I’m really excited about this. But before I get to talking about that, there is something else I need to do.
We need to have a little chat. Yes, we really do.
I wish I could ignore Halloween. I wish it were Thanksgiving because then I could eat my weight in roasted turkey, creamy gravy, buttery green beans, and homemade pumpkin cheesecake.
And then I wish I could fast forward another month to Christmas. Then I could burn sweet-smelling holiday candles, listen to Justin Bieber’s new christmas album, write a letter to Santa, and eat a plate of stuffed mushrooms in some cozy sweats.
Note to self: I need to stop adding to the insanely long list of cookie, treat, and peppermint bark recipes I want to make around the holidays and put that money to something more useful… Say, more stretchy pants?
But Halloween is coming anyways… Actually, it’s almost here.
And with sexy mini costumes and king-size candy bars lurking around the corner, I thought I’d offer a little advice. Call it imparting words of wisdom from personal experience… Because I’ve had a few.
1. Don’t purchase a costume that you (a) can’t sit down in or b) can’t see anything or anyone around you… Even if it seems like a good idea to be rex the dinosaur from toy story, resist the temptation.
2. Visit a haunted house, maybe two if you’re feeling adventurous. But not a good idea to be in the front or in the back of the pack. Those people usually end up dead. Make sure to position yourself in the middle of your group of friends. And if one of your manly, macho male friends screeches like a girl, don’t let him pin it on you.
3. If you find yourself slowly making your way over to the “one dollar” section at Target… Well, just don’t do it.
4. Don’t purchase costumes if they have any of the following labels: Nurse, doctor, politician, cat, mouse, bunny, cheetah, or any animal for that matter, french maid, school teacher, sports coach, fairy…
Ladies (and especially you, young men) we can be more creative than that. It’s not edgy or awesome to wear minimal clothing, only predictable.
5. Show a little skin on another day that week when no one is expecting it. That’ll catch the fellas off guard… In a good way.
Are we cool? Sweet.
Enjoy Halloween this year. Be cool, be safe, and keep it simple people.
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
(yields 6 bars)
INGREDIENTS:
For the Crust:
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 full graham cracker sheets
1/4 cup rolled oats
a pinch of cinnamon
For the Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces plain Greek yogurt.
1/4 cup cane sugar
1 egg white
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
PREPARATION:
To make the Crust:
Reheat oven to 325 degrees and grease the bottom of a 9 by 9-inch baking pan with butter. Melt butter in the microwave then set aside to cool.
In a food processor, process the cinnamon and graham crackers until you have the consistency of breadcrumbs. Add in rolled oats, followed by the melted butter, and pulse a couple of times to fully incorporate.
Pour into the lined baking pan and firmly pat down with the bottom of a glass and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until set.
To make the Cheesecake filling:
Add cream cheese, yogurt, egg whites, lemon juice, and sugar to the food processor and pulse until well combined (it should have a smooth consistency).
Pour onto the cooked graham cracker base and then sprinkle with strawberries. They will sink slightly but should be half exposed.
Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the center only slightly jiggles. Remove from the oven and cool completely before refrigerating. Once set, slice into rectangular bars.
Tagged: baking, bars, cream cheese, dessert, food, less than 200 calories, oats, recipes, strawberries, sweet, yogurt, yogurt butter
