::Apple Cream Cheese Squares::

THIS TIME OF YEAR I AM ALWAYS ON THE HUNT FOR APPLE RECIPES. THESE SQUARES ARE EASY AND DELICIOUS. THEY HAVE A BUTTERY BASE AND A CREAMY LAYER ABOVE, WITH A BIT OF CRUNCH ON TOP. YES, THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE SQUARES MADE WITH BLUEBERRIES, BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW VERSATILE THEY CAN BE. I RECOMMEND TRYING THE APPLE VERSION FIRST, THEN FEEL FREE TO MIX IT UP A BIT!
{Recipe found via Harrowsmith Country Magazine}

Pastry Bottom:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Whirl in a food processor until coarse crumbs form.
Press into a lightly greased 9" x 9" pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
Remove and let cool.

Cream Cheese Layer:
1 pkg cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla

Place in food processor and whirl until smooth.
Pour over cooled crust.

Apple Layer:
4 large apples, {I used fresh Mac's}, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Mix sugar, cinnamon and sprinkle over sliced apples.
Arrange apples over the cheese layer. Sprinkle with almonds.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

BAKER'S NOTES: I serve these cold. Like lemon squares, I prefer the refreshing taste of the cols squares, along with the extra crunch the base develops.

::Warm Potato Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing::

THE ORIGINAL RECIPE CALLED FOR A COLD SALAD. I DISAGREED. IF YOU HAVE A STOMACH FOR BLUE CHEESE, THIS WARM, DELICIOUS SALAD IS A PERFECT BBQ SIDE DISH.

BLUE CHEESE DRESSING:

1/3 cup (75 mL) mayonnaise
¼ cup (50 mL) sour cream
2 tbsp (25 mL) lemon juice
A couple of dashes hot pepper sauce
½ to ¾ cup (125 to 175 mL) crumbled blue cheese,
preferably Danish
2 green onions, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

1. For dressing, whisk mayonnaise with sour cream, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce in a bowl. Stir in ½ cup (125 mL) blue cheese and green onion. Taste and if desired add remaining blue cheese, salt and pepper.

POTATO SALAD:
1½ lbs (750 g) potatoes
3 strips bacon
1 red pepper, cut into ½-inch (1-cm) pieces
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 tbsp (25 mL) lemon juice {optional}

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Peel potatoes if you wish, then cut into bite-size chunks. Toss with olive oil, pepper and salt. Cook for 1 hour, or until done to your taste. {I like them golden and crunchy.}

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate, then crumble. {I pre-chop my bacon into 1 inch chunks. Spread them on a plate. Cover with two paper towels and cook in the microwave for 5 minutes.}

3 Stir dressing with warm potatoes until mixed. A little squeeze of fresh lemon brightens the flavour. Add bacon, red pepper and green onions.

::Fig & Cherry::

I made *THIS* last night from *THIS* yummy food blog.