A Very Bloggy Christmas Filed under ( bars, chocolate, Cookies, dessert, holiday food, mint, peanut butter )

Initially I didn't plan to do this, I was just going to start fresh for the new year. But I just don't feel right about letting these wonderful treats go without giving credit and thanks to the bloggers who posted them.

I basically found all of my baking and treat ideas from the blogosphere this year, and while I didn't get to make near as many things as I would have liked, what I did make turned out ah-mazing! Here are some of the reasons my pants no longer fit :)




I absolutely could not go an entire Christmas season without making my all time favorite Christmas cookie, the Peanut Butter Blossom! So quick and easy, and when I say easy, I mean easy to stuff about ten down my throat at once! I know this recipe isn't much of a secret, but I always visit my aunts cookie blog, Sugarbliss for the recipe every year. Thanks Rebecca!




I found this sweet Holiday Chex Mix on Cooking with Cristine. Look at those adorable homemade Santa hats! So simply made by dipping bugles into red or cherry chocolate, and then into white for the trim. This was a pretty and delicious treat to pass out to friends. Thanks Cristine!




When I found these Creme-de-Menthe bars on Joanne's blog, Eats Well with Others, my oven was still broken and I could barely stand to wait to make this. Rich chocolatey brownies, with a creamy, minty, butter cream center, and a shell-like chocolate finish to this brownies from heaven, made for a very happy Teresa. No one else in my family is big into the mint-chocolate combo (crazies!) so I ate half the pan, and the other half is in the freezer just biding their time until I decide to cheat on my New Year's diet. Oh Joanne, how I love these bars!





And last, but certainly not least, Peppermint Thumbprint Cookie Cups from Barbara Bakes. Okay, so I did cheat a bit by just adding kisses instead of "thumbprinting" them, but I guarantee that either way you make them, you'll love them! Thanks so much Barbara!

And thanks to Blogland for providing us with SO many Christmas goodies, stories and heartfelt wishes. Even if I didn't make your treats, rest assured I imagined their smells and tastes and enjoyed a bit of the season with you! Enjoy the rest of your break and Happy New Year!

Banana Chip Muffins Filed under ( bananas, bread, Breakfast, chocolate, muffins, quick and easy )

I really think those bears have the right idea.

Every winter, after eating a few fantastic Thanksgiving feasts, they hunker down in their cozy caves, wrapped in their plush fur coats, and dream away the winter.


I want in on that. Especially early in the morning when there aren't enough layers in the world to combat that freezing cold wind while dropping my daughter off at school. And then there are days like today, where, barring high-tech warming devices, it might actually be impossible to warm up. Even my fuzzy socks are failing me today. And to think, I used to constantly fight with mom to even wear a coat in the winter!

Well, since I don't get to hibernate like a bear, baked goods like these will definitely help me get through the cold cold days of winter. I grew up on these muffins, and after losing the recipe my mom gave me, I was convinced that any old banana chocolate chip recipe would suffice. WRONG. I actually tried quite a few different recipes, but soon realized that I wasn't going to be satisfied until I had the ones that reminded me of home.

These are everything a good banana muffin should be, moist, flavorful, and rich, but not too sweet. They are also a total snap to whip together, no mixer needed, just a good wooden spoon. Next time you have a few bananas ready to turn, give these a try. And stay warm out there friends!


Banana Chip Muffins
Provided Sweetly by My Mom

Ingredients

1 3/4 c flour
1/2 c sugar
3 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 c choc chips
1 egg
1/4 c oil
1/4 c milk
3 mashed bananas

Directions

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center.

Beat egg until frothy. Mix in oil, milk and bananas. Pour into the flour mixture. Stir to moisten.

Bake @ 400* for 20-25 minutes.
Yummy!

Mint and Chocolate Capped Brownie Bites Filed under ( cake, chocolate, Cookies, dessert, mint )

As I've mentioned, I really love this time of year. I love going to the mall and looking at how cute they've decorated it. I love the sparkling street lights. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you can buy all the mint chocolate you want! My favorites are the Hershey's mint kisses, with the candy cane ones coming in at a close second. They only come out at Christmas time, which I kind of like because it keeps them a real treat. Do any of you have your special treat that you only eat during the holidays?

Anyway, I found this recipe on the bag and I had to make them. After all, the only thing better than a mint chocolate truffle, is a mint chocolate truffle attached to a brownie. The fun thing about these is that you could really make them with any of the different flavors of kisses out there, cherry, coconut, almond, caramel, etc. They were fun to make and really tasty, the only thing I would do different next time is to just forget the little cupcake papers. They stuck to the brownie bites and just got in the way of eating them, otherwise, they're wonderful!

Mint Capped Brownie Bites

Ingredients

48 Kisses, flavor of your choice
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
powdered sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line 48 small muffin cups with paper or foil mini muffin cups. Remove wrappers from chocolate.

2. Beat butter, sugar, water and vanilla in a large bowl on medium speed of mixer until well blended. Add eggs; beat well.

3. Stir together flour, coca, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. If necessary, refrigerate dough until firm enough to handle. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place in prepared muffin cups.

4. Bake 11-13 minutes, or until cookie surface is set. Cookies will appear soft and moist. Do not overbake. Cook about 5 minutes on wire rack. Press chocolate piece into center of each cookie bite. Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Monster Cookies Filed under ( chocolate, Cookies, dessert, oatmeal, peanut butter )

My oven is broken, and it won't be fixed for a week. I. AM. DYING. Not only does it hamper my ability to cook regular meals for my family, but it's also broken during the biggest baking season of the year! If you listen very carefully, you'll hear my waistline sigh in relief. However it's being completely drowned out by my heart, soul and stomach, who are screaming in bitter protest. I'm not a huge baker, but this time of year I live for it. Lord, give me the strength to last the week.

Dramatics aside, I have to share with you one of my favorite cookies. The first time I tried these I was at my cousin's house. She keeps the dough, frozen in ready made blobs, ready to throw in the oven, how genius is that! I ate one fresh out of the oven, closed my eyes and sighed that it was the best cookie I had ever eaten. That hasn't changed, which is why it's a surprise to me that it's taken this long to make them again. This was actually a product of having way too many leftover M&M's from Halloween. These cookies seriously have everything in them, peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate, raisins, no wonder they're my favorite!

Sigh, I'd like to post this recipe in honor of my broken oven, I can't wait to be reunited!

Monster C0okies
Paula Deen

Ingredients

3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12-ounce) jar creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins, optional
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.

Black Forest Trifle Filed under ( chocolate, dessert )

Every year it's become a bit of a tradition that I make some sort of black forest variation for Glenn's birthday. Last year it was a tart, and this year it was a trifle. I really like trifles, and make them all the time. They're easy, impressive and there are endless ways to make them. They're also completely fool-proof, who has ever heard of a screwed up trifle (except for on Friends, no beef or onions in this!).

What really kicked this up for me was the glaze I used. It soaks right into the cake and moistens everything up with a mouthwatering chocolatey sweetness. Mmmmm, it's the type of thing you wake up wanting to eat for breakfast!

Black Forest Trifle

Ingredients

Devils Food Cake, prepared
can of cherry pie filling
whipped cream
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
5 tablespoons butter
6 oz or 1 cup choc chips

Directions

Cube cake into small pieces. In a small sauce pan, combine sugar, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir chocolate chips until smooth. In a trifle bowl, layer 1/3 of cake in bottom of pan. Pour 1/3 of the glaze on top of cake, and 1/3 of the cherries. Repeat layers and garnish top with whipped cream. Best if served next to some vanilla ice cream!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert Filed under ( chocolate, Cookies, cream cheese, dessert, peanut butter )

Do yourselves a favor and don't make this dessert. I wouldn't even continue reading this post if you don't want to get sucked in to making this dessert. You see, this particular dessert is pure evil. Honestly, I don't even remember making it, it was just there, in front of me, forcing me to take one bite after the other! Even when my belly was screaming to stop, I couldn't stop myself from taking just one more bite! It calls to you at inconvenient times, like at two in the morning, when you can't sleep, or while you're on the treadmill, or singing hymns at church. You'll crave it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And when it's finally gone, and you think you're free of it, it will continue to haunt you, begging you to make it again. And you'll lay awake at night thinking about how much you miss it's rich layers of it's crumbly oreo crust, creamy peanut butter center, chopped peanut butter cups, fluffy chocolate spread and crushed oreo topping.

Luckily I've managed to escape it's evil spell, that's right, I've learned my lesson. I'm never making this dessert aga.....

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
By Taste of Home, Best of Holiday Recipes 2008

Ingredients

20 oreos, divided
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup peanut butter
1-1/2 cups cups confectioners sugar, divided
1 16 oz carton whipped topping, thawed, divided
15 mini peanut butter cups, chopped
1 cup cold milk
1 3.9 oz instant chocolate fudge pudding mix

Directions

1. Crush 16 cookies (I used my food processor), toss with the butter. Press onto the bottom of ungreased 9-inch square dish.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup confectioners sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with peanut butter cups.

3. In another mixing bowl, beat the milk, pudding mix, and remaining confectioners' sugar on low speed for 2 minutes. Fold in remaining whipped topping. Spread over peanut butter cups. Crush remaining cookies; sprinkle over top. Cover and chill for at least three hours before serving.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Filed under ( chocolate, Cookies, dessert, pumpkin )

I know that pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are pretty common, especially this time of year, but I wanted to share this recipe anyway. Rather then being a dense cookie, these are such soft, melt-in-your mouth fall treats. I've already made them a few times, and I need to stop because I can't stop sneaking them!

I'm so glad it's Friday! I'm particularly exhausted today, so I am very much looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend. Between that and the cool weather, snuggling with a warm blanket and a good movie sounds perfect! I hope you all have a wonderful, and relaxing weekend!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Found in Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

1 cup shortening
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Stir in the walnuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Chocolate Scotcheroos Filed under ( bars, chocolate, Cookies, dessert, peanut butter )

A few weeks ago I had to make treats for a large group of children. I found these Scotcheroos on allrecipes.com, and got really excited, because my mom used to make these for us all the time for an after school snack. They just about as quick and easy to make as regular rice crispy treats, but have all the extra flavors of peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch. They also have a magic power that will force you to eat five or six in one sitting, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault.

If you're looking for an easy, quick treat, give these a try. They're a hit with kids and adults!

Chocolate Scotcheroos
Found in allrecipes.com

Ingredients

1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter 6 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

1. Cook corn syrup and sugar together in a large pan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter; mix well. Add cereal; stir until evenly coated.

2. Pour into greased 13x9-inch pan and pat into place.

3. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread over cereal.

4. Cool at least 45 minutes, or until firm. Cut into bars.

Oreo Truffles Filed under ( cakeballs, chocolate, Cookies, dessert )

A huge shout out to Melody at Cheat Day Cafe for posting these morsels from heaven! If you haven't visited her blog yet, you're missing out. Her recipes and personality have me going back regularly!

What is it about these little bite sized treats do I love so much? I needed a treat to take to a baby shower, and since I've made cakeballs ad nauseum, I figured it was time for something different, so I made these, lol!

These Oreo truffles are simply divine, especially if you are a chocolate lover. And I love using the chocolate candy melts, rather then chocolate chips, because they made a very crisp coating that goes so well with the Oreo. Mmmmmm, next time I make these, I'm freezing half so that I can enjoy them for weeks to come!

Oreo Truffles
From Melody at Cheat Day Cafe

Ingredients

1 16 oz package of Oreos (not double stuff)
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
Dark Chocolate melts (I used Wilton, and they can be found at most craft stores)
White Chocolate melts, optional for garnish

Directions

1. Blend Oreos in a food processor until finely crushed.

2. Mix cream cheese in mixing bowl until creamy. Add Oreo crumbs, and blend until completely combined.

3. Roll into 1 inch balls, or smaller, place on a cookie sheet and freeze for at least twenty minutes to harden.

4. Melt dark chocolate. Dip each truffle into chocolate (I just used a spoon to coat the truffle, and then pulled it out, tapping excess chocolate on the side of the bowl). Place on wax paper to dry.

5. For garnish, melt white chocolate in a plastic ziplock bag. Snip tip of bag and drizzle over top of truffle. Once dried, store in refrigerator.

Berries and Chocolate Filed under ( berries, chocolate, dessert, fruit, party food, quick and easy )

Growing up with my parents meant learning how to say thank you. You say thank you when someone passes you the broccoli at the table, you send a thank you card when given a gift, and when someone goes out of their way to really do something nice, you say thank you in style, like this platter of berries and chocolate.


My mom really wanted to say thank you to a local dental office after they went above and beyond to beautify her smile. We put our heads together and decided on a platter of fruit and chocolate. Costco had a gorgeous selection of Rainier cherries, strawberries and blackberries, so we went with those. We then set to work making Funfetti cakeballs, raspberry cheesecake bites, and Ghiradhelli brownie bites (from the boxed mix).

It turned out to be a really fun platter to deliver, and it was definitely a crowd pleaser. You could do something like this for a shower, a party, or a fun way to surprise a loved one. And of course, it's a wonderful way to say thank you!

Banana-Butterscotch Upside-Down Chocolate Cake Filed under ( bananas, cake, chocolate, dessert, fruit )

I recently bought this book, because if there's one thing I need, it's a cookbook dedicated to nothing but chocolate cakes, am I right?



I haven't made too many things out of it yet, mostly for the sake of my never-ending diet, but it did come in handy when I had a few bananas that were reaching the end of their lives. What is it about those last two or three bananas? We are never able to finish off that bunch. But when you get something like this as a result it's hard to complain too much. It was fun to make a cake so different like this, and my favorite part was the butterscotch sauce. The recipe is a bit extensive, but it's still a surprisingly easy cake to put together. Enjoy!

Banana-Butterscotch Upside-Down Chocolate Cake
By Chocolate Cakes

Ingredients

BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temp
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup golden corn syrup (I just used light)
3 large ripe but firm bananas, cut into 1/2 inches

CAKE:
1 cup cake flour
1/3 cup unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup buttermilk


Directions

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 350. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan with side 2 inches high. Line with a piece of aluminum foil long enough to extend over opposite sides of the pan.

2. To make the butterscotch sauce: In a medium saucepan, cook the cream, butter, brown and granulated sugars, salt, and corn syrup over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter and sugars are melted. Increase the heat to medium-high, bring the sauce to a boil, and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Pour the sauce into the prepared pa n, tilting the pan if necessary to spread it evenly. Arrange the banana slices in rows over the sauce, placing them close together. Set aside.

3. To make cake, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and granulated and brown sugars until smoothly blended, about 2 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until each is blended smoothly into the batter and the batter looks creamy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. On low speed, add half of the flour mixture, mixing just to incorporate it. Mix in the buttermilk to blend it into the batter. Mix in the remaining flour mixture until it is incorporated and the batter is smooth. Scrape the batter evenly over the bananas. Gently smooth the top.

4. Bake just until the top feels firm when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake, but not the bananas, comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto the rack. Carefully remove and discard the foil. If any bananas stick to the foil, replace them on the cake. Cool the cake thoroughly on the wire rack for about 1 hour. Transfer the cake to a serving plate.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose when trying new recipes. This chocolate peanut butter mousse cake was unfortunately a loss for me. The cake was too dry, the mousse was too sweet and the ganache was a bit bitter for my taste, such a bummer because it was SO MUCH WORK! Oh well, live and learn right! Here's hoping for a win on my next cake!

Watermelon Cake Balls Filed under ( cake, cakeballs, chocolate, dessert )

I know a lot of you food bloggers are already doing this, but you've got to check out pinterest.com. It's a really fun website full of ideas, and ways to file and bookmark your ideas for others to see. I've found a ton of great ideas, including these little babies.







I so wish I could have gotten a better picture of these, but when you're away from home and out of your element it doesn't always work out. The kids and I made these cake balls and they were as delicious as they were cute. I needed to hurry and post these because it's not too late, there's still two weeks left of summer, right? :)



Watermelon Cake Balls



Ingredients



1 strawberry cake mix, prepared according to directions

1 tub strawberry frosting, or vanilla frosting, colored red

1-1 1/2 chocolate chips

1 bag white almond bark

1 bad green chocolate melts (I like Wilton the best) or white chocolate colored green (be sure to add coloring BEFORE you melt it, otherwise the chocolate will seize)



Directions



Crumble cake mix into a large bowl. Add entire tub of frosting and chocolate chips, mix until completely combined. Roll into balls the size of a bouncy ball. Freeze for at least a half hour. Lay out a long sheet of wax paper on the counter. Melt your white chocolate (I usually melt the chocolate a third of the bag at a time). Using a spoon, completely dip the cake ball in chocolate, tapping off excess. Dry on wax paper. Repeat the same steps with green chocolate. Allow to dry and eat, after everyone admires the cuteness of course. :)

Liege Waffles Filed under ( Breakfast, chocolate, dessert, fruit, ice cream )

Believe it or not, there is actually a waffle under that big mountain of goodness. Here is the story behind this waffle.

The other night my husband and I were watching the Travel Channel where they were featuring all of the most unusual fast food joints in the country. One of them was a "waffle cart" where genuine Belgium waffles were sold, some as breakfast waffles, and others as dessert waffles.

If I remember right (and feel free to correct me), the traditional Belgium waffles that we're used to is from Brussels and is light, fluffy and has the thin batter. That is the waffle that is usually served for breakfast. And then there is a waffle that we don't see quite as much, from Liege, in southern Belgium. The batter is much thicker, more like a sticky dough that has much more sugar. This waffle, while I'm sure would still be delicious covered in syrup (what isn't?), is much better as a dessert, covered in things like chocolate, ice cream and...stuff like that.

About two and a half minutes after watching this special, my husband had a printed recipe in his hand and a smile on his face. Needless to say, we enjoy the famous Liege waffles at home that night, and they are delicious! Much sweeter, denser and cake-like, they are the perfect pallet for any embellishments you want to add. This would be a lot of fun to entertain with, especially if your guests had a nice choice of toppings. Either way you should give it a try. It's a fun new way to use that waffle iron!

Liege Waffles
Source Unknown

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 cup pearl sugar (regular granulated is fine)
1 cup melted butter
3 eggs
1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast
1/3 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar (add some vanilla sugar)
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Take the lukewarm water and mix in yeast, 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar and salt. Let the yeast develop for 15 minutes. In the meanwhile you can melt the butter, but be careful - do not burn it.

2. Now take a large bowl and put in the flour, make a hole in the middle, pour in the yeast that you made in step one. Also add eggs and melted butter and knead until you get nice and even dough. Then let it rest so the yeast does it's magic and the dough doubles.

3. Now take pearl sugar and gently mix it in.

4. Again, let it rest for 15 minutes, in the meanwhile you can turn on the waffle maker so its nice and hot.

5. All there is left is to pour the waffle dough into the waffle maker and bake for 3-5 minutes (it's going to be thick and sticky, so there's going to be less pouring and more scooping). Because we mixed in the sugar late in the process it will melt and caramelize and give that special Liege waffle taste. Just be careful when you take them out of the waffle maker, caramelized sugar can make them sticky.

S'mores Cakeballs, and Going on Vacation! Filed under ( cake, cakeballs, chocolate, dessert )

Sorry about the picture, I was too busy shoving them in my mouth to take a good photo!

Hello my friends! Can you believe it's almost August, where does the time go? We are getting packed and ready to take a three week vacation with my family, one week in San Diego, and two weeks in Idaho. After that, we're coming home to be greeted by Glenn's parents up until school starts back up. Whew, what a month! I'm very excited, I just hope our kids survive all the traveling and the nonstop schedule. So, because of our month ahead, I decided that it would probably be easier on everyone if I just took a month off the blog as well. I'm not even sure if I'll have access to the computer during that time, and I'd really like to devote every second I get to my family. I'll definitely be back in September, and hopefully with a lot of fun recipes cooked up by me and my mom during our trip! I'm going to miss you guys and I'll definitely look forward to catching up when I get back!

So, I figured since I'm the cakeball crazy, I may as well take off with my last cakeball creation. A while ago my friend suggested that I try s'mores cakeballs, and it didn't take long at all for them to materialize. They were so yummy and had all the delicious flavor of s'mores, sans the campfire. The one thing I would not do again is roll them in graham crackers. It tastes good the day they are made, but they soften over time and add an undesirable texture. Enjoy!

S'more's Cakeballs

Ingredients

1 devil's food cake mix, prepared according to directions
1 large container marshmallow fluff
1 cellophane package graham crackers, ground into crumbs
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 scoop Crisco, if desired

Directions

Crumble the cake into a large bowl. Add entire jar of marshmallow fluff, as well as graham cracker crumbs, and mix until completely combined. Roll into small balls, just a little bigger then marbles, place on plate. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Melt chocolate chips and Crisco, either in microwave, or over a double boiler. Put cakeball into chocolate and spoon chocolate over cakeballs. Use spoon to scoop up cakeball and tap off excess chocolate. Place on wax paper to dry and cool. Store in the fridge.

Have a wonderful month everyone and I'll see you in the fall!!

Lemon White Chocolate Cakeballs Filed under ( cake, cakeballs, chocolate, dessert, lemon )

I would tell you that this will be my last cakeball post, but that would be lying, and my mama taught me to be honest. I'm obsessed, it's an illness, I'm okay with it.

I really liked this combination of lemon and white chocolate. I used an almond bark (does almond bark qualify as white chocolate? it all tastes the same to me), which made a beautifully crisp shell to encase the soft tangy lemon filling. The white chocolate was also a lot easier to dip for some reason, I think because it was thinner when melted.

However, these weren't my favorite. I liked them enough to eat them and share them, but there have been several others that I like a lot more. I think the milk and dark chocolate make for a much more flavorful shell. But, if you more into the citrus flavors rather then chocolate, you might find these a refreshing change!

Lemon White Chocolate Cakeballs

Ingredients

1 box lemon cake mix, baked according to directions
1 tub lemon frosting
1-1/2 bars almond bark
1 scoop Crisco (if desired)

Directions

After cake cools, crumble in a large bowl. Add entire tub of frosting, mix until evenly combined. Roll into small balls, freeze for 1-2 hours.

Melt white chocolate and Crisco either in the microwave or over a double boiler until thin. Place cakeball in white chocolate and use a spoon to pour chocolate over each cakeball until coated. Use spoon to scoop up cakeball and tap any excess chocolate on the side of the bowl. Lay on wax paper to cool and dry.

Store in the refrigerator.

Today is our sixth year anniversary! Check us out, all young and thin and naive!
Aw, I love my Glenn!

Also, I'm going to be MIA for a few days, my family is taking a camping trip up by Niagara Falls! I'm so excited, we haven't gone camping with the kids yet, so it should be an adventure! I look forward to catching up with you all when we get back!

Almond Joy Cakeballs Filed under ( almonds, cake, cakeballs, chocolate, coconut, dessert )

Have you gotten sick of the cakeballs yet, because I sure haven't! I am so in love with these little treats that they've almost become the only dessert I want to make. I am constantly thinking of new combinations and ways to make them, and they are just so delicious!

These have been my favorite so far. I love the Almond Joy candy bar, I could eat one after every single meal and be happy. It turned out to be the perfect thing to copy in a cakeball, and it was just as delicious.

This was actually the first time that I preferred dark bittersweet chocolate to milk chocolate when dipping these. The coconut cake filling is so sweet and rich that the dark chocolate is a beautiful contrast.

And after making cakeballs as many times as I have, I would recommend making these the day before you actually plan to serve them. They seem to taste so much better the next day and especially right out of the fridge!

Almond Joy Cakeballs

Ingredients

1 coconut cake mix, prepared according to directions on the box
1 tub cream cheese frosting
1-2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted (to toast almonds, place in dry saute pan, stir constantly on medium heat until browned)
2-3 cups preferred chocolate for dipping
1-2 tablespoons of Crisco, optional

Directions

Crumble cake mix into a large bowl, cutting off the sides of the cake if you don't want the brown spots of the sides. Stir coconut extract into tub of frosting until you reach a desirable strength. Stir into cake mix until evenly combined. Stir in coconuts and almonds until evenly combined. Freeze for an hour until hardened.

The Crisco helps to thin chocolate out, which makes it easier to dip, and hardens the chocolate shell, but is not necessary. Combine chocolate and Crisco and melt either in the microwave or over a double boiler. Dip each cake ball with two spoons, using the spoon to tap off any excess chocolate. Lay on wax paper to cool and harden. Store covered in the fridge.

Chocolate Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars Filed under ( bars, chocolate, dessert )

I am back! I have had the worst time getting my blog to work. I switched browsers and tried GOOGLE chrome and it worked! Yea!!

Well, the crazy thing is I randomly picked up a box of KROGER chocolate graham crackers the other day. I just happened to look at the recipe on the box and thought it sounded yummy-thought I would give it a try -- ABSOLUTELY YUM! The recipe on the box is called Chocolate Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars. These bars taste like PUPPY CHOW bars. I have made them twice now and both times were devoured. The volleyball team couldn't stop talking about them. You have to try them.

Chocolate Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup crumbled chocolate graham crackers

1 18 oz jar peanut butter ( i used Peter Pan creamy)

3/4 cup softened butter

1 lb powdered sugar

2 cups milk chocolate chips

Crush crackers in either a ziploc bag or a food processor. Using a mixer, cream peanut butter, and butter til smooth, add in powdered sugar and beat again til smooth and then add in graham cracker crumbs. Beat until blended and moist. Pat into a 9 x 13 pan. Melt the milk chocolate chips and pour over mixture. Refrigerate 3-4 hours and cut into bars. Refrigerate any leftovers - if there are any! :)

*a bag of milk chocolate chips isn't quite 2 cups and I didn't think it was enough the first time. The 2nd time - I measured out two cups and it was plenty!

Chocolate Chip Cake Filed under ( cake, chocolate, dessert )

A few weeks ago we celebrated my sons birthday by going to visit some friends who lived a few hours away. After a few "discussions" about what kind of cake we should make for our boy (yeah, a couple that argues over baked treats, can you imagine!) I finally just let my husband decide, and he chose this one. I didn't know until after the fact that it had a layer of cinnamon and chocolate. I love those two ingredients separately, but I've never been a huge fan of them together, so I was a bit skeptical.

This cake is also not intended to be frosted, but when I told my friend that, he jumped out of his seat "what, no frosting? I don't care if a cake is made entirely of frosting, you still frost it!" Lol, so he pulled out a tub of frosting and the cake got a nice, last minute, layer of chocolate frosting.

Oh my gosh, this was a DELICIOUS cake. It really could be pulled off without the frosting, but it was so rich and delicious and I didn't mind the cinnamon-chocolate combo at all. The cake part itself has the consistency of a very soft pound cake, and it is YUMMY.

Here is a picture of my little boy being sung happy birthday too. Has any child ever looked so terrified?

Chocolate Chip Cake
Found in Taste of Homes Baking Book

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (this could easily be omitted)

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition.

2. Spread half of the batter into a greased 9-inch square baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over chips. Spread with remaining batter. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

Thick and Chewy Triple Chocolate Cookies Filed under ( chocolate, Cookies, dessert )

How did you all enjoy the long weekend? I love Memorial Day weekend. Not only does it give us an opportunity to think of those that have fought for our country, but it also feels like the perfect kickoff to summer! My little boy turned four yesterday, which gave us even more of a reason to celebrate with lots of food, friends, and WATER! Our winter-white skin is paying the price now, but it was so worth it.

These cookies were actually made by my husband, who, I've decided, probably needs more recognition on my blog then I give him. We make a good pair, I love to cook, and he loves to bake. It's a hobby I didn't expect him to have, but we haven't had to buy bread in almost a year, so I'm not complaining! The fun thing about having a husband who bakes is that he doesn't get scared easily, he's attacked some pretty involved recipes that I wouldn't dare try.

The funny things about these cookies is that my chocolate loving husband didn't even care for them. But I, who doesn't crave chocolate often, loved them! I thought they were rich, chewy and delicious. I had a really hard time stopping at one. It's probably a good thing that I'm not a huge baker, otherwise these would be in stock at all times!

Thick and Chewy Triple Chocolate Cookies
America's Test Kitchen Baking Book

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons instant coffee (I omitted this)
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
16 oz semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla, and coffee together until the coffee is dissolved.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 6 minutes, scraping down the bowl and beaters as needed. Beat in the egg mixture until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in the melted chocolate, about 30 seconds.

3. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in the chips until incorporated. Cover the bowl of dough with plastic wrap and let stand at room temp until the consistency is scoopable and fudge-like, about 30 minutes.

4. Working with 3 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll the dough into balls and lay them on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies until the edges are set and beginning to brown but the centers are still soft and puffy, 10 to 12 minutes, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through baking. (The cookies will look raw between the cracks and seem underdone.)

5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough using a cooled, freshly lined baking sheet.