Raspberry Fluff

Crust:

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tbsp. sugar

3 tbsp. butter

Filling:

2/3 cup sugar

zest of 1 lemon

1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened

juice of half lemon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (8 oz.) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 cup fresh raspberries, slightly mashed

These are light and fluffy and a easy dessert to whip up for company.  The variations are limitless - change out the berries, make it lemon, or how about chocolate with oreo crust?

YUM!

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

10-12 stale cinnamon rolls (I scrape off some of the frosting)

6 eggs

2 cups milk

1 cup cream

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1-2 Tbsp. real maple syrup

1 cup fresh blueberries*, washed

Quarter the cinnamon rolls and place in a 9x13 dish overnight.  In a large bowl whisk the eggs and then the sugar.  Mix in the cream, milk, vanilla and maple.  Add the blueberries to the pieces of cinnamon roll in the pan - I lift up pieces of the rolls so there are blueberries evenly distributed.  Pour the milk mixture over the cinnamon rolls.  This needs to sit for at least 20 minutes, but it does great in the fridge overnight.  I just throw some foil on it and then bake it in the morning.  Bake at 325 for 50-55 minutes. 

This is amazing warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

*Pears or raspberries can be used in place of the blueberries or feel free to omit.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

3 large apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
2 cups whole cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup oats
1/3 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
5-6 tbsp. melted butter

In a large bowl combine sliced apples, cranberries, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.  Mix well and then pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish.  In a another bowl mix the oats, flour, brown sugar and butter and then sprinkle over the apple cranberry mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, it is done when the apples are tender.

*I used Granny Smith apples (I like tart), but feel free to use a sweeter apple such as Gala if you prefer.  This is a tart dish, but it's great war with some vanilla ice cream.  I suggest this ice cream recipe.

Scotcheroos

Scotcheroos

1 cup Karo Syrup
1 cup Sugar
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1 cup Butterscotch Chips

You will need 6 cups of rice krispies measured into a large bowl.

1 cup white sugar...

and 1 cup Karo syrup in a sauce pan.

Cook syrup and sugar in the sauce pan over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar.  Bring mixture to a boil, remove from heat.  Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter and mix well.  Pour mixture over rice krispies and fully incorporate, then press mixture into a greased 9x13 cake pan.

Using the same saucepan melt 1or1 and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over low heat - be careful to stir and not burn the chocolate.  Once melted immediately pour over cereal mixture and smooth with a spatula.  Let cool for 45 minutes, or until firm.  Cut and enjoy!

Jeni's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

This is not one of those throw it all in and 30 minutes later you have ice cream recipes... this is not a hard recipe but it does require you to let it freeze for 4 hours (4 of the most impatient hours ever!)

Jeni is a legend in Ohio and soon to be everywhere.  Her ice cream is amazing!  Honestly - the BEST vanilla ice cream I've had in my life... the lick the bowl and the spoon and maybe your neighbors bowl kinda good.

We had this for dessert the other night with some fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce and it made my son sing and dance and run around the frontroom exclaiming how good it was and how I was the best cook EVER... See?  This is some serious ice cream. 

It's smooth - you don't end up with butter fat on the roof of your mouth and there is no weird aftertaste. Just trust me and give this recipe a try.

 

Jeni's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

• 2 Cups Milk
• 1 and one fourth cup cream
• Two thirds (2/3) cup sugar
• scant 1/8 cup corn syrup
• 1 TBS + 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 and one half ounce cream cheese, softened
• one eighth tsp kosher salt
• One vanilla bean
Use one eighth cup of the milk to blend with the cornstarch and make a slurry. Set aside.In a medium bowl (2 qt.), whisk the very soft cream cheese until smooth.Combine remaining milk, cream, sugar and corn syrup in a four quart saucepan (three quart works, but you have to watch carefully because it can boil over).
Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and open, scrape out seeds and add the seeds and the pod the pan with the cream. Stir to break up. Heat over medium until boiling. Let cream mixture boil for 4 minutes (set a timer). Remove from heat.
SLOWLY add cornstarch slurry in a steady stream while whisking constantly to prevent the slurry from sinking to the bottom of the pan. Once incorporated, return pan to medium heat and bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat.
Pour about two tablespoons of the hot mixture into the cream cheese. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth. Add a little more cream mixture and whisk. Add the rest of the cream mixture and stir until incorporated. Add salt and mix until well blended (about a minute).Pour entire mixture into a heatproof plastic bag (Ziplock) and get all the air out (to prevent a film forming). Close tightly and submerge in an ice bath until completely chilled, about 30 minutes.
Freeze in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s directions.Quickly remove ice cream from machine to a bowl with tight fitting lid. Get it into your freezer asap and freeze for at least four hours.If it becomes too hard to scoop, temper the ice cream for a few minutes at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving.

Orange Cream Cookies

2 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1/2 white sugar

1/2 firmly packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla

2 tbsp orange zest and the juice of one orange

2 cups white chocolate chips

(to half the batch I added dried carnberries)

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt - set aside.  In mixer cream butter and sugars together, beet in eggs and then vanilla until smooth.  Gradually add half of flour mixture add orange juice and mix and then add the rest of the flour.  Stir in orange zest, chocolate chips and cranberries.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets - do not flatten the cookies.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  Do not overcook. Cookies will be thick.  Store in an airtight container.

Note:  These cookies have a short bread type texture.  If your dough still seems too dry add a tbsp of milk.

*Adapted from the Girl Who Ate Everything.

Key Lime Bars

These are a mix between lemon bars and a key lime pie.  Super yummy, but a little messy.

Key Lime Bars

*adapted from Bake at 350

Crust:

2/3 c. brown sugar

1 3/4 c. flour

3 c. sweetened coconut (toasted - next time I will substitute 1 cup of crushed graham crackers with one of the cups of coconut)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter (I added more butter)

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

1 3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

3 Tbsp. flour

4 eggs

1/2 c. fresh squeezed key lime juice

green food coloring

How to toast coconut:  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle coconut on top.  Bake at 300 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Combine the sugar and butter. Mix in toasted coconut, flour and salt.  I thought this was a little dry so I added more butter and will add less flour next time.  Remove 1 cup of mixture and set aside.  Press remaining mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes.  Let cool.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth and well blended.  Mix in the flour and then incorporate the eggs, one at a time.  Mix in the lime juice and a couple drops of green food coloring.  Mix until smooth.  Poor onto cooled crust.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the 1 cup of reserved crust on top.  Bake for 10 more minutes until sides are set and center is slightly wobbly.  Remove from oven and cool for 1 hour.  Chill in refrigerator.

Cut and serve.

Pumpkin Roll

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet (I line it with parchment paper).

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes.

Lay a damp linen towel on the counter, sprinkle it with confectioner's sugar, and turn the cake onto the towel. Carefully roll the towel up (lengthwise) with the cake in it. Place the cake-in-towel on a cooling rack and let it cool for 20 minutes. (It is important to do this as soon as the cake comes out of the oven, if you wait too long it will cool and crack when you try to roll it.)

Make the icing: In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer.

When the cake has cooled 20 minutes, unroll it and spread icing onto it (Be careful, you do not need to roll it tightly - you do not want to squeeze out all of the filing as you roll). Immediately re-roll (not in the towel this time), and wrap it with plastic wrap. Keep the cake refrigerated or freeze it for up to 2 weeks in aluminum foil. Cut the cake in slices just before serving.

This is a family favorite! It stores great in the fridge.

Cherry Bars

These are pretty and oh so yummy!
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling (I use 1 can)
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the extracts. Combine flour and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Mix just until combined. Spread 3 cups batter into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan (I use two 8x8 pans). Spread with pie filling. Drop the remaining batter by teaspoonfuls over filling. (Be careful, this is a sticky dough.)

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Combine the glaze ingredients; drizzle over bars.

P.S. My Mom doesn't like Cherry Pie or cherry pie filling and she really likes these, so give the cherry a try, but you can always swap out other canned pie filling if you so choose.