KID’S CORNER
Daylight Saving Time 2016 ends on Sunday, November 6 at 2 a.m. Turn your clocks back one hour at 1 a.m.
Holiday Hacks
Looking for some ways to make your holiday cooking go smoothly? Here are a few hacks for the kitchen: Boil potatoes with the skins on and then immediately submerge in ice water once done. The skins will slide right off. Cook stuffing in muffin tins. You will have perfectly portioned amounts, with just the right amount of crispy all around. Put gravy in a thermos to keep it warm. Be sure to use quick mix flour instead of all-purpose to avoid lumpy gravy. Make your green bean casserole in the slow cooker and then add crispy onions when everyone’s ready to eat.
Cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave (about 10 minutes) instead of the oven will save a lot of time.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars What would November be without a pumpkin recipe of some type? This recipe combines the flavor of the season with cheesecake. Yum!
Crust 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup melted butter
Filling 4 1 4 1 2
packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cups granulated sugar eggs cup (8 oz.) canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Instructions 1. 2.
Heat oven to 300°F. Spray a 13X9 pan with non-stick spray. In a medium size bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter. 3. With your fingers press the crust on the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside while making the filling. 4. In a mixing bowl add the cream cheese and sugar. Beat on low speed until light and fluffy. 5. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until just blended. 6. Spoon half of the mixture over the crust and spread evenly. 7. To the remaining cream cheese mixture add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. 8. Mix until smooth. Carefully, spoon over mixture in pan. 9. Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until just set. Turn off the oven and leave the door ajar allowing the cheesecake to slowly cool down for about 1 hour or so. 10. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before cutting into bars. 11. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.