Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Every day with lunch, for something sweet to end the meal, I enjoy fresh fruits with Greek yogurt, sweetened with a little honey or agave.  It's always slightly reminiscent of cheesecake, if I try hard enough.

I almost always choose chocolatey, rich desserts over light fruity ones, but cheesecake is an exception.  If you're pressed for time or just don't want to make a full cheesecake, these bars are an easy replacement.

And don't these just say "summer"?

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars  (from Sweet Endingz, cannot find link)
   - Ingredients
2 c. crushed graham crackers
6 tbsp. butter
10 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 to 3/4 c. blueberry pie filling
   - Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325.  Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter until moistened.  Evenly distribute in pan and press to create a layer.  Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, and cool.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add egg and vanilla and mix until blended.
4. Pour into crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
5. When ready to serve, top with blueberry pie filling.

*** Note: In my opinion, the cheesecake layer is much to thin, and the ratio of filling to crust is off.  Next time I will double the ingredients for the cheesecake layer.

S'mores Bars

What do you think of when someone says "summer"?  One of the first things that comes to mind for me is bonfires.  I love them, mainly because of the s'mores.  Well, that's not entirely true, but close.

If you're not up for the sticky mess of original s'mores, try these!  They are delicious.  I could have eaten all of the dough.  But then again, I'm obsessed with cookie dough just a little too much.  Salmonella?  Pshhh.  ☺

S'mores Bars  (by Tracey's Culinary Adventures)
   - Ingredients
1 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs (about 5 sheets)
1 tsp. baking power
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 Hershey's bars
1 c. marshmallow creme or 2 c. mini marshmallows
   - Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350, and line an 8x8-inch square pan with foil.  Grease foil-lined pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
5. On low speed, gradually add dry ingredients, beating until just combined.
6. If using marshmallow creme, reserve 1/2 c. dough.  Press dough into prepared pan.
7. Lay the chocolate over the dough, creating a single layer and pressing down slightly into the dough.
8. Top with marshmallows or creme.  If using creme, crumble remaining 1/2 c. dough over the top.
9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until topping is golden brown (or check the edge with a knife).  Cool completely before lifting from pan and cutting.