a yummy Fall dessert in no time at all..This recipe is from Christie Bayless of San Bernardino who serves these to her catering clients and this recipe is one of their favorites!!!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
2 (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusal topping (see below)

1/2 cup Caramel Topping


Preheat oven to 350 degrees..In a medium ball, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly in 13x9 inch pan lined with foil. Bake 15 minutes, or until light brown.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over warm crust. (your crust doesn't need to be cool because it's going right back in the oven) don't you love when that happens, you don't even have to wait on it to cool off!!!

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.Sprinkle evenly with Streusal Topping. Bake for 30 minutes or until filling is set. Now, drizzle with some warm caramel topping..I just heated mine a couple seconds in microwave and then poured over the top..now, hurry, go make this, you won't be sorry!!!!

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oates
1 stick butter, softened

In a small bowl combine all ingredients..

 I took a few bites, just so you could see the middle of that cheesecake goodness...hehe

Cowgirl Cookies

I found a great cookie recipe for Fall, as a matter of fact, you can use this recipe for any holiday, and just change the Reese's pieces, to colored M&M's to match the holiday season..but for mine because I LOVE Reese's pieces,  and the colors matched with Fall that is what I used and I LOVED THESE COOKIES!!!!

Cowgirl Cookies (from Bakerella)

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cups All-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Reese's pieces or M&M's
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in candies, chocolate chips and pecans.

Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper, place balls one inch apart.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are set, cool 2 minutes..remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack..store tightly covered..

Enjoy, really one of the best cookie recipes I have ever tried!!!

These my friends are delicious!!!!!! You have to try and don't they just look like Fall!!!!