Easy Rich Vanilla or Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

You'll find these frostings extremely easy and rich...in fact, so candy-like, my daughter likes to eat them with a spoon!

                                              Hmm, Vanilla or....

                                                      Chocolate...

                                               I'll Have Both!

Easy and Scrumptious Cinnamon and Sugar Apple Slices

Guys, this snack is so easy, it's almost embarrassing, but you and yours are going to find it absolutely scrumptious!

The kids will find these apple slices a delectable, fun project to help you prepare, and you'll love how healthy and uncomplicated they are!

                               A Perfect Little Sweet Bite...

                                      And Guilt Free!

Tall Apple Pie with Walnut Crust and Crunchy Topping ~ Scrumptiously Simplified

I spotted a ready-made walnut pie crust at the grocery store recently and took it home knowing the possibilities of fillings were endless.  When I was ready to use it, I was in the mood for apple pie, and it was amazing!

Feeling particularly lazy (as it seems I often do these days), I chose an easy granola topping.  This recipe produced a tall, delectable pie with a nutty, slightly crunchy crust and unique topping...the whole family loved it.  It sliced beautifully!

To-Die-For Strawberry Hand Pies with Homemade Crust (or Not)

My daughter is a fearless baker!  I'm always telling her...oh no, don't try that...it's too hard, or too much trouble!  It seems the more I insist the recipe is too stressful, the more determined she is to make it! 

Recently, she decided she wanted to try her hand at hand pies (get it...try her hand at hand pies?  Oh, never mind...I can get kinda corny!)  She chose strawberry, as it is one of her favorite flavors.

Her husband loves pies, and she has been getting into making her own crusts...and they are wonderful!  So, she was set on making the crust for these strawberry hand pies from scratch.  I tried to discourage her from making a homemade crust, so the recipe would be easier.  But do you think she listened to me...of course not! 

Well, naturally, the pies were to-die-for fabulous!

                                             Wouldn't You Just Love to...

                                          Bite Right into One of These?

For this delectable recipe, see Strawberry Hand Pies from Michael at Inspired by Charm.  My daughter added a little lemon zest to the filling.

Perfect for a picnic, snack or dessert, Enjoy these scrumptious strawberry hand pies by themselves or with a good premium vanilla ice cream! 

(Psst, if you are in a pinch, or just lazy like me, you can use a good refrigerated, pre-rolled store-bought pie crust...just don't tell my daughter I said that!)

Big Fat Chocolate-Coated Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies with Chocolate Filling ~ Super Easy and Super Scrumptious!

It seems I always crave a bit more chocolate when I have a chocolate-dipped cookie or a chocolate-filled sandwich cookie.  So, I decided that I wanted both...chocolate filled and chocolate dipped! Oatmeal cookies were my cookie of choice, since they are one of my favorite cookies; and, oh man, was that a great choice!  You get this nice crunch along with that satisfying chocolate coating and filling...bingo, perfect and ever so easy!
  
                                              What A Whopper of....

                                              Total Scrumptiousness!

Chocolate Bliss Bites ~ Easy, Healthy and Scrumptious!

Who ever knew such healthy little bites as these could be so addictive!  Everyone in the family loved them, and I plan on keeping them around to satisfy that chocolate craving whenever it hits (which is often)!

As these chocolate bliss bites are super easy to make with minimal ingredients, you and the kids can have a fun little project together and enjoy something sweet without guilt!

                                                 So Addictive...

                                    You'd Never Guess They're Healthy!

A Collection of 10 of My Delicious, Quick and Easy Recipes

We all often want delicious, quick and easy recipes these days; so I thought I'd give you a collection of some of mine.  I find these particularly good right now, since I'm a little under the weather...

Hearty and Crunchy Golden Panini Turkey Sandwich with Gooey Melted Pimento Cheese

Quick and Easy Microwave Single-Serve Apple Crisp

You've had your meal, and you simply want a little something extra that doesn't require a lot of effort or blow your calorie count for the day.  Well, you've probably got it in your kitchen right now, just waiting for you to throw it together!

And, my dear sweet-craving friend, here it is...your very own scrumptious quick and easy apple crisp!

                                        Quick and Easy, Nice and Cozy...

                                           And Ever So Scrumptious!

Luscious Peanut Butter Bundt Cake with Peanut Butter Icing

I made this marvelous, uncomplicated peanut butter cake for my peanut-butter-loving son-in-law's birthday a while back.  Referred to as a blue ribbon cake, it is indeed a real winner!

Terrific as a take-along cake to gatherings any time of the year, you'll be sure to glean rave reviews when you put this dessert on the table!  Not long ago, in the middle of my move, I promised the recipe for this delectable cake.  So, without further ado, I present to you a very anticipated luscious peanut butter cake...

                                 All About Peanut Butter, This Cake Is...

                             A Peanut-Butter Lover's Dream Come True!

No-Bake Chocolate Graham Cracker Bars with Peanut Butter and Nutella and Chocolate Glaze

These creamy, peanut butter and Nutella no-bake bars are the perfect after-school, or anytime, treat! With the chocolate graham crackers adding a little texture and the chocolate glaze as the perfect coating, peanut butter lovers will think they've discovered heaven!

Easy enough for kids to make, this is a great way to get them involved in their own snacks and away from the electronic devices!  Best to keep these delectable bars in the back of the fridge, as they are just too tempting (for all ages)!

                                             Okay, That's My Bite...

                                        They're Just Too Irresistible!                        

Grapes In Cheesecake Cream with Toasted Pecans and Gingersnap Crumb Topping!

Envision succulent grapes enrobed in a luscious cheesecake cream with the added texture of lightly toasted, chopped pecans and crowned with a crunchy gingersnap crumb topping.

Is it a side dish or a dessert...I'll let you decide.  You know we Southerners love our sweet side dishes...so, naturally, we would serve it as a side...or, a dessert.  If I take it to a gathering, I'm just gonna put it on the table with all the other sides.  I tell you what, I'm just going to call it a dessert.  All I know is that it's absolutely delicious and satisfying...so much for that!

I was intrigued when I saw Trisha Yearwood making her grape salad on the Food Network.  She said everyone looked forward to it at get-togethers.  I'd never heard of a grape salad before.  When I made it; though good as it was, I decided it needed more complexity in texture.  After much thought, I decided to use more pecans (and toast them), all in the filling.  Then, I crowned the dish with a gingersnap crumb topping.  Va-va-voom...right on spot!!  It was perfect!  Now, I love it, along with everyone else!

        Grapes Smothered In Cheesecake Cream, Who Wouldn't Love That!

         But, Add Toasted Pecans and A Gingersnap Crumb Topping...Wow! 
                            

Over-The-Top Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella/Peanut-Butter Frosting and Peanut-Butter Mini-Cupcakes with Rich Chocolate Frosting!

If you're looking for a real showstopper dessert, you'll love these luscious cupcakes!  They are so much fun and could be made in a variety of flavor combinations.

I was truly intrigued and inspired recently when I saw a photo of similar cupcakes topped with mini-cupcakes.  It was on the Google+ Community for Chocolate Lovers!! They don't usually post the recipe for the photos...it's just generally photos of very tempting chocolate desserts.  The mini-cupcakes were tilted, and I couldn't decide if I liked them leaning or would like them better perfectly centered.  Well, after making them for my daughter's birthday last week, I decided that I, indeed, like them best tilted.

I chose my moist, dense chocolate cupcakes and frosted them with my Nutella/peanut-butter frosting.  Then, I topped them with my tender, mini-peanut-butter cupcakes which I frosted with my rich chocolate frosting.  I, then, drizzled the assembled cupcakes with jarred, unsalted caramel sauce (salted caramel sauce is too much, as there is salt in the Nutella/peanut-butter frosting).  I should have drizzled more for the photo; as by the time I photoed the cupcake, the drizzle had soaked into it.

     It's Like Having a Little...

                                                  Bonus On Top!
             

Silver White Cupcakes with Lemon Curd and Blackberry Topping

Succulent blackberries perfectly complement the tangy lemon curd topping on these tender, light and fluffy silver white cupcakes.  The mini-cupcakes (as in the photos below) make a lovely bite-sized dessert for spring or summer parties, or showers for babies or weddings.

We thoroughly enjoyed these tantalizing cupcakes at a recent get-together for my daughter's birthday.  I adapted them from a recipe for Silver White Cake, which was one of several easy one-bowl cake recipes offered in my vintage Betty Crocker's Cookbook, First Printing, 1969.

Whether you choose to make the standard-sized cupcakes or the mini-cupcakes, you'll find them...

                                             A Delightful Way....
 
                                  To Celebrate Spring or Summer!

Dark Chocolate-Coated Matzos ~ One with Sea Salt and Crushed Shards of Burnt Caramel and One with Chopped Toasted Slivered Almonds

Chocolaty, salty-caramelly, nutty and crunchy...all here in these luscious and simple to prepare dark chocolate-coated matzos.  You'll have a hard time deciding which of these varieties to make, so you'll probably want to make both! (I like variety, don't you?) They were a big hit during our recent Passover celebration and I'm certain they'll be a big hit with you and yours!


                                            Crunchy with Elegance...

                                          And Crazy Scrumptious!

Dark Chocolate-Coated Peanut Butter Crunchy Bonbons

If it seems that I'm on a bite-sized dessert kick, that's because they make such terrific, well-received food gifts.  After the fall and winter holidays, a slew of our family birthdays begin, with our celebrating most of them in March.

I made these fantastic peanut butter bonbons for my peanut butter-loving son-in-law's recent birthday. Crushed graham crackers provide a delightful surprise crunch to the creamy peanut butter center of these decadent dark chocolate-drenched bonbons.  Chocolate and peanut butter...just meant to be! 

                                                   Call Them...

                                                 Irresistible!

Chocolate-Coated Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Bites ~ Salty, Chocolaty and Crunchy!

Salty, chocolaty and crunchy, with a surprise of creamy peanut butter, these adorable pretzel bites make an terrific party dessert!  I presented as a Valentine gift this year; however, they'd be well received as a gift any time of the year or as a special treat for your family.  Also, they'd make a wonderful project to do with the children.

Drench these scrumptious pretzel bites with dark or milk chocolate (I prefer dark) and, for a special touch, adorn with your choice of a variety of toppings.  Any way you prefer, you'll love how easy these bites are and they'll love devouring them!

                                            Salty, Chocolaty and Crunchy...

                                           They'll Just Love Them!

Luscious Pecan Praline Topping Holiday Gifts

This luscious pecan praline topping is so marvelous, it should be canned and gifted!  Show your friends and family how much you appreciate them...there's nothing like the joy of presenting or receiving homemade gifts!

Tie your gift jars with pretty ribbon along with gift tags explaining care and suggested ways to use.  For several ideas to enjoy this decadent topping, see my original post Luscious Pecan Praline Topping ~ "How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways".  It's so sinfully delicious, my daughter likes to eat it straight from the jar!

                                             Oh, You Shouldn't Have...

                                               Can't Wait To Open!         

Fun Fall Acorns Made with Chocolate Kisses and Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate and peanut butter...who can resist?  These whimsical Fall acorns, made with chocolate kisses and mini peanut butter sandwich cookies, are so fun and would be a great project to do with children!

Serve these adorable treats at a Fall gathering on a pretty doilie-lined tray or plate.  Or, use them for an easy Autumn decoration on a Thanksgiving cake or on bar cookies, and you'll be very thankful for all the praise you'll glean.  They would also make wonderful party favors in cellophane bags tied with pretty bows, or gifts presented in lovely boxes or tin cans.  Friends and family will think you're so clever!

                                           Uh-oh, These Are Going Fast...

                                 Better Squirrel Some Away For Myself!

Laborless Labor Day Recipe Roundup!

Labor Day should be laborless, right?  That's exactly what this roundup of entrees, salads and desserts is all about...for you to enjoy a classic, fun and relaxed Labor Day!

For even more scrumptious recipes, perfect for a carefree Labor Day, see my Fourth of July Recipe Roundup!

                                      Keeping It Easy and Delicious...

                                      For a Laid-Back Labor Day!

Spiked Cherry Cheesecake Bonbons with Dark Morello Cherries and Toasted Pecan Coating

You all know how much my son loves desserts with cherries!  Naturally, I was inspired when I saw Dan at Mantitlement's recipe for Moonshine Cherry Cheesecake Bites.  Using his recipe as a guide, I did my twist on it using amaretto liqueur, firming and making the batter more workable with cake mix (which also added more texture and even more flavor) and completing with a coating of crushed toasted pecans.  I imported the idea of the cake mix from my recipe for Marbled Candy Barks with Cake Batter.  I also substituted the maraschino cherries with dark morello cherries.

We enjoyed these divine coated spiked cherries as a prelude to other desserts at a recent "After-The-Fact" family birthday party, and they were gobbled up in no time!   The party was to celebrate several birthdays for which we'd all been unable to gather at the same time.

I can't give Mantitlement enough accolades!  Dan, in collaboration with his wife Christie, offers such unique recipes with fabulous photos!  Their creations include delicious family-friendly recipes, along with marvelous appetizers and beverages.  Do check them out...you'll love the site!

By the way, accidents sometimes do actually become wonderful creations.  I forgot not to completely cover the cherries with the batter, so I added an uncoated spiked cherry on top of each coated spiked cherry; and Ta-Dah...

                                               A Wow Presentation...

                                      Offering A Little Bit Of Heaven!