SWEET SOPHIE TURNS TWO

"Scorpio children are strong-willed, passionate, and intense, and the need to feel secure drives them to control themselves and others." ~Babycenter

That sentence pretty much sums up my little Sophie. My fiercely determined little one knows what she wants and knows how to get it. I know that trait will allow her to reach all her dreams one day. It is impossible for me to believe how completely different my two kiddos are...night and day! 

Sophie Bella (my wise & beautiful one), you are the gorgeous little girl I never expected to have. You try my patience and make my heart melt at the same time. You keep your brother in line and make us giggle. Dogs and trains and stuffed animals are your first loves. Your Daddy's eyes sparkle when he looks at you. Depending on the day, you think your name is Mommy, Sophie, Strawberry or Baby. You are incredible.

I love you with all my heart, my little October baby...

caramel apple cheesecake bars

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

photo & recipe via Zoom Yummy

DOUGH

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

APPLE FILLING

2 larger apples (Golden Delicious)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsp granulated white sugar

CRUMB TOPPING

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour

TOPPING

3/4 cup caramel topping

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender (or a fork) until the mixture is kind of crumbly. First with your fingertips, then with the bottom of a cup (or a glass), press the dough evenly into a 13 × 9-inch baking pan or a cookie sheet with edges. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In the meantime, in a larger bowl, beat the cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time (beat about 20 seconds after each addition). Next add the vanilla and mix until combined. Make sure not to over-beat the cheesecake batter as this will lead to excess air being incorporated in and may cause cracking later on. Pour the cream cheese batter over the warm crust.

Peel the apples and chop them into 3/4-inch (2 cm) chunks. Mix the apple chunks with the cinnamon and two tablespoons white sugar. Spoon the apple chunks evenly over the cream cheese mixture.

In a smaller bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar and flour for crumb topping. Cube the butter) and using a pastry blender (or a fork), create a crumbly mixture. Crumble over the cream cheese mixture.

Bake 30 minutes, or until the filling is set. Reduce the temperature to 300° F for the last 5 minutes.

Cut into bars. Drizzle with the caramel topping. YUM!