black bottomed cheesecake you make the rockin' world go round

Good afternoon !
I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I've been doing some major cleaning over the past two days since I've had it off of work. Friday we're getting a new refrigerator !! It's a beauty ;)
When we moved into our house 2 1/2 years ago, we had to buy a stove, microwave, and refrigerator among other various new house expenses. Well our current fridge is just too small. I am forever cramming things in. This is it, we shopped around for about a month, and finally made a decision.
Does anyone else get as excited as I do for new appliances?


I made some brownie cheesecake bars earlier
and I had to have a little taste.
mmm mmm mmm

Here's what you'll need.

1 pkg. fudge brownie mix
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of water
2 tablespoons of oil
1 cup chocolate chips
1 pkg. softened cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup of sugar

I used Jiffy fudge brownie mix, you can use whatever brand you want just make sure it's a small package/box not the family size. I live in Michigan so I love to buy Michigan Brands, so that's why I bought it, plus it's inexpensive.

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease a 9 inch square pan.

In a medium bowl, add your brownie mix with 1 egg, 1 tbsp of water, 2 tbsp of oil



and I added a 1/4 tsp of cinnamon it's optional



Add about a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and mix just until everything is combined.

Pour in your prepared 9" pan and spread out evenly.



Now in a large bowl cream your softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 tsp of vanilla with a hand mixer, and then slowly add your two eggs one at a time.



it should be a smooth mixture with little air bubbles.



Go ahead and spread that evenly on your brownie batter,
and then sprinkle with your chocolate chips.
I used mini chocolate chips, but you can use whatever you'd like.
It's just what I already had on hand.



It should look layered in your pan, like so.



Bake for 30-40 minutes
( mine took the whole 40 minutes)
Let it cool and then pop it in the fridge until you're ready to devour ;)



Yum !


Another thought is you can use butterscotch chips, or white chocolate even.
I'm so glad it's only a 9" pan too.
Too many times I'm making things in 13x9 pans
and then I eat more than I should, if you know what I mean.

Well I hope you enjoy the rest of your day !
 Tomorrow I'll show you my easy peasy quiche
( using the leftover egg whites from my Going Bananas! post )


-kerriann

Going Bananas !

Here I am ! Finally making a post with something good ;) A certain lovely lady I know has been telling me to post my recipes with pictures for awhile, but every time I make something I am halfway through the process of eating it making it and I realize (like the should have had a v8 commercial) I didn't take any pictures, and we all know everyone likes to have pictures, am I right ? Well this time I remembered !

Several months ago I came upon a tasty little number that I fell in love with ! Their names are Sara and Kate at Our Best Bites. They have no idea who I am, but I would love you to know who they are!
It's a blog full of tasty recipes, fun crafts, tips & tricks and much more!

Last night I made their Bananas Foster Bread Pudding !

Here's the recipe, and you can print it from their website here !

6 c. stale bread or croissant cubes
4 medium bananas, divided
4 eggs
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
1 c. brown sugar,
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. rum flavoring (optional)
1 tsp. cinnamon,
2 Tbsp. butter,

These are all the things you'll need, and extra bananas if you have a banana crazy pup like I do.
Also I got my bread at a local italian bakery on the day old rack. That's the best way to do it, it's real cheap ! I like cheap ;)


That's Echo, Echo loves bananas!

Preheat your oven to 400
and line a baking sheet with heavy duty foil, or layer your foil.
Peel and slice three of your bananas, making sure to save a few pieces for the pup.


Put your sliced bananas in a mixing bowl and add a 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and a 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon. I love cinnamon so mine was a heaping 1/4 tsp.



look at allllll that flavorful cinnamon ;)


Melt 1 tablespoon of melted butter, and ever so gently stir to combine.


Now evenly spread your banana goodness onto your foil lined baking sheet.

Pop it in the oven for 15 minutes, and they should be all brown and bubbly.
Lower the oven temp. to 350


Cut your bread into about 1/2 inch cubes or so.
The recipe calls for 6 cups, but mine took more than that.
just use your best judgement when layering.



Meanwhile in a mixing bowl add 4 eggs and 3 egg yolks.
( go ahead and save your whites for later, I have a really tasty quiche recipe)
1 1/2 cup of heavy cream,1 1/2 cup of milk,1/4 tsp. cinnamon, 1tsp. vanilla, and 1/4 tsp. kosher salt and 3/4 cup of brown sugar. Mix it with a wisk or your handy hand mixer



We're almost done, I promise.
Take a 13x9 pan and generously spray it with cooking spray.
Spread half of your bread cubes in the pan,
and then add the banana goodness that we baked earlier,
and the recipe called for adding more sliced bananas on top; but
I didn't care for the texture so next time i'll just make more banana goodness instead.



Add the rest of your bread on top of the bananas,
and then give your cream/milk/egg mixture one last stir and pour over the top of the bread
I gave mine a little squish to help it soak- totally up to you.
Then take a tablespoon of butter, and cut it in small pieces and place on top.

Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes and then bake for 40-50 minutes until golden,
and a knife inserted in the center comes clean.

Then wait just long enough for it to cool so you don't burn your mouth ;)
Serve with whipped cream and another dash of cinnamon
(told you I love cinnamon)
or Ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
On the website there are some tasty little toppings they have recipes for.



Well if you're reading this that means you read it all :)
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you come back.