cookies+cheesecake...

Know those days when you just can't figure out what you're craving? That's when you just gotta combine it all into one ;)
...I originally thought this recipe was really unhealthy so i modified it a tiny bit to fit my preferences and high standards.

OATMEAL COOKIE CHEESECAKE BAR

crust:

1/2 c finely chopped almonds (throw them in the blender for a few secs)
1/2 c whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
6-8 tbs softish butter

cookie dough:
5 tbs unsalted butter (room temp.)
1/3 c brown sugar
3 tbs white sugar (since we're being racist here)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c oatmeal
1/3 c flour
chocolate chips

cheesecake filling:
10 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
1/4 c sugar
1 egg, room temp (everything needs to be room temp when you bake FYI)
1 tsp vanilla

the layering shenanigans-
...mix up the crust and spread it in your baking dish. bake for 10-15 minutes at 325 F. now, mix together cookie dough ingredients; beat butter with the sugars, salt and vanilla. then add in flour, oatmeal and chocolate chips.
lastly, mix cream cheese with sugar- add in egg and vanilla.
*layering time!*
pour cheesecake over cooled crust, dollop cookie dough over top randomly (or spread it- be creative :)
bake for 30 mins at 325.
Cool completely- patience young Jedi.
and ps. it tastes better when its been in the fridge for a while anyway;)

crinkle crackle...

Discovered while watching "French Food At Home". I found this cake to help me in my darkest hours of chocolate cravings... and it didn't take long people. And guess what- it has no flour either. Which automatically makes this as healthy as vegetables...naturally.

CHOCOLATE CRACKLE CAKE

1 c good quality 70% chocolate (i used giuradelli chocolate chips)
1 c butter softened (2 sticks...or 1 1/2)
1 c sugar
4 eggs



the drill:
melt chocolate in double boiler. whisk in butter once the chocolates nice and smooth. in a separate bowl whisk half of the sugar and egg yolks- till thick, pale and ribbony. in another bowl mix egg whites till foamy and add rest of sugar- mix till it becomes a white, glossy meringue. 
mix together chocolate and egg yolk slowly. then fold in the egg whites meringue mix. 
bake in spring form pan at 375 for 50 mins. let cool till top crackles and sides pull away from pan...run a knife around it so make sure it doesnt stick. 
serve warm with cold whipped cream with some chopped mint or just as a garnish :)

swirly and completely american...

Yes yes, I am completely aware that this screams out *AMERICAN AMERICAN*, but i have to admit i do like to have myself some good quality peanut butter every now and then (yes, you just witnessed a proud Finnish native say that- believe it). Especially delicious when mixed into some chocolate ice cream...YUMMA!

So here it is folks- 

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

1/2 c bitter/semi sweet chocolate chips or any chocolate

1/2 c butter

...melt these together in a double boiler :)

3 eggs (room temperature)

1/2 c sugar

1/4 tsp salt

...whisk these together till fluffy

once the chocolate mix is cooled, combine the eggs and chocolate together

...then fold in 1 c flour.

I use Adam's crunchy peanut butter, about a 1/2 cup.. placed a few dollops randomly and took a knife to run through each dollop to make swirls :)

Bake at 350 (about 175 C) for 25-30 mins. 

*If you don't happen to have peanut butter around...(hard to come by in Finland) here's an easy enough recipe for homemade peanut butter 

I highly suggest eating this with some delicious 1% reduced fat organic milk ;)

Spoon it up!