Pecan Cheesecake Squares

• 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray an 8 X 8 baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.

• 2

  In a medium bowl cream butter and brown sugar together until smooth, add flour and nuts and mix completely, mixture will be somewhat dry. Set aside 1/2 cup of nut mixture for topping. Press remainder of mixture into the bottom of a prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

• 3

  Blend sugar and cream cheese together until smooth; add the egg, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat together well. Spread cream cheese mixture over the top of the baked crust and sprinkle with reserved nut mixture. Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes more. Cool, and then chill for 1 hour, cut into squares.

• 4

  Makes about 9 squares, perfect for special occasions!

FAMILY STORY:

• 1

  This recipe was developed with left overs from two desserts I had made, a cheesecake and some pecan cookies.

• 2

  I didn’t want to throw out the left over cheesecake filling or the pecans chopped pecans I had, so I looked up a basic cookie bar recipe and added a little of this and that, and ended up with this wonderful little treat.