Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Holy delightful flavors all combined into deliciousness! I LOVE (can't stress that enough) LOVE banana pretty much anything. Southern style banana puddin' is actually one of my very favorite things on this green (and blue) earth! God must have been a happy camper when he decided to create it! I found this recipe for Banana Pudding Cheesecake in this Month's issue of Southern Living Magazine. What a find that was! So creamy so yummy and oh so comforting.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup butter, melted 
• 17 vanilla wafers
• 2 large ripe bananas, diced 
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice 
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 3 large eggs 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coarsely crushed vanilla wafers
• Garnishes: sweetened whipped cream, vanilla wafers, sliced bananas tossed in lemon juice

1. Directions
2. 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together first 3 ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Press mixture onto bottom of a greased and floured 9-inch springform pan. Stand 17 vanilla wafers around edge of pan (rounded sides against pan), pressing gently into crust to secure. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes).
3. 2. Combine bananas and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 1 minute or just until sugar has dissolved.
4. 3. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer 3 minutes or until smooth. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Gently stir banana mixture into cream cheese mixture. Pour batter into prepared crust.
5. 4. Bake at 350° for 45 to 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove cheesecake from oven; gently run a knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen. Sprinkle top of cheesecake with coarsely crushed wafers. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 8 hours.

Cinnamon Caramel Pecan Popcorn

Mrs. C from work told me about this amazaballs recipe she tried over the weekend for cinnamon caramel pecan popcorn. It was a mad hit at her event and was sure to steal some attention at my uncle's birthday yesterday. Let me tell you, I made two batches because my first batch was half eaten by my sweet husband and I the minute I snatched it out of the oven!

Uncle R. LOVED his edible gift! ...as did the rest of the party people! Let's don't kid around now, there is no resisting this snack it is a salty sweet genius!

Cinnamon Caramel Corn with Pecans & White Chocolate 

Recipe by Our Best Bites
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
1 C pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda

3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz)


Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl.  Mix well.  Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture.  Pour corn syrup over the top of everything.  Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine.  Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes.  Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda.  Stir to combine.  Mixture will foam and rise.  Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. 

Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan.  Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.

Melt almond bark according to package instructions.  Drizzle over popcorn mixture.  When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Crunch on!

LOVEly Tasty Treats

I could honestly eat banana bread every single day of my life and never tire of it! Luckily, quick breads are one of my very favorite things to make. This week I thought it would be sweet for my Mr. to find one of these LOVEly little tasties in his lunch box... He agreed wholeHEARTedly once he tasted it!

Banana Bread

You will need...

3 cups flour
1½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ cup canola oil
1½ cups sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature, well beaten
1½ teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups mashed ripe bananas
¾ cup sour cream

(I also added a sprinkle of granulated sugar on top of each muffin just before placing in the oven... creates a delightful muffin top)

Directionsss...

Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan or 2 loaf pans (or heart molds).
Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
Beat oil and sugar on medium speed until well-mixed. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat well.
Add the bananas and sour cream, and mix well.
Add the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s).
Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the bread comes out with moist crumbs attached.
NOTE: If using loaf pans, bake for 45-55 minutes.

Birthdays in Blue Ridge

Last Saturday marked the 23rd birthday of my bestie AMH! The hubs and i traveled up to ATL to fetch Miss Alyson and her two favorite boys (Nick-the boyfriend and Mason-the puppy) and continue our travels up to my favorite place in the world... Blue Ridge Georgia!! This as you may recall is where Bobbus proposed to me, also where we got married, and lastly where my family loves to vacation! We hunkered down in the cabin and did lots or reading, eating, marshmallow roasting and a bit of sight seeing. This is the nitty gritty according to instagram...

 birthday girl

 me

Nick and his caramel apple

 my hubster waiting on cupcakes

 birthday cupcakes and loud birthday singing in the middle of downtown

 Blue Ridge coozies with Sweetwater Blue beer (yum)

 Puppies

me and hubs after a load of BBQ.

And that pretty much sums up our trip! 

Have a thrilling Thursday folks!

Valentines OOTD:

Top: Old Navy (courtesy of my awesome sister)
Pin: Ban do (courtesy of the lovely B)
Pants: J.Crew
Shoes: TB Revas
Bangles: J.Crew
Bag: LV Speedy

The hubster and I are on our way to go grab some BBQ and ice cream (that's what I'm talking' about!!) for our Valentine evening! Hope yours is a blast blast as well!!

xo,

Be Mine

...Just a few of my favorite Valentine things! I hope you eat lost and lots of chocolate and send lost of sweet notes!

(P.S. mine are from the fabulous Ashley Brooke Designs Valentine collection)!

Be Sweet!

Hearts and Stars and Rainbows

Just a quick snap of yesterday's happenings...

1. walk bridge with sister

2. reecaffeinate & re-fuel via muffins & coffee

3. exchange valentines with before mentioned sister

4. household chores (booo)

5. stew up a little homemade chicken noodle soup

6. family dinner at our pad to devour said soup

Never a dull moment,