Category: Desserts

Desserts · Fruit

Not Your Mama’s Banana Pudding

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Randy has been asking me to make banana pudding for the last couple of weeks, but being the sensitive, giving person I am, I ended up making the desserts that are what I wanted. So..today was the day. We are going to dinner at a friends house tonight and I am taking the dessert. If I am going to have banana pudding, I want it kicked up a notch, so here dear friends is the version that I end up licking the bowl, the spoon and stay away from the scales for a week after I eat it. This is much richer than the normal one, which makes me love it. Because I don’t care much for vanilla wafers, I used Lorna crushed Lorna Doone cookies.

2 boxes (4 oz ea) white chocolate instant pudding (or 1 white chocolate and 1 banana, if you like more of a banana flavor)
1 cup ice cold water
2 cups cold milk
1 (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) (or 2 cans if you want it really rich) ( I like to use 1 1/2 cans as I love the flavor of sweetened milk)
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
3 bananas
1 (10 oz) box Lorna Doone shortbread cookies (any short bread will work)

Mix pudding mixes with milk and water. When thick, add condensed milk and mix until thoroughly combined. Fold in the 2 cups whipped cream.
Spread a layer of the crushed cookies on the bottom of your serving dish. Pour 1 cup of the pudding mixture over the cookies and then layer a sliced banana over the pudding. Repeat layers until all the pudding is used. Top with whipping cream and then sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs over the top.

Cakes · Desserts · Fruit

Lemon Bar Cheesecake

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Friday evening we are having some friends over for dinner. When I came across this recipe from Southern Living Feb issue, I knew it would be our dessert for tonight. I love saving the magazines and going back through them. It reminds me of different scriptures that you have read a million times in the Bible, but just when you are needing a certain word from the Lord, you come across the same scripture and it just has a whole new meaning, depending on your circumstances. It is just the Word you are needing to hear. So it is with old recipes, you can read them a hundred times, but sometimes one just sticks out to you as you are going through your recipe stack and there it is…the perfect recipe you have been looking for.

As Southerners,  we love our Bible, a true treasure and God’s love letter to us. Southern Living Magazine is a gift to us also, provides us with treasured recipes, which made with love, we share with our families and friends. This will be a favorite and treasured recipe.

If you use a dark springform pan, it will ensure a golden brown crust without having to bake before adding the filling.

2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup cold butter, cubed

2 egg yolks

1 to 2 tables ice-cold water

4 (8 oz) softened cream cheese

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

2 teas vanilla

2 cups Lemon Curd, divided (I use already prepared lemon curd I get at grocery store)

Candied Lemon Slices (opt)

Pulse first 3 ingredients in a food processor 3-4 times or just until blended. Add butter and pulse 5-6 times or until crumbly. Whisk together 2 egg yolks and 1 tables ice-cold water in a small bowl; add to butter mixture and process until dough forms a ball and pulls away from sides of bowl, adding up to 1 tables remaining ice-cold water if necessary. Shape dough into a disk; wrap in plastic and chill at least 4 hours (up to 24 hours).

Roll dough into a 14″ circle on a lightly floured surface. Fit dough into a lightly greased 9″ dark springform pan; trim and discard excess dough. Chill 30 mins.

Preheat oven to 325. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with mixer 3 min or until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Pour 2/3 of cheesecake batter (about 4 cups) into prepared crust; dollop 1 cup lemon curd over batter in pan and gently swirl with a knife. Spoon remaining batter into pan.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min or just until center is set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven with door closed for 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven and gently run a knife around outer edge to loosen sides of pan. Do not remove sides of the pan. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack about 1 hour. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Remove sides of pan and transfer to a serving plate. Spoon remaining 1 cup lemon curd over top of cheesecake. If desired top with candied lemon slices and whipped cream.

Cookies · Desserts

Lemon Tassies

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I couldn’t wait to share these with you. Going through my Martha Stewart Cookie Cookbook today looking for my usual Chocolate Biscotti recipe, I found these. They just sound to good not to bake today. I am so glad I listened to my heart yesterday that said, “go ahead and pick up that pretty little lemon, you just might need it this week” So I don’t have to run to the store to get lemon zest. It is already here.

For the crust:

2 cups flour

10 tables (1 1/4 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks

1/4 cup plus 2 tables sugar

2 large egg yolks

1 teas vanilla extract

2 teas finely grated lemon zest

1/4 teas salt

Vegetable oil or cooking spray

Filling:

8 oz room temp cream cheese

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

3 tables finely grated lemon zest

1 tables fresh lemon juice

1/2 teas vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Coat two 24-cup mini-muffin tins with cooking spray.
Make crusts: process flour and butter in a food processor until mixture is the consistency of fine crumbs. Add sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, lemon zest and salt. Process just until combined and sandy in texture. Do not over process.

Divide dough into quarters. Divide each quarter into 12 equal pieces and shape into balls. Place each ball in a muffin cup. Press into cup, stretching dough up the sides. Set each muffin tin on a baking sheet.
Bake crusts 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned all over. Tap down any puffed centers of the shells with the end of a wooden spoon. Transfer muffin tins to wire racks to cool.

Make filling by combing cream cheese, sugar, egg, lemon zest, juice and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Using a 1″ round melon scoop or a spoon, fill the cooled crusts with filling, evenly dividing the filling between the 24 crusts.

Bake the cookies until filling is set and just beginning to color at the edges, about 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks again to cool. Tassies can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 3 days.

Makes 4 dozen tassies

 

Cakes · Desserts · Fruit

Pineapple Pudding Cake

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This week has just been a week of wanting to do nothing by bake. Major baking mood, so I went to a couple of new spots on the internet, one being called, Just Desserts, and found this new recipe. Sounds perfect for those warm summer nights when we are wanting something that is cool and refreshing, but yet, delicious and tantalizing. So here it is, will become a summer favorite.

1 Duncan Hines Yellow or Pineapple Cake mix, baked according to directions for a 9×13 pan.

When baked and completely cooled spread the following over the cake:

1 (8z) package of softened cream cheese mixed 1 (20 oz) can drained well, crushed pineapple and 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix.

When mixed well, spread over cooled cake.

Either using a (8 oz) tub of thawed Cool Whip or 2 cups sweetened, whipping cream, spread whipped topping over pudding mixture.(You know which one I will use, the most fattening one of course….real whipping cream)  Sprinkle with chopped nuts and maraschino cherries, if desired.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Cover and keep in fridge.

Serves 12-14

Chocolate · Desserts

Frozen German Sweet Chocolate Pie

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Prep for this amazing pie is only 20 minutes, plus freezing time.

1 pkg (4 oz) Bakers German Sweet Chocolate

1/3 cup milk, divided

4 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

2 tables sugar

2 cups thawed Cool Whip or real whipped cream

1 graham cracker crust or chocolate cookie crust

Microwave chocolate and 2 tables milk *(I like to use either evaporated milk or whipping cream to give it a more creamy flavor) and cook for 2 minutes. Stop after the first minute to stir and return to microwave and cook for another min., maybe 2 more minutes. Stirring between the minutes to stir and chocolate is completely melted.

Add cream cheese, sugar and remaining milk; beat with mixer until well blended. Refrigerate for 10 min. Stir in Cool Whip or 2 cups of already whipped cream; spoon into crust.

Freeze 4 hours or until firm. Let stand at room temp 15 min before cutting to serve.

Cakes · Desserts · Fruit

Paula Deen Strawberry Cake

Chocolate Castles1 Comment

To show support of Paula I thought today I would post a recipe from the new July magazine that just arrived the other day. I have not make it but intend to do so after I finish baking what I have committed to for some people. So, Paula, this one’s for you! Thank you for being a lady, through this very difficult season.

1 cup butter, softened (always best to use unsalted)

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 teas strawberry extract

5 large eggs

3 cups flour

1 package (3 oz) package of strawberry gelatin

2 teas baking powder

1/4 teas salt

3/4 cup pureed thawed frozen sweetened strawberries

3/4 cup milk

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 13×9 baking pan with Pam baking spray with flour.

In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and extract at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, gelatin, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, (whew, I am exhausted from bending over to get all these bowls out from the cabinet.), combine strawberry puree and milk. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with strawberry mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating just until combined after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-35 min, depending on your oven. When wooden pick comes out clean, it is done. Let cake cool and then spread strawberry frosting on top. Store covered in fridge up to 3 days.

Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 (8 oz) softened cream cheese

1/4 cup pureed thawed frozen sweetened strawberries

4 cups powdered sugar

In large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add rest of ingredients and then powdered sugar at the last. Beat until powdered sugar is smooth and no lumps remain.

Desserts

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

When I saw this on Just A Pinch Recipe site, I knew it was for me. The perfect little dessert when you just can’t put your finger on what flavor you are wanting, it combines 3 of my favorites, chocolate, peanut butter and cream cheese. You won’t be disappointed.

CHOCOLATE CRUST

1 c

sugar

1/2 c

all purpose flour

6 Tbsp

cocoa powder

1/2 tsp

baking powder

1 stick

unsalted butter

1

egg

1 c

chocolate chips

PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BATTER

1 c

heavy whipping cream

3 pkg

(8 oz. each) cream cheese

1/2 jar

(18 oz jar) creamy peanut butter

1 c

sugar

1 tsp

vanilla extract

3

eggs

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

1 c

heavy whipping cream

10 1/2 oz

semi-sweet chocolate chips   (usually the whole small bag)

1 stick

butter

3

eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Line with foil and grease a 9×13 pan.

For chocolate crust:

Mix together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. With beater, beat in the butter & egg. Spread with spatula in the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips onto the crust.

Cheesecake batter:

Place the bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Whip the whipping cream until stiff. Set aside.

Cream together the cream cheese, peanut butter and sugar. Scrape bowl occasionally to ensure it is evenly mixed. Add vanilla and whipped cream and blend together. Add eggs, one at a time until mixed well.

Pour batter onto crust. Take butter knife and swirl just through batter (not all the way to the bottom to ensure no air bubbles is in batter. Bake at 350 for about 25 min. Turn off oven and  LEAVING DOOR CLOSED, leave in oven 35 min more.

Take out cheesecake and cool completely.

For chocolate ganache:

Heat 1 cup heavy cream over medium heat until warm, almost hot. Pull from heat and add semi-sweet chocolate chips. Do not stir. After cream has cooled, transfer mixture to mixing bowl. Beat on high until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled cheesecake. Cut into bars after 2-4 hours of being in fridge.

Beef · Daily Thoughts · Desserts

Fathers Day Friday

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

Father’s Day is two days away and I began to think what I could possibly give Randy to express what he means to me. They always say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and that is partly true, but with Randy, I thought something that would mean something to him would be to make him a photo album from pictures taken throughout the year with the kids. So have been fervently working on this for several weeks, and still haven’t got it finished. So second thing I thought would be to not spend money this week, so other than the grocery store and a quick trip to Hobby Lobby, which when he learned last night that I didn’t buy something that I really wanted, he quickly pressed his hand to my forehead and ask me if I was sick, I have not spent money. BUT…since I did spend a little at HL, I thought that maybe I should make him a meal that would truly show him just how much I love him. So tonight, friends are coming over and thought that I would splurge and make a huge meal of some of Randy’s favorites. You almost have to have company to eat all the food that is being prepared and since Mr. RC doesn’t eat leftovers, if you drive down our street tomorrow, please stop by for some food that will surely be sitting in the fridge. The menu I planned is this: Pot roast with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, fresh green beans, deviled eggs, stuffed celery, hot rolls and homemade chocolate pudding layered with cherry pie filling, whipping cream and homemade chocolate cake. Surely this great feast will make up for the little shopping spree at Hobby Lobby yesterday.
When we think of what our husbands have done for us throughout the years, it is a great day to honor the model that they are to our children. One year after Randy and I had been married about 5 years, my son Jamin, sent Randy a Fathers Day card which thanked him for loving me, the way he did. He told Randy that he was a great example of how a husband should treat his wife and had taught Jamin how to love a wife. I think that blessed Randy’s heart so much.
On Sunday, I am really going to try to express to him how thankful I am that God has allowed him to walk these last 17 years with me through so many different seasons of our lives.
What an honor it will be to celebrate you this Sunday. In case I still don’t finish the photo book, guess I had better get out my recipe for chicken fried steak to cook tomorrow. Maybe that will buy me some time.

The roast recipe is as follows:
1 chuck roast
1 onion, sliced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can French onion soup
1 can water
3 tables Kikoman sauce
1 teas garlic powder
Salt and Pepper roast and brow n on both sides in about 2 tables oil. When browned, sprinkle garlic powder over roast and pour both cans of sour over roast, the water, kikoman sauce and place sliced onion over the meat and sides of meat. Cover tightly and bake at 325for about 3 hours or until meat is tender when cut into chunks. This makes a great brown gravy that will be thick and doesn’t need any salt or any other flavor. Pour gravy over mashed potatoes.

Desserts · Fruit

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

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I am a cobbler junkie. When I saw this in the new Southern Living, I had to try it. Think about these bars with homemade peach ice cream this summer. Wow, what a combo….

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

4 eggs

1 tables vanilla

1 teas baking powder

3/4 teas salt

3 1/4 cups flour

3 (6 oz) packages fresh blackberries (about 4 cups)

4 cups peeled and sliced fresh firm ripe peaches

3 tables bourbon (opt)

1 cup roasted glazed pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 350. Beat first 2 ingredients and 1 cup of the sugar at medium speed with mixer, until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Stir together baking powder, salt and 3 cups flour. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended. Spread three-fourths of batter in a greased and floured 13×9 pan; sprinkle with blackberries.

Stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a medium bowl; add peaches and bourbon* (if you are omitting bourbon, use either whipping cream or orange juice), stirring to coat. Spoon mixture over blackberries.

Stir pecans into remaining batter; dollop over peach mixture.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until golden and bubbly. Cool completely on a wire each. Cut into bars.

Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Desserts

Lemon Curd Cupcakes

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Yesterday I took these cupcakes to my MOPS moms and they all loved them. (Of course, being moms of preschoolers, they would love whatever that was set in front of them as long as they didn’t have to cook it). Several have emailed me and ask for the recipe and then when I took more of them last night to Bible Study, the ladies absolutely loved them. They are so easy, yet taste and look like you spent all day.

1 Duncan Hines Lemon Cake mix

1 jar of lemon curd (or you can make a package of lemon pudding and pie filling if you can’t find the lemon curd in your grocery) Just make sure that if you make your own lemon curd using the jello, you allow it to thicken and cool completely before using in the cupcake batter.

Frosting*

Mix cake mix according to directions. Using paper liners, place 24 liners in cupcake holders. Place about 1 tables of lemon cake batter in each liner. Place about 1 tablespoon of lemon curd  over batter. Then pour about 2 tables cake mix batter over curd, being sure that curd is completely covered. Bake according to directions on box. Cook cupcakes completely.

Another option is just bake the cupcakes according to directions on box without the filling and when they are cool, insert curd into middle of cupcake with the tip which allows you to  insert it into cupcake.

Frost* with the following:

1 box of powdered sugar

1 stick softened butter

1 teas lemon extract

1/3 cup whipping cream or milk (add this liquid a little at a time, as it might not all be required to get frosting to spreading consistency, may need a little more also)