White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

These bars look fancy but they are easy to make and delicious.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup finely crushed Oreo cookies
1 Tablespoon butter
3 squares bakers white chocolate, divided
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of 8x8 inch pan.
Melt 2 squares of chocolate in microwave or over low heat on stove.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended.
Add melted chocolate, mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition until just blended. Pour over crust. Bake 30 - 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. Place strawberry jam in microwave proof cup and microwave for 20-30 seconds or until easily spreadable.  Spread jam over the top of the bars.
Melt remaining chocolate square. Ship the tip off of a plastic sandwich bag and fill with melted chocolate. Drizzle over cheesecake in stripes in both directions. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

Frozen Strawberry Margarita

If you keep this in the freezer, anytime is margarita time!

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package whole frozen strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 (12 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups tequila
4 cups lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink beverage, chilled

Instructions

In food processor, combine strawberries, sugar and limeade concentrate. Process until strawberries are chopped up well and mixture is blended.
Slowly add 1 cup of the water, blending well.
Pour into non-metal container. Add remaining 1/2 cup water, tequila, and 1 1/2 cup of carbonated soft drink. Mix well. Cover container. Stir again after two hours. Freeze overnight.
To serve, stir mixture. Spoon into glasses.
Top each glass with about 1/4 cup of carbonated soft drink.

No Cook Strawberry Jam

No cooking means that this jam is full of fresh fruit flavor and no cooking means this is a great project to do with kids.

Ingredients

1 pound strawberries ( 1 2/3 cup sliced)
2/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons instant pectin

Instructions

Wash strawberries.  Remove stem and slice into small pieces.
Mash the strawberries.
Combine sugar and pectic in separate bowl.
Add to mashed strawberries and stir for three minutes.
Pour into clean jars. The jam should be thick in about half an hour.
Store in refrigerator for immediate use or in freezer.


Papers and embellishments on attached photo by Jessica Sprague.

Frozen Strawberry Margarita Pie

The perfect finish to a summer dinner.

Ingredients

For the Crust

1 1/4 cup crushed pretzels
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

For the Filling

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup frozen concentrated margarita mix, thawed
1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries with syrup, thawed
1 cup Cool Whip

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine all the crust ingredients.  Mix well. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of an ungreased 8 or 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate crust while preparing filling.

In medium bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and margarita mix. Beat until smooth. Add strawberries. Beat at low speed until well blended. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour mixture over crust.
 Freeze for 4 - 6 hours or until firm.
Let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before serving.

Fresh Strawberry Jam

When it is springtime and strawberries are in season, I make strawberry jam with my granddaughter. It has become a tradition in a few short years. This is a great activity with do with kids. Strawberries are easy to cut up and watching the thermometer get to just the right temperature is amazingly entertaining.  The best part -- making some biscuits while the jam cooks and then having warm biscuits and fresh strawberry jam as a snack!

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice


Instructions

Cut strawberries into quarters.
In a large bowl, crush the berries. You should have 4 cups of mashed berries.
In a large saucepan, mix together strawberries, sugar and lemon juice.
Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
Increase heat to medium-high and bring the fruit to a full rolling boil, stirring often.
Cook until temperature reaches 220 degrees F.
You can test the jam to see if it is done by placing a spoonful onto a chilled plate and
putting it into the freezer for 30 seconds. It is is jelled, it is done.
Transfer to clean jars and store in the refrigerator.
Yummy!