Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

I got to see my very first dust storm yesterday! We were at a baseball game for Spring Training when the sirens went off warning everyone about the impending dust storm.  Nothing happened until we got home and looked out our front door and saw that there was just dirt flying around everywhere.  I was told that this was a pretty mild one, but it was still crazy to see.  We're used to blowing snow, not blowing dust!

After the dust storm, we made our way over to the pool to have some $2 tacos and play bingo.  None of us won, but the tacos are great so I guess we were all winners in some way.  From baseball to tacos, today was a lot of fun.  Zack and I even got to go for a run in the morning.  This trip has been great so far and I can't believe I'm enjoying all of this when there is snow back home!

I've been meaning to share this recipe for ages! It is a delicious dessert and in honor of a fun Spring Break, I am going to share it today!  A while back, I went apple picking with some of my girlfriends and then I made this recipe using some of my apples! You can use any apples that are good for baking here.  This recipe is adapted from Paula Deen's on the Food Network to make it a little lighter (but not much :)).

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 8 oz packages low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar plus 2 tbsp, divided
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 apples (I used a mix from my apple picking experience) peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
Streusel Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a 13 by 9 inch baking pan with foil.  Grease the foil.
2. Mix the 2 cups of flour with the brown sugar in a large bowl.  Using a fork or pastry cutter, cut in the 1 cup of butter until well combined.  Press the mixture into the bottom of your pan. Bake for 15 minutes and then remove from oven.
3. In another bowl, beat the cream cheese with the 1/2 cup of sugar until well combined.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well combined.  Beat in the vanilla.  Pour this mixture over your warm crust.
4. In a small bowl, toss the apples with the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Sprinkle apples over the cream cheese mixture.
5. In a small bowl, combine all the streusel toppings, sprinkle over the apples.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cream cheese layer is set.  Let cool in the refrigerator and cut into slices.

Enjoy :)