Cheesecake Bars and HO HO HO!

Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

(Martha Stewart)

FOR THE CRUST
20 chocolate wafer cookies, (half a 9-ounce package)
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE FILLING
2 packages bar cream cheese, (8 ounces each)
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set aside.

In a food processor, blend cookies with sugar until finely ground (you should have about 1 cup crumbs); add butter, and pulse until moistened. Transfer crumb mixture to prepared pan, and press gently into bottom. Bake until fragrant and slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Place cream cheese in food processor; blend until smooth. Add sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, flour, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt; process until combined. Set aside.

Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted. Add 1 cup pumpkin mixture; stir to combine. Set aside.

Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into prepared pan. Drop dollops of chocolate mixture onto pumpkin mixture; swirl. Bake until cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes.

Cool in pan. Cover; chill until firm, at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days). Using overhang, transfer cake to work surface. With a knife dipped in water, cut into 16 squares. Serve.

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I am participating in Keelie's TWOC. Here's my very, very general list of things I will enjoy during the holidays. (Obviously, some of these could be broken down into more detailed "lists" and probably will be in the near future!)

Decorate the house
Bake goodies
Make Christmas crafts with the family
Go to church Christmas programs
Watch hub put out the yard stuff
Enjoy fires in the fireplace
Be out and about in town (no pressure--shopping will hopefully be complete)
Buy last minute stocking stuffers
Have family meals
Listen to Christmas music
Watch Christmas chick flicks

Chair Fair!

These chairs have been in my family for almost 65 years. I love them. However, it came time recently for a little makeover. So I would love to share this redo with you, Kimba, and everyone over at A Soft Place to Land.

Before.........

And now after a cordless screw driver, 

a staple gun, and just a little time.................

Have a great day!

And the Winner of.......

is Brooke @ Keeping Up with Hunter. 

Congratulations, Brooke! (Be sure and hop over to visit her.) I've had a great time and as always wish everyone could have won. Be sure and get in on the fun of all the giveaways of our blogging friends 'cause you  just never know! You might be the lucky one some day. Don't forget about Keelie's giveaways, and I can promise I'll be having a couple more REAL soon!

HEY, YA'LL!

My friend, Thena, at Patiently Waiting was hosting a great giveaway. It was just announced that I am the winner of her Paula Deen cookbook. How awesome is that! Thank you so much, Thena! You should hop over to her blog when you get a chance. She's a wife, mother, nana, and faithful follower. And my goodness, she's just got to be the sweetest thing--she grew up in Savannah!

And speaking of surprises...... tonight, I will close my own giveaway so that I can in turn surprise someone else. It's such a delight to give and receive! 

So last call for anyone to get in on the GIVEAWAY.  Good luck and "Best Dishes!" (Just couldn't help myself.)

Have a great day!

Special Edition!!   Read all about it!

This is going to be a super duper post. I've got so much to share with all you, my favoRITE gals!

First, I want to let you know you still have plenty of time to spread the word for me with a post on your site that my giveaway does not end until Tuesday night! I am so glad that you have gotten in on it. In fact, I came home from Tampa just so excited that I may just have to throw in a little something extra for the winner!

So......if by chance you haven't gotten in on it, better click fast.

GIVEAWAY ! CHECK IT OUT....

Next, I want to let you know that I will be participating in Keelie's Twelve Weeks of Christmas these next few weeks. I will hopefully have a "list" of some sort to post tomorrow. My goodness ladies---we all love Christmas soooooo much!

Next, we had a great trip to Tampa. We actually stayed in Clearwater. We also visited St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, and Sanibel. The weather was just perfect. We crammed as much as possible into our days. In keeping with our traveling style, we left out in the morning and returned late at night. We didn't let any grass grow under our feet! I'll just share three of my pictures for now. The first was taken near a restaurant in a marina area where we ate lunch. The other two were out sightseeing by car and boat.

And last but not least--a song that has touched me once again.

HE IS ABLE

He is able, more than able

To accomplish

What concerns me today.

He is able, more than able

To handle anything

That comes my way.

He is able, more than able

To do much more

Than I could ever dream.

He is able, more than able

To make me what

He wants me to be.

OK, that's it for today. See..... you got all this for the price of one! Have a good evening.