Mini Pear-Ginger Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crust

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These individual cheesecakes are a healthier twist on the classic dessert with dried pears, gingersnaps and canola oil. Sugar plums will be dancing in your head with each bite!
“Skinny Mini Holiday Desserts” Recipe Collection is available at CanolaInfo.org.
Mini Pear-Ginger Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crust
Ingredients:Cheesecake

• ½ cup water 125 mL
• 8 dried pear halves, chopped (dried apples can be substituted)
• 1/3 cup crystallized ginger 75 mL
• 3 packages (8 oz/250 g) low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¾ cup granulated sugar 175 mL

Crust

• 40 gingersnap cookies, processed to form crumbs (about 2 cups/500 mL)
• 3 Tbsp canola oil 45 mL
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar 30 mL
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar 30 mL
• 2 tsp salt 10 mL

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 °F (160 °C). 
2. In medium saucepan, bring water, dried pears and crystallized ginger to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 12 minutes until water is absorbed and pears softened.
3.  In food processor, process pears and ginger until course paste forms and cool about 10 minutes. While paste is cooling, make crust.
4. To make crust: combine all crust ingredients. Spray miniature cheesecake pans with canola oil. Divide crumb mixture evenly among mini cheesecake pans and press firmly into bottom.
5. Bake crusts for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown around edges. Remove from oven and set on wire rack and cool completely. 
6. Reduce oven temperature to 250 °F (120 °C). 
7. While crusts are cooling, continue making cheesecake filling. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and gingered pear paste together on low until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Add sugar and beat until smooth, frequently scraping down sides of bowl with spatula. Transfer filling into liquid measuring cup or pitcher and pour filling into crusts, dividing evenly.
8. Place in oven and bake about 30 minutes until filling is set. Remove from oven and set on wire rack about 1 hour to cool completely. Then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before removing cheesecakes from pan.
9. To serve, garnish cheesecakes with crystallized ginger.

Tips: The cheesecakes can be also made in non-stick mini muffin tins that are sprayed well with canola oil and/or lined with cupcake holders. Dried pear halves may be substituted with dried apples.  Find out more on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/canolainfo
CLICK here for over 200 more holiday ideas on the Holiday Hop of Goodies! Share yours, too! 

Not so Naughty Holiday Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

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There are so many tempting desserts everywhere you go this Holiday Season. One way to get you through it is to prepare yourself ahead of time on how much you can eat and what foods to look for and to avoid.

This holiday season make your own tasty treats that you can eat. Others will eat it, too! If you prepare it then you will know what is in it. Make it healthier so you can have a piece without the extra guilt.

One yummy treat that would be worth making is Not so Naughty Peanut Butter Brownie Bites. Being a mom of 3 teen girls where someone is in need of chocolate, this recipe uses Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour, less oil and less sugar than most brownie recipes. They are tasty, satisfying especially with the chocolate peanut butter combination!

I'm entering this recipe into the Have a Grain Holiday!’ Recipe Contest! I also have a giveaway for you, too! You can enter below and here Baker’s Holiday Gift Pack Sweepstakes!!

Not So Naughty Holiday Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

Ingredients

3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup natural applesauce
1 cup milk- your choice
1 teaspoon vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour Flour
1/2 cup Hodgson Mill White Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup of cocoa

6 tablespoons natural peanut butter, smooth or nutty
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Directions

1-Preheat oven to 325° F (165° C).
2-In a large bowl, add all the ingredients except the last 3.
3-Line mini muffin tins with mini muffin liners or lightly oil each muffin tin.
4-Pour the batter evenly into each muffin well.
5-Bake for 8-10 minutes. Insert a toothpick into one and if it comes out clean they are done.
6-Let brownies cool for 5 minutes.
7-Use your finger or a wooden spoon handle to make a small well into the center of the brownie.
8-Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter into each well.
9-Top each brownie with a few mini chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

Notes

When you make the well, be careful not to go to the bottom of the brownies.
This recipe is one that I have been making for quite sometime. I've created a healthier version to go along with my healthier lifestyle.

Yield 36 mini brownies

Enter to win a Hodgson Mill’s Baker’s Holiday Gift Pack in the below Rafflecopter form which includes a $1 coupon! 


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Shutterfly Photobooks #Giveaway #SFLYphotobook

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What do you buy someone who can buy whatever they want? Have you tried adding photobooks to your must have holiday gift buying list for that person?

About 5 years ago I was struggling to find a fun gift for my hubby's parents. They are the best parents and grandparents, ever and I wanted to get them the perfect gift, something that they truly would enjoy. Guess what I got them? A super easy to make Shutterfly Photobook. They loved it so much (yes the best gift ever) that we now get them one every year for Christmas. The book is full of pictures of the girls from the past year. This makes the book extra special because they get to see what they girls have been up to the past year and see their changes throughout the year. Do you have a best gift ever idea? Have you given photobooks?

Shutterfly Photo Books: The Best Gift Ever

Would you like to WIN an 8x8 hardcover photobook from Shutterfly? Two will win! This is a quick giveaway that will end 12/16 and the code will expire 12/31.

To enter, view the above video and leave a comment below as to what scene in the video reminds you of a memory in your own life. 

BONUS entries:
1-Visit Shutterfly.com and go to the middle of the page. Click on the STYLES tab and check out the photobooks. Come back here and leave a comment on your favorite style. (There are 9 different categories on the left hand side)

2- Tweet about the giveaway  TWO will #win an 8X8 Shutterfly Photobook via @susieqtpies on 12/16 http://ow.ly/fUo23 #SFLYphotobook (you can use the below tweet button)

3-Follow my blog via GFC, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

HURRY it ends 12/16 and please make sure you either leave an email addy, email it to me at cafescrapper at gmail dot com or when I click your name I can easily find it! Thank you and Merry Christmas.

This is a sponsored giveaway. My own tasty opinions are expressed here. The sponsor will provide 2 codes for my 2 winners.

How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed

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Endure the mass hysteria known as football season with these mildly subversive tactics.

To complete this how-to, you will need:

Offbeat school colors
Compelling photos
"I Hate Football" group
Happy place

Step 1: Tweak the team colors

Forced to wear team colors to show your school spirit? Wear shades that are close, but a little bit off. You'll feel like less of a lemming without pissing off the football jocks.

Step 2: Ditch the pep rallies

Ditch the pep rallies however you can. If anyone asks where you were, whisper "stomach troubles" and they'll leave you alone.

No way to escape the pep rally? Stay seated when the team enters as your silent protest.

Step 3: Keep photos handy

Scan the internet for funny, weird, or shocking photos to keep on your phone. Anytime someone wants to talk football, use them to change the subject.

Step 4: Start a group

Vent with like-minded people in an "I Hate Football" group. Make plans together for game nights, when the rest of a town is at the stadium.

Step 5: Have a happy place

When all else fails, have a happy place to go to in your head when everyone around you is boring you to tears with their football obsession. And remember: sooner or later, you'll graduate!

TV star Ryan Seacrest played football for the Dunwoody High School Wildcats in Atlanta.

Thanks for watching How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed! If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from howcast and more videos in the Howto category.

You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide (at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new ), learn about producing Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmaker Program (at http://info.howcast.com/filmmakers ), or showcase your expertise in a Howcast video series (at http://info.howcast.com/experts ).

Related articles

• How to Prevent a Football Head Injury 
• Pest Control: How to Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs 
• How To Make White Rice 
• How To Make Pizza Dough 
• How To Make Edible Garnishes 
• How To Celebrate Rosh Hashanah 

What will you bring to the table?

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Whether it is due to the holiday season or because of some special event, there is always the possibility that you will receive an invitation to attend, the question is what will you wear and will you bring anything. It was supposed to be a special occasion and although Becky was surprised that she was included on the guest list, she decided that she would purchase a bottle of fine wine for the hosts, with her compliments.

This was not her first time bringing wine to an event, in fact she had decided long ago that because of her love for wine that she would join one of the best  wine clubs she had heard about. There were a few other instances where Becky used a bottle of wine to entice someone and that could be why she was invited to this particular event.


A bottle of wine is a great gift for someone who you have difficulty shopping for, in fact there are people who order wine by the case so that they can easily satisfy their shopping list in one easy sweep. Naturally you would need to make certain that none of your recipients are having issues with alcoholic beverages before you make such a contribution, but once you do the odds as that everyone will appreciate the effort you made.

You can order wine online and save the aggravation of picking it up at the local liquor store, in fact it is a good bet that you will find that your prices are that much better than making the trip yourself. Before placing your order it would be wise to look for an offer that saves you money, especially the ones that offer package deals.


Regardless of the occasion, wine will always compliment your setting. It is not an extremely potent drink and depending on the meal in front of you there will be certain wines that will greatly compliment its taste. If you are having a celebration of any kind, a few bottles of wine will add refinement to any bar. Many guests today will not drink anything other than wine in moderation, due to the dangers of overdoing it.

Whether you join the white or red wine club you will have your choice of some of the best wines available on the market to call your own. If you want to influence someone's decision on an important matter, you should consider a bottle or two of wine in the form of a gift, you would be surprised how far this effort will go to persuade them to see things your way.

Related articles

• Wine and Cheese Party: A Non-Wine Drinker's Perspective
• Need a Gift Idea? Give a California Wine Club Membership!
• An Oxidative State
• California Wine Club Delivers Fine Wines To Your Doorstep
• LCBO wants personal data of wine club members
• Tasting Preferences - Large Winery vs. Small Winery

How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed

To contact us Click HERE

Endure the mass hysteria known as football season with these mildly subversive tactics.

To complete this how-to, you will need:

Offbeat school colors
Compelling photos
"I Hate Football" group
Happy place

Step 1: Tweak the team colors

Forced to wear team colors to show your school spirit? Wear shades that are close, but a little bit off. You'll feel like less of a lemming without pissing off the football jocks.

Step 2: Ditch the pep rallies

Ditch the pep rallies however you can. If anyone asks where you were, whisper "stomach troubles" and they'll leave you alone.

No way to escape the pep rally? Stay seated when the team enters as your silent protest.

Step 3: Keep photos handy

Scan the internet for funny, weird, or shocking photos to keep on your phone. Anytime someone wants to talk football, use them to change the subject.

Step 4: Start a group

Vent with like-minded people in an "I Hate Football" group. Make plans together for game nights, when the rest of a town is at the stadium.

Step 5: Have a happy place

When all else fails, have a happy place to go to in your head when everyone around you is boring you to tears with their football obsession. And remember: sooner or later, you'll graduate!

TV star Ryan Seacrest played football for the Dunwoody High School Wildcats in Atlanta.

Thanks for watching How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed! If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from howcast and more videos in the Howto category.

You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide (at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new ), learn about producing Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmaker Program (at http://info.howcast.com/filmmakers ), or showcase your expertise in a Howcast video series (at http://info.howcast.com/experts ).

Related articles

• How to Prevent a Football Head Injury 
• Pest Control: How to Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs 
• How To Make White Rice 
• How To Make Pizza Dough 
• How To Make Edible Garnishes 
• How To Celebrate Rosh Hashanah 

Holiday Recipe-Peppermint Chocolate Patty Bark and Holiday Hop

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Easy Holiday Recipe to make for family and friends. This peppermint chocolate patty bark is quick and great for gifts.


Peppermint Chocolate Patty Bark

 Ingredients
 1 pkg chocolate almond bark
 1/4 cup crushed up candy canes
 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
 2 Tbsp crushed up candy canes for the topping
 Sprinkles, optional

Directions

 Melt bark in microwave according to package instructions.
 Add in candy canes and stir until all covered in chocolate.
 Quickly stir in white chocolate and pour out onto a 11 x 17 baking sheet.
 Top with crushed candy canes any if wanted, sprinkles of your choice.
 Once hard, break and eat!
Link up all of your holiday goodies below! Anything holiday related is welcome!