Blueberries & Cream Oat Bars

It has been a while since the last time the Secret Recipe Club has taken place, but I sure am glad to see it back!

This month, I was assigned Katrina's blog - Baking And Boys.  I love finding new sites with tastes similar to mine, and tons of new recipes to look through. What a great set of recipes she has over there - you should really go take a look.
I have a ton of blueberries in my freezer from pickings in a local no-spray family farm.  As in gallons.  So, when I saw Katrina's recipe for her Blueberries & Cream Oat Bars, I knew this was the recipe for me.  We love blueberries, and with our huge supply of them, I could definitely use some more recipes.

Oh. my. word.  These things are ah-mazing!  I ended up doubling the recipe, omitting the nuts, & using full fat cream cheese.  These were the perfect balance of creamy & berry - absolutely perfect.  We had a guest over when I made these too, and he just couldn't get enough of them.  Heck, neither can I.

Blueberries & Cream Oat Bars

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Ingredients:
For the crust:

• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1.5 sticks butter, melted

For the Blueberry Filling:

• 3 1/3 cups frozen blueberries
• 6 heaping tablespoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

• 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick aluminum foil.
In a large bowl - mix oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, & cinnamon. Add melted butter & stir with a fork (or electric mixer) until evenly moistened. Mixture will be crumbly.  Reserve 1 cup for topping.  Press remaining mixture firmly into your pan, and bake for 12 minutes to set crust.
Prepare cream cheese filling.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add in the sugar, vanilla, & salt and mix well.  Beat in the 2 eggs.  Pour filling over baked crust.
Prepare blueberry filling.  In a small saucepan, combine the blueberry filling ingredients.  Turn heat to medium, and cook for 7-10 minutes - until mixture has thickened slightly.  Remove from the heat & pour over the cream cheese filling.  Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture over top.
Bake for 30 minutes, until top is browned & filling is bubbly.  Let cool completely in pan set on a wire rack.  When cool, chill for an hour before cutting.  Lift foil by ends onto a cutting board.  Peel off foil & cut into 24 bars. Store in the refrigerator.  Serve at room temperature.

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Caramel Apple Dumplings

It's that time of year where the weather is starting to finally cool down & the leaves are slowly starting to change colors - and that means it is also apple picking time!  We went out to the orchard earlier & bought a whole slew of different varieties of apples.  Some for just eating, some for baking, some for making applesauce, some for apple jelly & apple butter - and who knows what else.  I just love apples.  It is hands down my favorite fruit of all.


I wanted to make some kind of apple dessert after dinner...but was running a little short on time, so my usual apple pie was out of the question (for now!).  I decided to prepare some Caramel Apple Dumplings, & my family sure was glad that I did.  I have to admit, I was pretty stoked about these little gems too! 


Here are the ingredients that you need:

Yes, that is Mountain Dew in the ingredient picture.  Yes, it is a little odd - but trust me...it's good!

Grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Roll up an apple piece in each crescent roll triangle.  Start from the small end - and seal the edges with your fingers when you are done.  Place each finished dumpling into your greased baking dish.

In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 sticks of butter.  Whisk in the sugar & cinnamon.

Pour the caramel-ly sauce on top of the apple dumplings.

Pour on the Mountain Dew...

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  

 

Spoon you out a dumpling or three & make sure you drizzle some of that ooey gooey-ness on the bottom of the dish on top! 

Enjoy, & eat plenty.  Afterall, an apple dumpling a day keeps the doctor away ;)

Caramel Apple Dumplings

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Ingredients:

• 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
• 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1.5 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1.5 cups of Mountain Dew (12 fluid ounces)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.

Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown

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