Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie

I was in the mood to make pie crust on Sunday, so my next task was figuring out what should go IN the pie crust! I browsed my collection of cookbooks and found one that I've probably only opened once since I got it (not because I don't like it, I simply forgot I had it!). I found a recipe that is perfect for Thanksgiving AND it combines two of my favorite things: pumpkin pie and cheesecake. How could this not be incredible?!? Have a look for yourself...

I started with the pie crust I'm in love with making now. I gather my mise en place (because I'm "particular" like that).
First, a layer of cheesecake batter...

Then a layer of yummy pumpkin pie batter!

Protect the crust from over-browning by covering it with foil.

Finished off with pecan streusel, FANTASTIC!

The cheesecake layer looks a bit thin, but you can definitely taste the cream cheese flavor!

Mmmm, so yummy! Here's the recipe just in time for Thanksgiving!!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie from Better Homes and Gardens: New Baking Book
Prep: 20 minutes - Bake: 1 hour
Makes: 8 servings – Oven 350F

1 recipe pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie (recipe here)
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1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 slightly beaten egg
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1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup evaporated milk
2 beaten eggs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar (I used dark)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
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1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened

1. Prepare and roll out pastry. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry. Trim and crimp edge as desired; set aside.
2. In small mixing bowl beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the vanilla, and the 1 slightly beaten egg with electric mixer on low to medium speed until smooth. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate.
3. In a medium mixing bowl combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, the 2 eggs, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Carefully pour over cream-cheese mixture.
4. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of the pie with foil. Bake in a 350F oven for 25 minutes.
Remove foil. Bake for 25 minutes more.
5. Meanwhile, combine the pecans, flour, the 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and butter. Sprinkle
over the pie. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 1 to 2 hours on a wire rack. Refrigerate within 2 hours; cover for longer storage.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 477 cal., 29 g total fat (11g sat. fat), 122 mg chol., 295 mg sodium, 46 g carbo., 2 g fiber, 10 g pro. Daily Values: 103% vit. A, 4% vit. C, 12% calcium, 17% iron

Banana Bars w/ Streusel Topping

We had some bananas that were very VERY ripe (AKA on the verge of becoming compost). My mom told me to use them or else they'd be thrown away in the next 24 hours. Well, duh, I never pass up a reason to bake! While shopping with my aunt Tammy this week, I bought 3 new cookbooks. This recipe comes from Betty Crocker: Baking for Today. The price on the inside bookcover is $24.95, but the price at Ross was only $4.99. How could I pass that up!?! (Speaking of Ross, I recently saw Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan at Ross for like $8 last week! Made me mad that I bought it from Amazon for $11). These Banana Bars are more like cake than what I think of when I here "bar" mentioned as a snack (My mind goes to "cookie/brownie," what about you??) They'd also be perfect as muffins! However I think they're too soft to be made into banana bread. I made them special by using some Vietnamese Cinnamon (from TJ Maxx, $3.99!). This cinnamon smells sooooooo good. I highly recommend buying it if you can find it! Anyway, here's the recipe along with a few photos.

Mmmm, they make a yummy breakfast!
From Pepper Creek Farms, definitely worth a little extra $!

Banana Bars (Makes 2 dozen bars)
1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium or 3 small)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Streusel Topping (my own addition)
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, mix sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs with spoon. Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Spread in pan. (For streusel topping, in a small bowl combine ingredients with your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of batter halfway through baking time.)
2. Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. (We ate them warm!)