Super Quick and Easy Blueberry-Banana Cheesecake

The first time I tasted this I just couldn't believe how fantastic the combination of blueberries and bananas tasted...it's a slice of heaven. I now put blueberries and bananas on my cereal in the morning! This is pretty darn quick and easy. Your kids would love to get into the act on this one.

Yield: 2 cheesecakes

12 Ounces Cream Cheese, at room temperature
2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
8 Ounces Cool Whip®
4 Each Bananas, sliced
1 Can Blueberry Pie Filling
2 Each Graham Cracker Crumb Pie Crusts

1. Using an electric mixer, beat together first 4 ingredients, then fold in Cool Whip.
2. Place slices of 2 bananas on bottom of each pie crust.
3. Pour cream cheese mixture over bananas.
4. Spoon half can of blueberry pie filling over each pie.
5. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Ultra Quick: Cream of Tomato Soup

Here is an ultra quick soup you can get on the table in 15-20 minutes with ingredients you probably have on hand.

Serves 2

1 tablespoon fresh basil *
1 teaspoon fresh oregano *
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme *
1 tablespoon butter
1 small jar of your favorite pasta sauce
2 cups of water
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream ** (substitute below)
a pinch of nutmeg

Saute fresh herbs in butter; add small jar of pasta sauce; 2 cups of water; 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream; and a pinch of nutmeg. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

* If fresh herbs are not available, substitute dried herbs by using 1/2 the amounts indicated for fresh. Do not saute the dried. Simply add them to the soup mix. The tablespoon of butter indicated in the recipe to saute the fresh herbs can be eliminated or can be added to the soup at serving time for added richness.
** Heavy Whipping Cream Substitute: Add 1/4 cup of melted butter to 1/2 cup of whole milk. By the way, this substitute cannot be whipped. It can only be used in cooked foods.