No-Bake Fruit Pie Filling Cheesecake

I had strawberry and blueberry fruit pie fillings left over from Brooke's cheesecake bites and wanted to use them up. I saw a recipe for no-bake cheesecake that incorporated pie filling into the cheesecake mixture that I loosely followed. Since I only had about 2/3 of each of the fillings left I decided to make the cheesecake mixture as written and then divided it in half. I added the leftover pie fillings to each half and made 2 smaller pies instead of a full 9" pie pan. 

Here's the recipe if I was only making one pie using 1 full can of pie filling:

2 blocks cream cheese, room temperature

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 can fruit pie filling 

1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip, divided

9" graham cracker pie shell

Whip the cream cheese until it's soft and fluffy. Add in the sweetened condensed milk and sugar, beat to combine completely. Add the pie filling and beat until completely combined. Fold in 1/2 container of Cool Whip. Spoon it into the prepared pie shell and refrigerate a few hours for it to firm up. Top with the remaining Cool Whip if desired. 

I froze the pies before remembering to take pictures - I'll top with cool whip and thaw before serving.

9.10.24: TT practicing with decorating tips

9.10.23: 🔥 week 37

9.10.22: cinnamon roll waffles

9.10.21: flower seed wedding favors

9.10.20: organizing and defrosting the deep freezer

9.10.19: TT how to use a shredding disk 

9.19.18: arm knit afghan

9.10.17: salad in baked meat cups

9.10.16: pineapple upside-down cake cocktails

Tip-sy Tuesday: storing boursin cheese

I love Boursin cheese - other than the packaging. It comes shaped in a foil circle inside a little box and there's a variety of flavors, it's creamy and delish on crackers, stuffed in sweet peppers, melted into pasta...yum. Anyway, once you open the foil packet tho I never know how to store it, I just try to reshape the foil and put it in a ziplock bag and back in its box but it's messy. I recently discovered that a small pyrex container with lid is the perfect size to hold the cheese - I leave the foil around the cheese and put the whole thing in the pyrex but I'm sure you could take the foil off and just put the cheese in the pyrex. I love how less messy this solution is!

    

9.9.24: individual vegetable cups

9.9.23: words

9.9.22: personalized phone case

9.9.21: window signs (paint on old windows)

9.9.20: croissant bread pudding with bourbon sauce

9.9.19: DIY no-sew tutu

9.9.18: 🔥 week 36

9.9.17: wine cork flower holder

9.9.16: chopped champion aprons

Shredded Beets

I steamed beets yesterday but there were a couple humungous ones in the bag from the farm so I Googled to see about shredding them instead of roasting or steaming - I've never had cooked shredded beets and didn't know how to go about making them. Turns out it's very easy, slightly messy but easy. I followed this recipe I found at allrecipes, the person who posted it said "I never cared for beets until I tried them like this. Others who think beets taste too earthy also enjoy them prepared this way." I told Dave I read a review that said this recipe is a game changer for people who don't like beets, he said it didn't matter because he already likes beets - but then we had them for dinner and he commented that the review was right, they're the best he's ever had! And I agree, I love them too.

I followed this recipe as written other than I have no idea how big a 'bunch' of beets is so I just winged all the amounts. I shredded the beets in the food processor, so easy - just remember beet juice will potentially stain so use caution. 

Prep Time:

 

15 mins

Cook Time:

 

15 mins

Total Time:

 

30 mins

Servings:

 

4 

Ingredients

• 1 bunch beets, trimmed and peeled

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• ⅓ cup water

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, or more to taste

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Shred beets in a food processor fitted with the shredding blade.

2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shredded beets; cook and stir until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.

3. Add water to skillet; cover. Simmer until beets completely softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar; season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts            

calories74
total fat 3g
saturated fat 2g
cholesterol 8mg
sodium 142mg
total carbohydrate 11g
dietary fiber 3g
total sugars 8g
protein 2g
vitamin c 5mg
calcium 20mg
iron 1mg
potassium 340mg

9/8/24: 🔥 week 36 9.8.23: philly cheesesteak inspired sandwich 9.8.22: grilled mini pizzas 9.8.21: mojitos 9.8.20: TT stovetop toasted garbanzo beans 9.8.19: 🔥 week 36 9.8.18: b.l.a.t. sandwich 9.8.17: crown braid by Brooke 9.8.16: rearranging furniture

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 36)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

8/31: 🔥 week 35

9/1: happy labor day '25

9/2: SpongeBob cake and pineapple hut

9/3: cream cheese shrimp cocktail appetizer 

9/4: coconut cream pie 

9/5: september challenge ~ ohio

 9/6: words 

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

9.7.24: words (50th anniversary)

9.7.23: insect repellent sachets 

9.7.22: strawberry cream pie 

9.7.21: TT - solo cup measurements

9.7.20: face mask with filter pocket

9.2.19: wild mushroom and thyme soup 

9.7.18: tomato tart

9.7.17: first aid certification

9.7.16: brownie, oreo, reese's ice cream cake

  

Words ~ 9/6

9.6.24: mini cheeseball appetizers 

9.6.23: hot cream cheese dip

9.6.22: TT cream puff dessert 

9.6.21: 'welcome to the wedding' sign 

9.6.20: 🔥 week 36

9.6.19: plastic lacing gimp keychain

9.6.18: roasted tomatoes with pasta

9.6.17:  morning glory muffins

9.6.16:  Japanese steakhouse carrot-ginger salad dressing

September Challenge - OHIO

I'm a few days into September and just remember I didn't give myself a challenge yet this month - I read about the OHIO method of organizing and that's what I'm going to work on for the next 25 days. OHIO stands for 'only handle it once' and that would make a huge difference in my life if I can make it stick! 

The idea is to make a final decision about an item the first time you interact with it, rather than setting it aside for later. One example is to put mail away immediately, or respond to an email right away - by making quick, decisive actions the method aims to reduce clutter, prevent procrastination, save time, and decrease mental stress. All things I need to work on for sure!

When I got the mail today I opened it in the garage by the trash/recycling bins and just chucked unwanted mail right there before even walking into the house where it first sits on the table, then sits in a pile for either Dave or I to deal with, then it sits on our desks until we get around to handling it, then goes into the trash or recycle containers in the kitchen, and then gets carried out to the big bin in the garage. Just opening it in the garage saves so many steps!

So - anyone up for trying the OHIO method with me this month? 

9.5.24: pickled beets 

9.5.23: TT cleaning an RV shower track

9.5.22: happy labor day '22

9.5.21: 🔥 week 36

9.5.20: stuffed tomatoes with grits

9.5.19: insta-pot tortellini by Jen

9.5.18: raw fresh tomato sauce

9.5.17: birthday party ideas 

Coconut Cream Pie

 I made this easy coconut cream pie for Dave's birthday - and I do mean easy! 

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 (5 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix 
• 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut, divided
• 1 (8 oz) container cool whip, thawed, divided
• 1 (9") pie shell, baked

1. Whisk together milk and pudding mix in a large bowl until mixture starts to thicken, about 2 minutes. Fold in 1 cup coconut and 1/2 of the cool whip until well combined. Pour filling into the baked pie crust. 

2. Spread remaining cool whip over filling. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut. Refrigerate pie and served chilled. 

My notes:

- I used coconut pudding and didn't measure how much coconut I added, a big handful

- I used unsweetened coconut flakes, and toasted the flakes that I put on the top (put in a baking dish and bake for just a couple minutes until it starts to turn light brown - watch carefully as it burns quickly!)

-I used a premade graham cracker crust

recipe found here at allrecipes 

9.4.24: 'one' onesie

9.4.23: happy labor day '23

9.4.22: 🔥 week 36

9.4.21: beer tap pull handles

9.4.20: Cathy's canvas painting

9.4.19: chocolate cupcakes w/peanut butter frosting

9.4.18: Tomato Jam

9.4.17: Labor Day (funny)

9.4.16: white beans in marinara, arugula salad

Cream Cheese Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer

I made this super easy old-school appetizer for P's birthday - and forgot to take a picture, ugh. This used to be a go-to appetizer and then I sort of forgot about it, time to bring it back! 

In the old days I literally put a block of cream cheese on a plate, pour cocktail sauce all over the cream cheese, and then finish with canned baby shrimp on top. Now I get a little 'fancier' and spread the cream cheese into a thinner layer in a shallow dish, spread cocktail sauce almost to the edges, and top with baby shrimp. 

The next time I make this I will hopefully remember to take a picture and will update this post. In the meantime think about what a layer of cream cheese, cocktail sauce, and tiny shrimp look like hahaha. 

9.3.24: TT layering Cricut vinyl 

9.3.23: 🔥 week 36

9.3.22: cucumbers in vinegar

9.3.21: tiny wedding cake

9.3.20: drunken cherry bombs

9.3.19: TT - clear vanilla

9.3.18: tomato week: stuffed tomatoes

9.3.17: cauliflower waffles

9.3.16: Barbie soap - wrong but funny.

Spongebob Cake and Pineapple Hut

I had a few cake pan molds that I didn't remember having stored in a cabinet way high over our fridge - I decided I'm not making them again so they went in a garage sale. One was this cute SpongeBob I made for Brooke's birthday party when she was little and when scrolling photos and coming across the cake after just getting rid of the pan I thought I'd share how cute it turned out - I'm still not making it again but love the memory haha. Today is her 22nd birthday and I'm definitely sending her a copy of this cake, wonder if she remembers it!

I also made the cute pineapple hut by cutting off the bottom so it'll stand up straight, remove the pineapple, cut a door and you're done. I don't have the finished photo but I'm pretty sure the pineapple hut was the centerpiece of a fruit plate. 

9.2.24: onesie for Georgie

9.2.23: words

9.2.22: giant reese's stuffed cookie

9.2.21: naked cake

9.2.20: crazy peanut butter chocolate pie

9.2.19: happy labor day

9.2.18: 🔥 week 35

9.2.17: birthday cake (heavy sprinkles!)

 

Happy Labor Day '25

 

9.1.24: 🔥 week 35

9.1.23: MSTI raising cane sauce

9.1.22: tamale dip

9.1.21: swiss meringue buttercream

9.1.20: TT- oven heating hack

9.1.19: 🔥 week 35

9.1.18: painted cow skull 

9.1.16: mini succulent shadow box