Banana Cake

This is divine.

1/2 c melted butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c sour cream (I used plain yogurt, it was amazing)
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 bananas, mashed
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Beat butter, sugar, and eggs, add sour cream, vanilla, and bananas and mix well. Mix dry ingredients and add to the wet mixture. Spread batter in a greased and floured sheet cake pan (bake 25-30 minutes) or 9x13 (bake 45 minutes) and bake at 300.

Cream Cheese Icing
6 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 c soft butter
3 c powdered sugar

Mix together and spread on the cooled cake.

Strawberry Bruchetta

This is an old Pampered Chef recipe, and it is great for brunches or bite-sized dessert parties.

1 loaf thinly sliced french baguette

2 T melted butter

Place bread slices on cookie sheet and brush with melted butter. Bake at 350 until golden brown (about 5 min or so)

In a mixing bowl, combine the following:

4 oz cream cheese

1 Meyer lemon, zested and juiced

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In another bowl, slice or chop 1 lb washed and hulled strawberries.

In a non-stick skillet, lightly toast 1 small package blanched slivered almonds.

To assemble, place thin layer of cream cheese mixture on toasted bread, add strawberries, and sprinkle almonds. To garnish, grate white, milk, or dark chocolate over top and dust with powdered sugar.

"Cakey" Cobbler

Yeah, I'm a day late, but this recipe is totally worth it!

I love berry and peach season because it also means COBBLER season!!! My friend, Kirstin, got this recipe from her friend, Julie. It is cakey and just the ratio of fruit to cake.

1/3 cup butter

melt in 8x8 pan in the oven at 350

In a bowl, mix together:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup milk

when butter is melted, pour over butter in pan and DO NOT MIX!

In separate bowl, toss 1 quart berries with a little bit of sugar and spoon over the top of the batter and again, DO NOT MIX!

Sprinkle with sugar (if you like the sugary crust) and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Some of our favorite fruit combinations include:

peaches and raspberries

blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries

peaches and blackberries

*If you are using peaches, remove the skins and cut them into slices or used canned and drain the juice first. I also like to toss peaches with brown sugar and cinnamon instead of white sugar.

Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Hucklebuckle

Hucklebuckle

My mom makes this a lot during huckleberry season, and I don't know where she got the original recipe. I have done it with blueberries and it works like a charm, so my next try will involve raspberries or blackberries. As is the rule in my house, serve it warm with vanilla ice cream!

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

cream together in a bowl, then add:

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

spread in an 8x8 square pan

In a separate bowl, combine:

2 1/2 cups huckleberries

3/4 cup sugar

pour on top of batter

Mix together 1/2 cup boiling water and 1 Tbsp butter and pour over berries. DO NOT MIX!

Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes. Serves about 6.

No Berries (sorry), but Cake/Brownies/Sugar Cookies and Delicious!

I've made fun cakes before, but this was the stinkin' funnest thing ever! So I had to pass it on. This is sugar cookie fries, and cupcake/brownie "hamburgers" which are so stinkin' delicious! The idea is on http://www.bakerella.com/ in the cupcake section. She made them for Father's Day, I made them for my husband's birthday, so I chose to make a big one too, it's about the size of a real cheeseburger.

These were easy and fun, and bakerella has a template for a fry holder, and tray, etc. too. I did my own by looking at hers because my printer wouldn't work. Anyway, for the burgers, you make yellow cake cupcakes, and a pan of brownies. The brownies you cut into circles the size of the cupcakes using a biscuit/cookie cutter. Then you slice the cupcake in half, insert the brownie, do red/yellow/green frosting, put the top on, and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top! It's easy and doesn't require much patience at all!!

Sugar cookie fries, with frosting dips. The fries are so cool! I recommend cutting them just under an inch wide and cutting them in half after they cook because the cut texture really helps with the fry look! See bakerella for further instructions.

So cool! I think I'll do them for my son's school treats for his birthday if he's allowed to bring some in!

Blackberry Frozen Yogurt

We inherited an ice cream maker a few weeks ago and have had a lot of fun with it! This is our favorite that we have made so far.

2 cups vanilla yogurt
1/2 c milk
1/4 c sugar
1-2 c fresh blackberries, pureed and strained
1 T lemon juice

Combine ingredients and place in ice cream maker.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Here is a fun new one that I tried. I thought it really improved the cake mix and made it yummier and fancier. From the Lion House Bakery book.

1 chocolate cake mix (I have also tried it with yellow and it was yummy)
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13. Combine ingredients with a large spoon (a mixer will break up the cherries). Spread batter into pan and bake 30-40 minutes.

Frosting:
1 c sugar
1/3 c milk
6 T butter
1-2 cups chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

While cake is baking, combine sugar, butter, milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add chips and vanilla. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over warm cake and spread evenly.

Amost Oreos

I think these are better than oreos!

1 box devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
3 T water
3 T oil
1/2 c cocoa

Preheat to 400. Combine ingredients. Form into balls and place on greased cookie sheets. Flatten and bake 6-8 minutes. While they cool, make the filling.

Filling:
1 c shortening
about 1 pound powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c water

Beat shortening. Add one cup sugar, vanilla, and water. Beat, add half the sugar, beat, add the rest, beat again.

Make into sandwiches.

Ice Cream Cake

Not all freezer meals have to be for dinner!  I made an excellent ice cream cake for my husband's birthday that can easily be made in advance.  I posted more pictures of this "cake" on my craft blog:  sewincrediblycrafty.blogspot.com

Oreo & Fudge Ice Cream "Cake" (I doubled the recipe)

1/2 cup fudge ice cream topping warmed

1 tub cool whip divided

1 pkg (4oz) jellow chocolate instant pudding (I used Cookies & Cream)

12 Orea Chocolate sandwich cookies

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches (When I doubled the recipe I got 12 Cookies & Cream sandwiches plus 12 vanilla sandwiches)

Pour the fudge topping into a medium bowl.  Stir in 1 cup whipped topping with a wire wisk until it's well blended.  Add in the dry pudding mix, stir 2 minutes or until well blended.  The consistency of fudge topping can vary depending on what brand you purchase.  If your fudge topping mixture is too thick to spread easily, add in 1/4 cup milk.

Chop Oreo cookies roughly into chunks.  Stir into the pudding mixture.  Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches side by side on a 24x12 inch piece of foil; top with half of the pudding mixture.  Repeat the layers.  Top the pudding mixture with the remaining 4 sandwiches.  The layers create a neat striped effect when sliced.  Frost the top and sides with the remaining cool whip.  It doesn't have to look perfect.  Bring up the foil sides.  Double fold top and ends to loosely seal the packet.  Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.  Let stand at room temperature to soften before serving.  Makes 12 servings.

English Toffee

This one is my candy recipe from last month. It's perfect for neighbor gifts!

Butter the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Use real butter. Cover with nuts if desired.

Combine:
1/2 lb butter
1 cup sugar
1 TBSP water

Cook until sugar turns brown like a paper bag. Pour mixture over nuts. Spread 1 bag of chocolate chips over the mixture. Let cook and then cut or break into pieces. Enjoy!

Truffle Cake with Cany Cane Cream

I made this cake last night for a book club at my house and it was very good. Rich, but oh so good!

Ingredients:
1 cup graham crackers
1 cup chopped pecans
2 TBS. plus 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
1 cup heavy whipping cream
16 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsley chopped
6 eggs
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

CREAM:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 TBS. sugar
4 candy canes; finely ground
1/4 - 1/2 tsp pepperment extract

Combine crackers crumbs adn pecans, 2 TBS sugar and butter; press onto the bottom of a greased 9 inch, springform pan. Place on baking sheet.
In a large saucepan, cook chocolate and cream over low heat until chocolate is melted. Cool. In a large bowl, beat eggs, flour and remaining sugar on high speed until thick and lemon-colored, about 5 mintues. Gradually beat in chocolate mixture.
Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Beat cream and sugar until stiff peaks form; fold in ground candy cane and extract. Serve with cake.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

I made this for a different dessert option on Thanksgiving. The title just got me and I had everything on hand to make it. Of course, I didn't take a picture, but I have a link to take you right to the recipe at My Kitchen Cafe. Try it out if you have a major sugar craving like I did.

Chocolate Silk Pie

This is a definite winner in my book and so easy too. This recipe is from my Kitchen Aid manual, so it has specific instructions for the mixer.

1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 eggs
2/3 cut evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
whipped topping (optional, but we all love it!)

Place sugar and cocoa powder in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and wire whip to mixer. Turn to Stir Speed and mix to combine, about 15 seconds. Continuing on Stir Speed, gradually add eggs, evaporated milk, and vanilla, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 6 and whip until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Pour into prepared crust. Place pie plate on preheated baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until center puffs and pie has set. Cool completely on wire rack. Garnish with whipped topping. Yield: 8 servings.

Bear Claw (apple dessert) or Cinnamon Rolls

This is a delicious recipe using cannery dried apples. It can be halfed for more of a single family size.

Bear Claw
-Rehydrate 5 cups of dehydrated apples by soaking them overnight.

Mix together the following ingredients and let rest for 15 minutes:
2 1/3 c. warm water (hot to the touch but not burning. ~120 degrees F)
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. yeast

Then:
Preheat oven to 425
Grease Pans
Melt 1 cube margarine or butter (1/2 cup)
Make cinnamon/sugar mix: 2 Tbsp. cinnamon to 1 c. sugar

To yeast mixture add:
2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2/3 c. oil
6 2/3 c. flour

Mix well:
Roll dough into an oblong shape on floured surface, transfer to baking sheet. Spread 1/2 with melted butter. Place 1/3 of apples over butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture to taste. Fold dough in half lengthwise and lightly seal edges with fingers. With kitchen shears cut 2 inch "fingers" 3/4 of the way through dough, leaving at least 2 inches along back uncut. Twist each finger twice and then lay back down on baking sheet. Repeat until all fingers are completed. Let rise about 10 minutes. Bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes.

Yield:
Each recipe yields 2-3 bear claws, depending on size. (They are about the size of a loaf of french bread each).

Frosting:
In a small sauce pan place:

1/2 cube of margarine or butter (1/4 c.)
1/3 c. milk

Heat until hot but not burning, remove from heat and add:

1/2 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
3 1/3 c. powdered sugar.

Note:

Same dough can be used to make delicious cinnamon rolls. Instead of forming bear claw, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and raisins if desired, roll dough from the long side and cut in one inch wide rolls. Place in greased pans with sides of rolls just touching. Follow same cooking instructions.

Apple Pizza

Crust:
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. ice water

Mix well and form into a ball. Spread onto 1 large or 2 small ungreased pizza pans; turn up edges.

Topping:
1/2 c. powdered coffee creamer (can make without)
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1/3 c. flour
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 c. cold butter

Mix all except butter. Spread half of topping over crust and leave the rest in the bowl. Cut butter into the remaining half of topping and save.

Filling:
6 cups thinly sliced Granny Smith apples
juice of 1/2 lemon

Sprinkle lemon juice over apples. Pile onto pizza, then sprinkle on remaining crumbly topping. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Cut into slices and serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Delicious topped with drizzled caramel sauce!

Oreo Caramel Apples

I'm not sure where I collected this recipe from, but it is so good.

1. Slice Granny Smith Apples
2. Dip in caramel sauce
3. Dip in Oreo Crumbs
4. Refrigerate

Caramel Recipe:
1/4 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. light corn syrup

Bring to a soft boil, then add 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk (7 oz.). Return to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1/2 t. vanilla. Let cool before dipping apples or it just runs right off.

Caramel Apple Slices

2 lbs. (about 6 apples) Golden Delicious apples
2 T. butter
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
2 T. flour

Peel, core, and slice each apple into 8 pieces. In a medium saucepan melt butter. Add brown sugar and flour. Add apple slices and cook over low heat until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Great as a garnish, snack, topping, or side dish. Makes 6 servings.

Sugarless Apple Pie

6-8 apples, peeled and sliced
1/8 t. salt, brings out the natural sweetness of the apples
1/2 to 1 c. raisins
Dash of cinnamon

Mix together. Bake in 2 crust pie shell at 450 for 20-30 minutes, or until crust is cooked.

Caramel Dumplings

This is not apple, but I've seen so many apple dumpling recipes I thought it would be fun to try a different version. It's delicious!

1 1/2 c. flour, sifted
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/8 t. salt
1/3 c. sugar
2 T. butter

Milk (enough to make thick batter, about 2/3 c.)
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. water
2 T. butter

Boil together; drop in dumplings. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream or ice cream.

Cranberry Apple Crisp

Fruit Mixture:
5 c. (5 medium) apples, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
1 c. sugar
2 T. flour
1 t. cinnamon

Topping:
1 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 c. flour
1/3 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. nuts, chopped

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 12 x 8", 2 qt. baking dish. In a large bowl, combine all fruit ingredients; toss to coat. Spoon into greased baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar, and 1/3 c. flour. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in nuts. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit.

Bake at 375 for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown or apples are tender. If desired, serve with ice cream, whipped cream or heavy cream. Makes 10 servings.

Microwave directions:
In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, sugar 3 T. flour and cinnamon. Spoon into ungreased 12 x 8", 2 qt. microwave-safe dish. In small bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar, 1/3 c. flour, melted margarine, and nuts; mix well. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit. Microwave on high for 10 -12 minutes, or until apples are tender, rotating dish half turn halfway through cooking.