White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake bars

This weekend we got some hard news, my Baba had passed away after 88 years of wonderful life.  She was an excellent cook and always had the yummiest treats for us when we visited.  I decided to make these bars as a pick me up and a tribute to her, she would have liked to add them to her repertoire.  Some notes for next time I make it, definitely make sure your oven rack is not set to the lowest, it took about 35 minutes to cook when it should have taken only 25 and use a smooth raspberry jam, not a jelly.  I damaged the top of the cheesecake a bit trying to smooth the jelly over the top.

Ingredients

12 OREO Cookies, finely crushed

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

3 squares BAKER'S White Chocolate, divided

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs

1/4 cup red raspberry preserves

HEAT oven to 350ºF. Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 8- or 9-inch square pan. Melt 2 chocolate squares as directed on package.

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is almost set. Cool 5 min.; spread with preserves. Melt remaining chocolate square; drizzle over cheesecake. Cool cheesecake completely. Refrigerate 4 hours

Blueberry Bran Muffins

I've had low iron which means iron supplements which means problems with constipation so I've been trying to add more fiber into my diet.  After eating all the storebought muffins we purchased I decided to make my own bran muffins and hopefully make them a bit healthier.  I found this recipe on recipezaar and made them pretty much as written.  I think they took about 25 minutes to cook and I used blueberry yogurt.  I would advise people to use the half applesauce, half oil combination but I didn't because I couldn't find my applesauce.  It would make the recipe that much healthier.  Hope you enjoy!

Yogurt Blueberry Bran Muffins
12 muffins

Ingredients
400 g any flavour yogurt (about 1-2/3 cups)
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar (increase to 1 cup if you prefer sweeter muffins)
2 large eggs
1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup apple sauce)
2 cups natural bran (not cereal, the real wheat bran)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour (can be white or whole wheat)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup blueberries (I always use about 2 cups, I like lots of blueberries in my muffins)

Directions

1.  Preheat oven 350°.
2.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or spray with Pam.
3.  Measure yogurt into medium bowl and mix in baking soda, it will foam and it is supposed too; set aside.
4.  In a large bowl beat together sugar, eggs and oil.
5.  Add bran and vanilla.
6.  In a separate bowl mix together flour and baking powder.
7.  Gradually add the flour and yogurt mixtures alternately to the sugar mixture.
8.  Fold in blueberries.
9.  Bake 20-35 minutes.
10. Makes 12 very large muffins or 18 large muffins.