almond joy cookies~

 

 

 

 14 oz bag of sweetened coconut

2 cups of milk chocolate chips

cup lightly chopped almonds

can of sweetened condensed milk

 

toss in bowl

use ice cream scoop and drop on silpat, flatten and shape with moist fingers

bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes

 

 

bright spots in the garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

banana bread cheesecake~

I have oogled this recipe for ages, finally had enough overly ripe bananas to take the plunge...

 

 

 

 

 

it was worth the wait! 

 

Banana Bread Layer

• 4 bananas, as ripe as possible
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• ½ cup (100 g) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cheesecake Layer

• 32 oz (900 g) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup (100 g) sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 mL) milk
• 1 tablespoon gelatin powder
• caramel, for drizzling

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork.
3. Add in the oil, egg, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
4. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until just combined. Don’t over mix.
5. Pour the banana bread batter into a greased springform pan.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is set.
7. In a large bowl, add the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
8. Microwave the milk until hot for about 2 minutes, and add in the gelatin powder.
9. Quickly stir until gelatin is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
10. Pour the gelatin mixture over the cream cheese and whisk again until smooth.
11. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked banana bread.
12. Cool for 3 hours or overnight.
13. Drizzle with caramel.
14. Enjoy!

morning walk

pre dawn, morns early light, a scattering of clouds,

remnants of a hurricane from mexico, dust the sky pink and red...

 

 

 

illuminating wild flowers... 

 

 

while dragonflies ply the winds

 

 

good dogs wait and watch...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

a hummingbird bathed in a freshly watered rose

 

 

plunging its body

 

 

and cupping its wings

 

 

fluttering in the drenched rose petals

 

 

 

leaving fresh and clean with the sweet smell of roses trailing in the breeze

 

 

indoors, the cat languishes too high and dangerous for my liking...

 

 

a crash on exit feels imminent

 

 

 

as the sun arcs high

 

 

 

 

 

vivid sunsets from residual smoke and ash in the valley radiate far and wide

 

apricot sorbet~

 tart and refreshing!

 

freshly picked apricot sorbet~

15 apricots

1 cup of water

1 cup brown sugar

zest and juice from a lime

a few drops of almond extract