Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

You know, I really hate it when I buy fresh fruit and vegetables and they go bad before I'm able to eat them. It's such a waste! That's what ALMOST happened with these strawberries, so to rescue them, I put them into these muffins before I lost them all!

Lemon Cheesecake with Strawberry Basil Topping

It's Labor Day! In addition to a lovely day off of work, I typically spend Labor Day with my family--we have a cookout and invite lots of friends. We have a cookout or some kind of food-related party for every holiday, which gives me a reason to experiment and come up with new desserts to please the crowd :)

I think today's cheesecake did the trick! Packed full of tart lemon flavor and topped with juicy strawberries and fresh, spicy basil, this fresh cheesecake delivered all of my favorite elements of summer (even though it's September now...come on, fall weather!!)

Red, White & Blue Cheesecake Cake

I'm feeling patriotic today, guys. I am an African-American woman living in the United States with the freedom to learn, work, achieve, and accomplish virtually whatever I want. I am free to vote, to travel, to speak freely, to love whomever I want, and to worship as I wish with no fear... What an incredible blessing. That was not always the case for women like me-- and for the sacrifices of those before me, who made my life possible, I owe a great debt of thanks.

Okay. Now. When I first saw this cake, I gasped. Seriously. The depth and richness of the colors amazed me--but knowing that the middle layer was cheesecake...that sealed the deal for me. The colored layers are vanilla cakes! It's like a vanilla  cheesecake sandwich! Gah!

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

The minute I saw these bars on Sally's Baking Addiction, I knew I couldn't pass them up. To me, blueberry and lemon are quintessential indicators that spring has arrived, particularly when combined and in cheesecake form. Good lord.