Brown Sugar Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

This recipe is adapted from one found here by The Hungry Mouse. :)

Ingredients:

1 package of Oreos

4 Tablespoons of melted butter

24 oz. cream cheese  (3 8-oz. bricks), at room temperature

1 3/4 cups dark brown sugar

4 eggs (at room temp)

1 15-oz. can 100% pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 Tablespoon of Vanilla

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup flour

For the Crust:

Crush your oreos in the food processor and then pour in the melted butter. Spoon about a tablespoon or so of the crust into cupcake liners and then press down with a glass. 

For the Filling:

Beat the cream cheese in your mixer until smooth. Add the brown sugar and mix again. Break your eggs into another bowl and then break them up with a fork. Add to the mixer. Beat well. Add the pumpkin, vanilla, pie spice, flour and mix until well combined. Pour filling into crusts. Bake at 325 for 35 minutes then turn off heat and crack the oven door for an additional 30 minutes. Then remove from oven and cool in kitchen for another 30. Then refridgerate 6 hours or overnight. You can top with whipped cream or eat as is.

Makes 36 cupcakes

Chicken Sweet Potato Black Bean Baked Flautas

Ingredients:

9 Mission Carb Balance Flour Tortillas

1 grilled shredded or cubed chicken breast

1 sweet potato

1 cup of black beans

1 cup of corn

1/4 of julienned carrots

1/4 of mild salsa

1/2 of feta cheese

2 tablespoons of cream cheese

1 teaspoon of basil paste

1/8 teaspoon of cumin

1/8 teaspoon of garlic salt

a pinch of red pepper flakes

3 dashes of tabasco sauce

salt and pepper to taste

shredded mexican cheese

Directions:

Put oven at 425. Cover a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Poke some holes in your sweet potato, wrap in damp paper towel and microwave for 7 minutes. Grill your chicken breast and shred or cube. Place in a large bowl and add the insides of the sweet potato, add everything else EXCEPT the mexican cheese. Mix! Take a tortilla and sprinkle with mexican cheese, add filling, sprinkle again with mexican cheese and then roll and place seam side down on cookie sheet until all are made. Spray the tops with cooking spray and bake for 7 minutes. Then take out and flip and cook for another 8 minutes on the other side.

I served mine with avocado on top. Super delicious and fairly healthy dinner. Enjoy!

Heirloom Tomato Panzanella

This recipe was introduced to me by my sister in law. She adds lemon cucumbers and red onions. We have also discussed how good it would be with avocado. So start with the below base and add whatever you like. 

Ingredients:

One baguette, sliced into 1 inch cubes

4 heirloom tomatos (I prefer Cherokee Purple and Pineapple)

A few chopped basil leaves

garlic

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Your favorite cheese (I used a garlic Jersey cheese from my farmer's market but my SIL used small mozzarella balls. You could also use feta or goat.)

Directions

Mix bread cubes with olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. Bake at 375 until crispy and golden brown. 

Take them out and let them cool. 

Slice the tomatoes into bite sized pieces. 

Toss everything but the bread in a bowl with vinegar and olive oil to taste. 

Toss with cooled bread cubes and taste for seasoning. 

Serves 4-6 people