Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

For the crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted

For the cookie dough:
5 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips

For the cheesecake filling:
10 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil allowing a little overhang and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Mix the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pan to a cooling rack. Do not turn your oven off.

3. While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Mix in the flour on low speed, and mix until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla on low speed just until incorporated. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust. Using your hand to form clumps, distribute the cookie dough onto the top of the cheesecake batter in teaspoon-sized clumps. Be sure to use all of the dough. You will cover most of the cheesecake batter.

5. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm (the cookie dough) and the entire pan looks set if given a gentle shake. Move bars to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

6. Lift the bars out by the overhang; slice into desired size and store in the refrigerator. Serve cold or at room temperature.

(Recipe courtesy of My Baking Addiction.)

Mema's Brownies (Betty Jennings Eason Billingsley)

This is Josh's grandmother's recipe for brownies, which are really yummy. I don't necessary want to go head-to-head with Memaw Price's brownies, but this is another yummy grandmother's brownie recipe from which to choose.

3/4 Cup Shortening
2 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 Cup Karo Syrup
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder

Cream shortening and sugar together; add eggs and beat until creamy; add Karo syrup and vanilla; sift dry ingredients together, then add to creamy batter; mix well. Bake in a greased and floured 9x12 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Lemon Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Crust:
2 sticks of butter
2 cups flour sifted
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Melt butter in bake dish (9 x 12), add flour, sugar mix together, press into bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

4 eggs
1/3 cup lemon juice (may grate some rind to add as well)
4 Tbs flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

Powdered sugar for top.

Beat eggs lightly, add lemon juice (rind), flour, sugar, salt & powder

Take crust out of oven & pour egg mixture over it. Bake for 25 minutes.

Dust with powdered sugar.