Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Mother's Christmas sweets. There is just nothing like them. My favorite were these mini cherry cheesecakes my mom used to make. I'd sneak into our family's garage fridge and steal the ones especially for our neighbors--pipe down, they didn't even know! Those little guys were oh, so good and oh, so addicting. And now that I've become a mother I felt it only essential that I begin making these Christmas sweets. We had our office party last night and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share them--and of course leave a dozen few at home for the hubs and me!--but really just me ;) 

I know you're just dying to know the recipe because who doesn't like cheesecake?! And who doesn't like anything that is miniature?!

And now I present to you my Mother's wonderfully delicious, cute mini cherry cheesecakes:

 All the good stuff!

Beat the cream cheese.

 Beat in eggs

and milk, vanilla, and salt

until it looks like this

Fill cupcake liners with vanilla wafers.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full of batter.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until filling is puffed and set. Once cool top with cherries. Chill then
Enjoy!

Yay for Christmas, mini cherry cheesecakes, and ugly sweaters!

What is your favorite Christmas sweet?

Ramblings

A lot has happened over the last week and it's been difficult for me to find time and sit down to document it all...eh, who am I kidding?! I have all the time in the world now that I'm just watching the clock, waiting for Juice Drop to arrive. Let's just be honest, I've been lazy and haven't had the will to get on here and post anything. Now that I'm ready, I have too many pictures to add to just one post so I may have to break it up a bit and add pictures here and there over the next few weeks, or until Juice Drop arrives and she takes up this entire blog because her cuteness is too much to contain!

Anyway, Travis' birthday weekend was awesome--despite a few mishaps! We enjoyed a Friday night out at the Bonefish Grill (a new place for us). We try to enjoy date nights free from baby talk but alas, with the only thing on our minds lately being Juice Drop it's kind of difficult to talk about anything else. Saturday was great. Emily and her roommate and bestie, Sammie went with us to Strike City (an entire bar and grill devoted to The Ohio State Buckeyes!) and watched the Buckeyes whoop up on some University of Miami tail. Sunday night was supposed to be thee birthday dinner where I was supposed to be the best wife in the world and take him to enjoy his favorite meal: pad thai. As we pull into Thai Taste we noticed it was kind of empty and there on the door read "Closed Sundays". So what does one do when your birthday dinner is pretty much ruined? You head to McAllister's and ponder your options over a tall glass of Arnold Palmer (well, at least Travis does; I get a lemonade). He finally decided he wanted Donatos Pizza (a place new to the Charlotte area but nostalgic to us Ohio folk). As we head to Donatos we pass a restaurant that catches Travis' eye. He's all about the appearance of places so when he saw wooden slats across the entire front of the restaurant he had to stop and see what they were serving. (In the end, I don't think it really mattered what they were serving, he just liked the feel of the place!) Leroy Fox ended up being an amazing restaurant featuring world famous fried chicken and delicious southern sides (no where in the north can you find fried zucchini fries!) We had an wonderful time eating and enjoying one another's company--and guess what?! No baby talk! Monday was Travis' actual birthday and we were really hoping Juice Drop would make her debut, but as you can clearly see, she did not. I made him his favorite french toast breakfast and, we enjoyed the afternoon walking around the park, but not before heading to Chick-fil-a for Travis' favorite dessert: a peach shake...and what do you know? the ice cream machine is down! Mishap #2. So what's close but no cigar to Chick-fil-a's peach shake? The Cookout. 'Nuf said. The evening ended with a labor day dinner with some dear friends complete with a dance lesson from Miss Pat and Azavion (the wobble) and mint oreo chocolate cupcakes for the Birthday Boy! Like I said, a few mishaps and nothing too exciting, but Birthday Boy says it was an amazing weekend and he feels very loved...success!

The Albemarle Urban Eagles soccer season has officially begun! Along with Thursday evening soccer practices and Saturday morning games, we've added an evening for dinner, fellowship, and bible study. While it may seem like 18 boys in one tiny apartment is crazy, it's been a blast to have them all in our home learning about Jesus and His love for them. And yes, somehow we plan on continuing this Monday evening get together after Juice Drop arrives--she and I will hide out upstairs :) Praise God for an amazing start to the season! I can't wait to see all that God has in store for these boys.

Let's talk about naturally inducing labor...it's not working! I've been walking, doing prenatal pilates and yoga, house work, dancing the night away at a wedding this past weekend, amongst other things that can be left to the imagination :) Juice Drop must be comfy and cozy in there because nothing is persuading her to meet her Mama and Daddy. We try and tell her that inside of me she's not able to get all the cuddling and kisses she'll love once she's in our arms. We must have a stubborn one on our hands (hmm...sounds like her Mama and Daddy). I guess we still do have 9 days until the due date. I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and hope and pray she comes sooner rather than later! :)

Take a peek at what our past week looked like:

The Birthday Boy's cupcake...the progression of the next few pictures crack me up!

I do have to say that these cupcakes were to die for, and it was my first time making icing! I found the recipe here.

Monday evening bible study with the soccer boys...

 

 

 

 

 Boys first game...

Dancing the night away at our dear friends' wedding on Saturday night...

Our Sunday afternoon at the park...Bliss!

Enjoy your week!

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

I'm totally obsessed with anything banana flavored (laffy taffy, banana pudding, banana bread...) and the obsession has only heightened since I've been pregnant! Which is funny because there is only a short window of time where I can eat bananas. They have to still be green and as soon as they start to have the slightest tint of brown I can't eat them anymore. I gag, literally--a little dramatic, I know.

I found this amazing recipe for strawberry shortcake muffins a few weeks back on Pinterest (oh, Pinterest, what did I do before you came along?!) You can find the recipe here. I made the recipe with strawberries the first time and it was so easy, so delicious, and so healthy! We're talking 93 calories per muffin! I thought they were so good my mind started reeling with all the other fruity possibilities, so this week I tried bananas :) Yay for my first attempt at baking anything with bananas!

Ingredients
*2 /1/2 cup oats (old fashioned kind, not quick cooking)

*1 single serving cup (or 1 cup) of plain low fat greek yogurt

*2 eggs

*3/4 cup sweetener of choice, I used the real stuff: sugar! or 2 tbs stevia sweetener

*1 1/2 tsp baking powder

*1/2 tsp baking soda

*2 bananas (I only used one but realized it needed at least one more)

Important: The paper liners don't work well when baking with a base that does not include flour, they always seem to stick to the paper. I sprayed the muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or you can use foil cupcake liners or a silicone muffin pan.


Let the Baking Begin!
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray tin with non-stick cooking spray or line 12 muffin tins with silicone or foil liners, (or just use a silicone muffin pan).
2. Place all of the ingredients, including bananas in a blender or food processor, and blend until oats are smooth. *Important: I add the oats a cup at a time and then add the liquids. I have to stop the blender and stir a few times throughout as well. 
3. Divide batter among cupcake liners, and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
4. Most importantly: Enjoy!!!

I can't stop eating them!!

Girl's Night

Let me ask you: what is better than hanging with 20 girls, making delicious treats, and celebrating a 12 year old's baptism? I think you would agree with me and say not much! Last night Heather's home in Birchcroft Apartments was booming with laughter, songs of praise, and the aroma of homemade caramel apple bites and cookies! It was a beautiful display of God's love as the girls insisted on helping with the baking and rejoiced with Tina as she shared Psalm 17 and her story of why she chose to be baptized. 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 

AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE!

1 John 3:1