Layered Strawberry Pecan Crunch Cake

This is a true party cake. A real showstopper that will draw raves from family members and friends… and the best part—it’s not hard to prepare. Don’t let the recipe intimidate you. It does require several ingredients (no box mix here), but they are put together very simply. The end result is a sweet and luscious strawberry cake that features a layer of pecans that gives it a salty crunch. The flavors and textures complement each other so well, and the taste is so divine, that you might consider making this cake for a party of one. LAYERED STRAWBERRY PECAN … Continue reading →

Sinfully Sweet Halloween Candy Cakes

What’s your favorite Halloween candy? Butterfinger, Kit Kat, Milky Way, Snickers, Hershey Bars, Twix, M&Ms? I happen to love them all, which is why I try not to buy them in bulk to pass out on Halloween. The leftovers would kill my diet. If you plan to purchase enough Halloween candy for the entire neighborhood you might consider taking a note of the following recipes. They are ideal for using up any leftover Halloween chocolate you might have come November 1st. These Halloween Candy cakes are sweet, delicious and breathe new life into calories you’d probably consume anyway. BUTTERFINGER TORTE … Continue reading →

Halloween Candy Cheesecakes

Whether you are looking for a sweet treat to serve up on Halloween or you are searching for a way to use up leftover Halloween candy (trick-or-treating starts today in my neck of the woods) you might consider checking out the following recipes. Both feature popular Halloween candy. The first recipe is one that is specifically designed for the stressed out cook, who is scrambling to find an easy no fuss dessert to bring to a Halloween party at the office, a neighbor’s house or school. You can make this Super Simple Snickers Cheesecake in less than 20 minutes (it … Continue reading →

Very Berry Cheesecake

The price of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries has gone up quite a bit at my local market. Last month the grocer had strawberries priced at $5 (for 2 pounds), but since my family went out to a local u-pick farm I saved a ton of cash by putting my preschooler to work in the fields (kidding). At the farm we paid just $1 a pound for fresh, plump, juicy berries and I still have a pint left in the freezer. This weekend I will be using the last of the berries in the following recipe. It is a standard cheesecake, … Continue reading →

Ready, Set… Raspberry

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are abundant this time of year and while they can be added to a number of recipes none is likely as sweet as this one. This Raspberry Ice Cream Cake is the perfect frozen treat to devour at the end of a scorching hot day. And given that it is easy to prepare you won’t have to wait for a special occasion to make it. Warning: While it is simple to assemble it is time consuming to make since it requires placing the cake in the freezer in couple of times before you can begin … Continue reading →

Love Chocolate? Try This Mississippi Mud Cake!

I have mentioned before that my spouse is from the South. His mom is a great cook. All of my really exceptional, ‘make-my-guests-say-wow’, desserts come from the South. All of my super duper phenomenal tasting chocolate recipes–come from the South. I have yet to visit any part of the South other than Florida, but I’m thinking that part of this “Southern hospitality” or “Southern charm” that I keep hearing about, must have something to do with the desserts. Seriously. . .I haven’t met a recipe or a cook for that matter, that hails from the South, that wasn’t simply scrumptious. … Continue reading →

Your Winnie the Pooh Birthday Cake

A few days ago, Lauri over in Fun posted some games and fun things to do at a Winnie the Pooh Birthday Party. I’m a little late but here to follow up on some great ideas for your Winnie the Pooh birthday party cake! One of the great things about the Winnie the Pooh theme is that supplies run in abundance at most party stores. (This is really true for most popular children’s characters.) This makes decorating a cinch. Easy Pooh Cake The easiest way to get a Pooh cake is to make and frost a regular 9 x 13 … Continue reading →

Pistachio and Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away, but for some moms the holiday doesn’t guarantee a day off from cooking. When I was growing up my dad did most of the cooking (he loves creating new recipes) so having him whip up a Mother’s Day feast was nothing special. However, there was one thing he wouldn’t attempt in the kitchen regardless of how special the occasion—-BAKE. That’s where I came in. Being the only daughter in a family of six I learned how to bake at an early age. I might not be the world’s best baker; however I … Continue reading →

Florida Keys Key Lime Pound Cake

Have you ever wondered why key lime is key lime as opposed to just plain old lime? Is there really a difference when someone calls something key lime? I had always assumed that Key lime was so named because it was a native of the Florida Keys. How very ethnocentric of me–in actuality the key lime is a native of south east Asia. However, it’s grown here in the United States and anywhere else where the climate is favorable. The key lime is smaller, rounder, higher in acidity, and more tart than it’s cousin the Persian lime. If you use … Continue reading →

Giant Carrot Cupcakes

I have a confession although it probably won’t surprise you. When I cook, I like to cook double duty. What I mean is that I like recipes that I can either make in big batches or recipes that can be used for two different dishes. This is one such recipe, at least for us. Carrot cake for breakfast in our house is not such an unusual thing. I find that if you omit the frosting and substitute instead some yogurt topping, it can even qualify as kind of healthy. It’s certainly no worse than sugar covered cocoa puffs that are … Continue reading →