Strawberry Cheesecake

So I'm forgetful and whoops: forgot I picked a ton of strawberries last year and found them in the freezer. And I needed to make something for a potluck at church so it was perfect timing. But I have no idea why I was originally digging through the freezer. So anyway, here's a recipe I came up with by combining a few other recipes to suit my needs.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Makes a 9x13 pan

You need to start by preparing the fruit topping and allowing it to cool completely. While you wait for it to cool, you can start on the other layers. If the fruit topping is ready before the layers, store it in an airtight container and refrigerate if needed but bring to room temperature before spreading on the cream cheese layer.
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Fruit Topping:
6 cups frozen and thawed strawberries, reserve the juice
Approx. 3 cups strawberry juice from thawed strawberries (you can also get juice from fresh strawberries by following the instructions below)
4-6 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
4-6 tbsp. water
1 part package of pectin

Instructions  Follow all steps for fresh or frozen berries
1. (fresh berries): cut strawberries into halves and add to a pot along with sugar; (reserved juice): add the sugar to the juice and stir
2. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar melts, then turn up the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
3. (fresh berries): once it boils, remove from heat and lightly mash the strawberries using a potato masher, or a fork or wooden spoon.
4. (fresh berries): return to heat and bring back to a boil; (reserved juice): continue boiling.
5. Dissolve 1 tsp. of cornstarch in water and add to the pot. Stir continually so it doesn't burn while it boils.
6. You can stop here if you would like a runny syrup to pour over the cheesecake.
7. Continue boiling and stirring, add another 1 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in water.
8. Sprinkle in pectin and boil until desired consistency is reached.
Note: the topping will thicken as it cools.
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Crust:
2 cups graham crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

Mix all ingredients until crumbly and press lightly with a fork into a greased 9x13 glass pan.

Bake at 350°F for approx. 15 minutes. Allow to fully cool. While you're waiting for it to cool, remove cream cheese for filling from fridge and bring to room temperature to soften.
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Cream Cheese Filling:
2 packages 250 g. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 carton whipping cream, whipped or 1 L tub of pre-made whipped cream

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a bowl until smooth. Fold in whipped cream until combined. Spread onto prepared crust and smooth evenly. Refrigerate 1-2 hours.

When the fruit topping has cooled, carefully spread over cream cheese filling. Place reserved strawberries on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve; cut into squares.

NOTE: You will have lots of berries left. These work well in milk shakes and on ice cream. (YUM!)

You can also substitute blueberries or cherries (frozen or fresh) and get the same result.

Banana Blondies Recipe

This recipe works so well and it's so tasty and addictive (but sweet!). It's also a great way to use up ripe banana's if you're sick of chocolate chip banana bread (like our family is). Sit down with a friend and a cup of tea on a rainy day and enjoy a few of these squares. Recipe by Cookies and Cups.

Banana Blondies
Makes 16 blondies

Ingredients
Blondies:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted and if desired browned
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup mashed banana (1 medium banana)

Brown Sugar Frosting:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

MIX in a bowl or stand mixer, melted (or browned) butter and sugar. Mix until combined. Add in egg and vanilla and continue mixing until incorporated. Stir in salt, flour and banana until batter is smooth and even. Spread in prepared pan.

BAKE for 25-30 minutes until center is set.

TRANSFER pan to wire rack to cool.

FROST the blondies when they are mostly cooled

Frosting:
1. In a medium saucepan melt butter. Add brown sugar and milk and stir until mixture comes to just a boil. Remove from heat, allow to cool for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in powdered sugar with a whisk adding more or less for desired consistency.
3. Spread on top of blondies and allow frosting to set and blondies to cool completely before cutting into squares.

NOTE: If you choose to brown the butter, melt butter in saucepan and continue cooking, once it's melted by swirling the butter in the pan until butter reaches a deep golden brown colour.
You can double the recipe and frosting easily if you need to use more than one banana. Just line a 9x13 pan with tin foil.