April showers bring May flowers. Or so they say.
For me they brought mud.
Highly attractive to kids.
I know, because it is ALL OVER THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE!
Yep, the back of the house has artistic splatters of mud on it.
Authors: my two daughters.
Effect: pissed off mom, laughing Husband and happy kids.
I was never a play-in-the-mud child.
I saw this as a virtue of sorts. Or maybe it was my fear of bugs and all creepy-crawlies that live in the ground.
I do not fancy these, you know. 🙂
But apparently, mud is fun! It makes you "cool" to have it all over your feet and hands. It has this magical abillity to attach to surfaces it is thrown onto.
So I made something pretty. In my kitchen. With strawberries and cheesecake.
Maybe not artistic and original, but delicious!
The chocolate layer is rich and muddy fudgy, not cakey at all. A perfect base for a creamy cheesecake layer topped with sweet strawberry conserve.
Strawberry Conserve
16 - 20 medium size strawberries, cleaned, hulled and chopped
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 tablespoon water
Combine the strawberries with water in a medium saucepan. Sprinkle with sugar.
Cook until berries are soft and release juice.
Cook 15 minutes on medium-low.
Cool completely. Drop by tablespoon over the cheesecake layer. Gently spread with the back of your spoon but do not cover the cheesecake layer completely.
source: Bon Appetit Magazine June 2011
Chocolate Layer
1 ½ c all-purpose flour
1 c granulated sugar
¾ c packed brown sugar
¾ c unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ c unsalted butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lightly grease or spray with cooking oil a 13" x 9" baking dish. Set aside.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients ( flour, sugars, cocoa powder, soda and salt ).
Add butter, egg and vanilla and mix with a wooden spoon, until it all comes together and forms a dough.
Pat the dough onto the bottom of your baking dish.
Make cheesecake layer.
Cheesecake layer
1 8oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoon powdered sugar
4 tablespoon coffee creamer
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoon milk
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the sugar and creamer and beat for 30 seconds. Add vanilla and yolks, beat until smooth. Add milk and beat until combined.
Spread over the chocolate layer.
Bake in 350 degrees oven for 30-35 minutes, until the cheesecake layer appears set and is light brown.
I recommend making more of the strawberry conserve to enjoy on toast. It is much easier and faster to make than a jam.
Curry and Comfort says
Anna you and I are just a like. I never played in mud or liked to get dirty either. My kids on the other hand (especially my daughter)... yish.. they love getting messy. Mud on the side of your house...You deserve two of these bars for that. They look fantastic... I love fruit and chocolate because they balance the sweet with the tart. Then when you throw in some cheesecake... you've got me totally hooked!! Hope it rains so it washs your house off. 🙂
Katherine says
Mmm I love strawberries with anything, and particularly chocolate - great recipe!
love2dine says
Totally yummy!
Baking Serendipity says
I don't have kids yet, and there's not much rain or mud in the desert, but I know when we move back to Ohio my pup will be a mess! These bars are the exact opposite of ugly. I love them! PS: I'm probably behind on this one, but your new look here is so pretty!
Elisabeth says
Hi Anna-thank you for commenting on my blog!
Your beautiful chocolate bars with the the strawberries are oh, so delicious, and I just love the recipe!
Thanks for sharing:DDD
Zoe says
Since young, I'm always the clean freak and of course not a big fan of mud... but definitely wouldn't resist your chocolate bars version of "mud" 😀
Choc Chip Uru says
These bars look rich and stunning - a very delicious recipe 😀
And I think the artistic mud splatters would have been famous 😉
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Jenn Kendall says
those look soooo delicious!
S.V. says
I never played in the mud and I hate the boys to play in the mud! I would not be amused... but there are puddles everywhere today and Henry was stomping in them as he is that age and splashing mud on me. I was totally bitter! These bars look yummy! love the mix of chocolate, cheesecake and strawberries. Perfect for strawberry season.
All That I'm Eating says
This looks and sounds amazing! Could just do with a slice now. I like your blog and am following!
Anita says
I was definitely not a play-in-the-mud girl. I'm much more of a chocolate and cheesecake and strawberry girl. 🙂
Tina Bk says
Ha-the hubs is laughing but I would definitely put him to work cleaning the mud off the house! I would have to find my own amusement in the kitchen rather than mud like you.
These bars do look like a delicious indulgence. Great flavors and fairly easy to put together-yum!
SerenaB says
Those kids are too silly! My sons one time used charcoal and colored all over the play set like they where Indians and there bodies! I just about fell over when I decided just finish playing and I will carry you in to take a shower! These bars look nummy! They are going on the to make list!
Maggie says
I am not a play in the mud kind of person Anna, so I am with you on this one. I don't like being wet, and mud is wet, and therefore you won't find me playing in it. I can already tell that my Anna is more akin to your girls! Oh well...playing in the mud, that's what husbands are for right? 🙂
These cheesecake bars are so lovely! i love that you made the strawberry conserve too! Delicious!!!
Lauralovescakes says
Well they do say baking is theraputic, so hopefully it helped you relax after the mud!!! These look great! 🙂
Marina says
I am with your kids: I had mud all over me when I went to pick strawberries! 🙂 Don't get mad, get in the mud, you'll have a lot of fun playing with kids!