Brownie Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Ok, so one blog I love to read is my friend Kathy's.. (The Busscher Family) not only is she honest and insightful and posts about her adorable kiddos, but she's an AMAZING cook and baker. She often posts recipes (with pics!) of things she's tried lately. I've gotten some gems from her blog and hope she continues posting this stuff (nudge nudge :)). Anywho...this past Sunday I had to bring dessert to our small group meeting and to be honest, I don't have much in my "dessert repertoire" so I tried something new and it actually turned out and was even kinda pretty (in my eyes). In addition it was yummy and simple (thank you Pillsbury Recipes) although not for those who may be "watching it" (sorry ladies in my small group!) Thought I'd post the recipe for you all.


Brownie Chocolate Chip Cheesecake


Prep time: 20 min
Cook Time: 1 hrs 25 min
Yield: 12 to 16 servings
Ingredients:
Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (19.5 oz.) package Pillsbury® Classic Traditional Fudge Brownie
3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) canEagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Preparation Directions:
1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 9-inch springform pan with no-stick cooking spray. Prepare brownie according to package directions for chewy brownies. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
2. BAKE 35 minutes or until set.
3. BEAT cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.
4. REDUCE oven temperature to 300°F. Bake 50 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill thoroughly. Remove side of springform pan. Garnish as desired.

TIP Chocolate chips may fall to top of brownie layer during baking, you can add some to the top ten min into baking that will stay on the top for visual appeal :)

February Blahs

This last month has not produced many interesting stories or pictures as we have been hit with pneumonia, pinkeye(x2), and a cough/cold, Brad was also gone a bit and I have been busy with a bible study on Monday nights and Photography class on Tuesdays. All of a sudden its the middle of March and the snow is gone and we are seeing the light! Woo Hoo! The schedules will slow in some ways and pick up in others, but hopefully we'll be back in our usual groove!

Lately, Anabelles vocabulary has really expanded. She's now saying all kinds of words and will attempt most you throw at her. She had been combining two words at a time and attemps to sing pieces of songs (her faves are ring around the rosie, and the itsy bitsy spider). This verbal explosion has really been huge in helping the interaction between the girls. They can really communicate now and they seem to enjoy this time together (most of the time). Sabrina loves to be the mommy and spends lots of time instructing (read:bossing around) her sis and most of the time Anabelle is game. The other morning Sabrina was trying to teach Anabelle new words by "reading" the curious george book to her and asking her "can you say...." in a high, slow, sing songy voice that I'm sure I must NEVER use. :)

Anabelle is also SUPER into ballet stuff all of a sudden. She grabs Sabrinas "Ready Set Piroette (sp?)" book and looks in the back at all the moves and copies them...and is actually pretty good at it! She is also getting to develop quite a desire for things to be her way and sharing isnt too appealing to her lately. A couple days ago, Anabelle didnt want to share something with her sis and took hold of the nearby handle of her full sippy cup and clubbed Sabrina over the head. Oh MY! Then this is the look I get from her.... "you say I did what?" Seriously, sometimes punishment can be hard with this one! :)

Sabrina is in full on pretend mode lately...lots of "you be the mom...I'll be the kid" or "you be Miss Heidi the hair lady and I'll come get my hair done" :) Its very fun to see her create these worlds and the people that live in them but sometimes its hard to get her to want to be Sabrina again! Last night she and I went to the g-ville mall for some special time with just the two of us (which was so sweet and such a treasured time) and the whole ride home she was the mom and and I was the kid. This lasted through the entire bedtime routine and till the minute we said goodnight. She never broke charater. Then this morning she was ready to pick it right back up (at 6:10 AM!!). I think I need to look so forward to many more "lets pretend sessions"in my future :)

Silly Snowbunnies

Sabrina has been a HUGE snow lover but Anabelle has been hesitent until lately. I think the fact she could hardly walk in all her gear had a little bit to do with her dislike of the snowy outdoors :) Since she's starting to embrace the snow we have had more family outings to enjoy the weather. We have been sledding down the huge pile left from Brads plow, we have attempted snowmen (but the snow has not cooperated!) and we have even had a family snowball fight! (Great fun and giggles all around till Anabelle caught one in the kisser!) I will say I have never been one to enjoy the cold myself (except when skiing), but enjoying it through new eyes has given me a new love for the white stuff so bring it on old man winter! We dare you! ;)

One piggie, two piggie

Anabelle has begun to rock the "two piggie" look and I think it's pretty cute :) Crazy enough so does she. She wants her hair done every morning and not a day goes by where she doesnt ask for her bow. When I tried the two piggies for the first time, she giggled and giggled and pointed in the mirror. Too funny! :)

Ive had a lot of comments lately on how much the girls look alike...I both agree and disagree, but I do find they have some very similar mannerisms and approach tasks similarly...

The girlies have been really playing together more and lovin on eachother.I came up on this "moment" the other day and be still my heart :) SO sweet.

I hate football

Most of you who know me can attest to my hatred of football and to be honest, most all sports really. Football is just exceptionally excruciating for me...my sensitive ears and the constant crowd noise, the crazy rules i dont understand (and dont care to), and the men prancing around is capris and a shirt stuffed with padding juming all over each other every 2 min causing pain to others who have done them no wrong!! WHo dreams up this stuff?!?
Ok ok, sorry to all you who love football, (including my husband) and most of my extended family, I hope you can love me in spite of this....the upside to all this is while "the game is on I get to have silly time with the girls and take some cute pics which you now get to enjoy, so in the end I guess everyone wins :)








Oh, and for my husband and Grammee and Grampee I must write, "GO COLTS". :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday was my wonderful dads birthday! We celebrated with dinner out at the Piper (I recommend the woodfired pizzas, my fave combo...chicken, pineapple and roasted garlic! Try it, its perfection!)and a Coldstone Cake...delish! There are alot of awesome things about my dad, I could write on for days, but one thing that really stands out in my mind is how he always makes a point of telling his girls how much we mean to him at just the right time...we always know we are loved :) Sounds like such a simple thing but being a therapist and seeing so many young girls with self esteem issues who would give anything to hear those words from a daddy, or anyone really...boy it means alot! It also makes it easier to really know the love of our Heavenly Father when we have truely felt the love of our earthy one. Thank you dad for that gift! Love you and Happy Birthday!

Docter Docter!

The girls had their checkups this morning....yup I said check upS, 2 of them, together in one room with a total of 5 shots to look forward to! YIKES! Oh yeah, and for some reason I booked it for 8:40 AM! What was I thinking!!! Thank goodness Nana is a fan of being trapped in a small room for two hours with no toys and two anxious little girlies! heheh! On to the Stats:

Anabelle at 18 months: 33 1/2in (90%) and 23.3 lbs (25%). She also is being treated for a sinus infection after we discussed how she's been nonstop sick since November and he saw a bit of fluid in her ear and junk in her nasal cavity. SHe handled the prodding like a pro and the 3 shots she got didn't bug her too much!



Sabrina measured out at 38 1/4in tall (75%) and 33 1/4 (75%) for her 3 year check up. She handled all the questions and prodding well, but the shots were looming and when the time came she fell apart and the kicking and screaming began. It was heartwrenching! I was back to that time when they were infants and so innocent to it that it makes you cry as a mom to give shots....this time it was similar. Here was my baby begging me not to have these people hurt her, and I have to hold her down and let them do it! I felt like I betrayed her and the tears came! She has told me several times today "this is the worst day ever!"...oh the drama! :) But not all the shots are done until 4-5yrs old! Yeah!