Cheddar Crackers

If you're like me, you like to know exactly what is going into your tummy or the tummies of those around you.  I always prefer my kids eat things that I know what they are.  In other words, Blue Dye #4 isn't exactly my favorite ingredient for my kids to munch on.  That being said, I find myself loving to make snacks from scratch for them.  Here is a new favorite of mine and Isaiahs!

Ingredients:
1 stick of softened butter (you want REAL butter, and I use salted)
1 1/4 cups flour (try 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat flour for an even healthier snack!)
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp water

Put the softened butter and cheddar cheese in a blender, and blend until the cheese is broken up and the butter is mixed in well.  Add flour, salt, and pepper and blend again.  It should be pretty crumbly looking.  Add the water ad blend until it forms a ball.  Remove the dough and place it on a piece of plastic wrap.  Usng the plastic wrap, form the dough into a log about a foot long.  Freeze for half an hour.  Remove the frozen dough from the freezer and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.  Place on a greased cookie sheet (they won't rise, so yo can put them pretty close together) and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Flip them, and bake for another 5 minutes.  They will come out beautiful, crunchy, and delicious!!

I love this recipe because you can really add anything.  Try different cheeses or herbs, and you can really make this recipe your own.  If you like them saltier, press some salt into the tops right before you bake!  Best of all, though, this is a great snack recipe that allows you to keep track of exactly what goes into all the precious tummies you care so much about!!

Spider Web Peanut Butter Pie

This recipe will really satisfy any sweet craving this Halloween that the candy just couldn't fill! 

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts
• Chocolate Sauce
• 
  
• Beat together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.  Spoon into two 9 inch graham cracker pie shells, and carefully pour 3 circles, one right outside the other, on the top of the pie with chocolate sauce.  Next, take a toothpick, insert it into the center about half an inch deep, and draw lines going out to the edge of the pie.  Make these lines all the way around, each time starting from the center and drawing out.  It will create a fun spider web design on the top of your pie! Cover, and freeze until firm.  Cut, serve, and enjoy!

Cheesecake Brownie Bites

These rich and delicious little bites of yummy are sure to impress everyone at your next party!  Marbled and beautiful, it's a mixture of a rich cheesecake, yummy brownie, and crunchy graham cracker crust!  Simple to make and decadent to enjoy!

Graham Cracker Crust:
1 stick melted butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
(If you'd prefer to not make this, feel free to use the pre-made crusts from the store.  This will simple make this a pie-like dessert instead of bite sized pieces!)

Melt your butter and mix well into graham cracker crumbs.  Pat gently into a greased casserole dish to form a crust.  Bake for about 10 minutes at 350 to make it nice and crunchy.  Let cool

For the brownie part, I used a basic boxed brownie mix.  Follow directions on the package.

Cheesecake:
2 8 oz packages of softened cream cheese
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a clean bowl, cream together cream cheese and sugar.  Once blended very well, beat on high for 2 minutes.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating on high with each one.  Add vanilla.

Now to put it all together....
Pour cheesecake mixture over the graham cracker crust.  Using a spoon, drizzle the brownie mix all over.  DO NOT BLEND.  It should have a lovely marbled effect on top.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes, or until it is not jiggly and the top is a nice golden brown.  Remove from the oven, let it cool for as long as you can stand it, slice, and enjoy!