Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

I had a few Pink Lady apples in the fridge, so I decided to try this recipe from Food Network (Paula Deen). I didn't have any regular cream cheese on hand, so I used low-fat Neufchâtel cream cheese.

Preheat oven to 350F

Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars
Crust
1 C unsalted butter, softened
1/2 C brown sugar
2 C flour


Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil. Cut butter, flour and brown sugar together with a pastry blender until crumbly. Press into prepared pan and bake for 15 min. until lightly golden.

Filling
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Beat together cream cheese with sugar at

medium speed until smooth. Add eggs one at a time.

Add vanilla and combine.


Pour over warm crust.

Apple topping
3 apples, peeled and chopped

2 T sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Stir together chopped apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Spoon over cream cheese mixture.

Streusel
1 C brown sugar
1 C flour
1/2 C quick cooking oats
1/2 C butter, softened


I didn't have any quick cooking oats, so I used regular oatmeal. Combine ingredients and sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake 30 min.



They came out very good! I think I'm going to try this with blueberries when they are in season.

Char Siu BBQ Pork Baked Bun

Preheat oven to 350F

Dough
1 packet active dry yeast
1/3 C sugar
1/2 C warm water
2 C all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
3 T lard
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 T oil



Dissolve yeast in water and sugar.
Let sit for 30 min- 1 hr. until bubbly.



Mix together flour, 1/2 beaten egg, lard, salt, oil and yeast.
Knead by hand for 10-15 min.


Set in a bowl and let rise for 2+ hrs until doubled in size.

Filling
5 T beef stock
1 T Hoisin sauce
2 1/2 tsp sugar
2 1/4 tsp corn starch
2 tsp ketchup
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
dash ground white pepper
1 T oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 C barbecued pork, chopped
2 tsp Sake
1 tsp sesame oil



Mix together stock, hoisin, sugar, cornstarch, ketchup, white pepper and soy sauce.
Heat oil on high heat until smoking. Add onion, lower heat to medium and saute for 2 min. until golden. Chop bbq pork.



Add pork and sake and heat for 1 min.
Add stock mixture and heat for 1-2 min. until reduced.


Take off heat and stir in sesame oil. Set aside and cool.


Turn out dough onto surface, dust 2 tsp baking powder 

and knead for 3 min.


Roll into a 12 in log and cut into 12 pieces.


Cup hand, and roll pieces into taught balls against counter.


Roll out dough into discs and fill with a heaping spoonful of filling.
Pinch dough together and place seamed side down.


Set on parchment lined cookie sheet.
Let rise for 1 hour in warm place.



Brush with egg wash (1 egg, 1 tsp sugar, 1 T water)

The dough was pretty dense, but the flavor was good. I think I will continue to be on the lookout for another dough recipe - something soft and fluffier.