Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Fall in the desert...

Fall in Arizona is funny. Right now in Michigan I am sure the leaves are changing and happy families are making weekend trips to the cider mills for fresh pressed apple cider and doughnuts. The weather is changing and people are getting their nice warm fuzzy sweaters out of storage.

Here in the dessert....well....it is how you would expect it to be. Hot.

The other day we visited a pumpkin patch (we read in this magazine that this was the "best pumpkin patch in Arizona"). When we got there...well we were a little disappointed. So, being that arizona is hot...what do you think happens to pumpkins when they are left out in the sun? Yeah...they kinda cook. So, all the pumpkins were pretty smushy or brown and dieing. Poor pumpkins!

To celebrate fall...I deceided to make some pumpkin cheesecake brownies that I read about on Caras Cravings. Now I really like to bake and cook but being a messy cooker runs in my family!

I really need to work on my cleaning WHILE cooking. Good thing I have a husband that likes to do dishes. For real...I am not kidding. He likes to do dishes...its kinda like a zen thing for him...which is a HUGE bonus for me!!

These are great for fall. They have just the right mix of pumpkin and chocolate. The colors are very rich and fall-y and of course they taste great!



Pumpkin-Spice Cheesecake Brownies
from Cara's Cravings

Brownie Batter
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Cheesecake Batter
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each ground ginger and ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x8" square metal baking pan.



Beat together melted butter, sugar, and vanilla, then beat in eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients and then gradually stir into butter mixture with a wooden spoon. In separate bowl, beat together cheesecake batter ingredients.

Spread about 2/3 of chocolate batter into prepared pan, and spoon cheesecake batter over. Dollop remaining brownie batter over cheesecake batter. Swirl the batters together by running a butter knife back and forth through the pan.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until center is set. Cool completely on wire rack and chill before cutting and serving.

9 comments:

Courtney said...

Clean as you go girl! Thank goodness for Eric!
Those pumpkin brownies might be just what the doctor ordered this weekend!

Stacy said...

Those look delicious!! We went to the cider mill this past weekend with my parents. I still have apple pie left *yum*. Do you need a cider donut care package?

Christy said...

Those look delish! Yum! But can you taste the cheesecake mixture? I don't like cheesecake. :(
And what your DH enjoys doing dishes, I wish FI did, but he cooks so I guess the least I can do is dishes. Ugh.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

You are right - it is Fall in Michigan - the leafs are changing color but the weather is still warm during the day & cool in the evening - (70's day & 50's evening) its really beautiful - I should tell your dad to bring some colorful leafs with him when he & Cheri come to see the show - he's really excited about seeing both of you
Love you both
Bubi

Me... said...

MMmmmm.........I can't wait to try those!

RACHEL said...

My brother just moved from Missouri to Arizona and he feels the same way. Those brownies look amazing!

Me... said...

Pumpkin puree? Is that something I can buy, or do I have to get the pumpkin?

I really want to make these for Thanksgiving!!

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