When Neil’s birthday came around last month, I just couldn’t decide which of his favorite desserts to make. Cheesecake? Brownies? I kept thinking: Cheesecake? Brownies? As I continued to ponder, those question marks slowly disappeared and a new creation was born: Cheesecake….Brownies!

This recipe is super easy. You basically make brownies any way you’d like, then finish it with the cheesecake topping. As I pulled my knife through the cheesecake topping to make swirls, I noticed that if I dragged it straight down the dollops, it created hearts. I thought it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, and here we are.

You have one more weekend left to shop. bake. clean. serve. order. travel. mail. wrap. enjoy the holiday season. It’s no secret that the “most wonderful time of the year” can also be the most stressful. There’s just a lot to do. It’s important to work toward balance during this time of year. In this time of focusing on other people, it’s vital to remember to take care of yourself as well. Find time to enjoy the holidays. Do something for YOU every now and then. For me, it’s baking. Give me an apron (or not), pour me a glass of wine, put on my favorite jams, get my hands in some flour, and I’m in my happy place. Fortunately for you, sometimes I end up with a recipe or two to share.