Light & Easy Creamy Dessert


Light & Easy Creamy Dessert. Photo by Mikekey


















Ingredients:

Servings:
4
Units: US | Metric
1 (1 ounce) package sugar-free jello (any flavor, four serving size box)
1 cup boiling water
6 ice cubes
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
Directions:

1
Mix boiling water and gelatin dessert until gelatin is disolved completely.
2
Add ice cubes, stir until ice is melted.
3
Whisk in yogurt until smooth.
4
Refrigerate until set.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/light-easy-creamy-dessert-68722?oc=linkback

Greek Yogurt Dessert With Honey and Strawberries


Greek Yogurt Dessert With Honey and Strawberries. Photo by Debbwl

Ingredients:

Serves: 4Yield:
4
Units: US | Metric
1 (8 ounce) plain Greek yogurt
honey
12 strawberries, washed and roughly chopped (or any other fresh fruit)
nuts, chopped and toasted (optional)
Directions:

1
Put a few large spoonfuls of yogurt into 4 small glasses or ice cream bowls. Drizzle each with about 1 Tbs. honey. Add straw

Raspberry Summer Sensation Dessert

Raspberry Summer Sensation Dessert. Photo by PjD#2
Ingredients:

Servings:
12
Units: US | Metric
2 cups raspberry sorbet (I used President's Choice fat free raspberry gelato and it worked great) or 2 cups sherbet (I used President's Choice fat free raspberry gelato and it worked great)
1 cup cold milk
1 (106 g) package instant vanilla pudding (or try chocolate for an extra special treat!)
3 cups Cool Whip, thawed
1 cup raspberries
Directions:

1
Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with foil, spoon sorbet into pan and put in the freezer for 10 minutes.
2
Pour milk into a large bowl and add dry pudding mix. Whisk until well blended and fold in whipped topping.
3
Spread pudding mixture over sorbet in pan.
4
Freeze for at least 3 hours or overnight. Wrap securely and label if freezing longer than 24 hours.
5
Unmold loaf pan onto a serving platter and top with fresh raspberries just before serving. It will be easier to cut if it rests for 15 minutes.
6
Enjoy!

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/raspberry-summer-sensation-dessert-125152?oc=linkback

Chocolate Gooey Layered Dessert

Oh so Yummy Chocolate Gooey Layered Dessert. Photo by Lavender Lynn



















Ingredients:

Servings:
20
Units: US | Metric
First layer
1 cup flour
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1 cup chopped nuts
Second layer
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup sugar
6 ounces Cool Whip
Third layer
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding
3 cups cold milk
Directions:

1
First layer: mix well.
2
Press into 9x13 inch pan.
3
Bake at 350* for 15 to 20 minutes.
4
Cool.
5
Second layer: Beat the cream cheese and sugar together (5 minutes).
6
Fold in cool whip and spread on crust.
7
Third layer: Beat milk and pudding mixes slowly; spread over second layer.
8
Fourth layer: Top with remaining cool whip.
9
Decorate with chopped nuts, shaved chocolate or cherries.
10
Chill 24 hours.

"Whatever Floats Your Boat" Brownies!


"Whatever Floats Your Boat" Brownies!. Photo by EnglishRose



Ingredients:

butter, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT ADDITIONS
1 -2 cup chocolate chips (semisweet, white, butterscotch, peanut butter)
1 -2 cup raisins
1 -2 cup chopped maraschino cherry
1 -2 cup chopped nuts
1 -2 cup M&M'
1 -2 cup Reese's pieces
1 -2 cup miniature marshmallow
Directions:

1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
2
Grease an 8 inch square pan or line with foil.
3
In a medium bowl combine melted butter and cocoa and stir until cocoa is dissolved.
4
Add sugar and mix well.
5
Add eggs one at a time and stir until well combined.
6
Stir in vanilla, flour and salt until you no longer see any flour (do not overmix).
7
Fold in "WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT"!
8
Spread in pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
9
DO NOT OVER-BAKE -- your brownies will come out dry. Adjust time/temp accordingly for your oven. If you do the knife/toothpick test, it should come out with moist crumbs, not clean.
10
Cool completely before cutting into squares.
11
For vegetarian omit the marshmallows.
12
For double recipe, bake in 9x12 pan and add 5 minutes to baking time.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Photo by Mary Ellen #3

Whisk together and set aside
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cream wet ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
Then stir in
3 cups oats (not instant)
1 1/2 cups raisins
Directions:

1
Preheat oven to 350°.
2
Whisk dry ingredients; set aside.
3
Combine wet ingredients with a hand mixer on low.
4
To cream, increase speed to high and beat until fluffy and the color lightens.
5
Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until no flour is visible.
6
(Over mixing develops the gluten, making a tough cookie.) Now add the oats and raisins; stir to incorporate.
7
Fill a #40 cookie scoop and press against side of bowl, pulling up to level dough (to measure 2 tablespoons of dough).
8
Drop 2-inches apart onto baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray.
9
Bake 11-13 minutes (on center rack), until golden, but still moist beneath cracks on top.
10
Remove from oven; let cookies sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Out of The Campfire Into The Oven: S’Mores Pie


Certified Steak & Seafood Co. Giveaway


What does springtime mean to you? Flowers? Better weather? The delicious smell of bar-b-que wafting through the neighborhood?  Maybe all of the above.  I'm leaning more towards nicer weather and BBQ!  And what better way to kick of bar-b-que season than with a $50 gift code to Certified Steak and Seafood Company?!

Maybe try their Filet Mignon


Or their Chilean Sea Bass

  

Or any of their other amazing items.  There is everything from steaks to seafood to even desserts!  So I don't think you'll have any problem finding something that will taste delicious!

So how about a giveaway?  One lucky winner will win a $50 gift code to Certified Steak and Seafood Co.  It's easy.  Just enter on the rafflecopter below.

Giveaway open to US residents only, 18 years of age or older.  Ends April 20, 2013.

Good luck!

Peanut Butter Baklava


I have never really been a fan of Baklava.  Not because I don't like it, I just never have really tried it apparently.  I'm not totally sure.   Right now I'm kicking myself for missing out on years and years of delicious Baklava eating.  When will I learn. 

Thanks to Dorothy over on Crazy for Crust for schooling me on the amazingness of Baklava.  Holy heck.  It leaves me speechless!  And this recipe isn't just any Baklava.  It's Peanut Butter Baklava.  What the???  Yep, you read that right... Peanut.  Butter.  Baklava!  Words do not even begin to describe how delicious it is.  The flakyness of the phyllo dough and the sticky, sweet from the honey mixture.  Oh man.  I'm in love!  Love, I tell you.  And not that "just for today kind of love" that hits me oh so often.  This is a "rest of my life love!"  For reals!

Peanut Butter Baklava
Source: Crazy for Crust

* 1 roll of Phyllo dough
* 1 cup butter, melted
* 1 cup peanut butter
* 2/3 package of milk chocolate chips
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1 tsp. vanilla

The directions are a little complicated (at least they were for me), so read through them before you begin.

Get all of your ingredients out before you begin.  The Phyllo dough dries out quickly if not done properly.

Place melted butter in a bowl and have a pastry brush for brushing it on the phyllo.

Place peanut butter in a bowl and heat in the microwave about 30 seconds - 1 minute, until it is liquid.

Open your bag of chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Thoroughly butter your 9x9” pan.  My phyllo dough came in one large sheet so I used a 9x13 pan.  I didn't want to throw any of it away.  =o)

Unwrap your roll of phyllo dough onto a cutting board and cut it in half, so it will fit in your pan. Cover the phyllo dough with a layer of plastic wrap and place a damp kitchen towel over the top. This step is super important!

Brush the top sheet of phyllo with melted butter. Grab it and the sheet below it (so you have two sheets) and place them, butter side down, in the pan. Repeat two more times, so you have 6 sheets of phyllo in the pan. Cover the phyllo with the plastic/damp towel.

Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter over the top and spread. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Butter another phyllo sheet and grab the one below it (so you have two sheets) and place them, butter side down, on top the peanut butter layer. Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter over the top and spread. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Repeat this about 4 more times, or until you are out of peanut butter.

Butter another phyllo sheet and grab the one below it (so you have two sheets) and place them, butter side down, on top the peanut butter layer. Repeat this two times, so you have 6 layers on top of your last peanut butter layer. Butter the top of the baklava.

Using a sharp knife, cut your baklava into squares, being sure to cut all the way though all the layers. This was kind of hard but be patient.  The phyllo will slip and slide a little bit.
Bake about 45 minutes, until the baklava is golden brown.
While the baklava is baking, heat the water, sugar, honey, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to the lowest setting until the baklava is done baking..

When the baklava comes out of the oven, pour the honey mixture over the top, being sure to get it in all the cuts and corners. Let cool completely, uncovered, for several hours.  This is a strange and cool step.  I wasn't quite sure how all that liquid was going to soak up and was worried it would turn into soup.  But it did soak up and made it amazing! 
So there you have it - Peanut Butter Baklava.  It is now my most favorite dessert.  Thanks Dorothy!!!

Snickers Brownie Trifle


I've never made a Trifle before.  I've had the serving bowl for almost 2 years now and I can't believe I've never used it.  (Have I mentioned that I have a little bit of a "kitchen paraphernalia" obsession?  Yep.  My name is Erin and I'm addicted to kitchen gadgets and goodies.)
When my Mom asked me to bring dessert to Easter lunch I wanted to try out my hand at Trifle making.   Head to the forehead moment.  Why haven't I made these before?!  So easy and amazingly delicious!  And pretty cool looking to boot.  Can't go wrong with that, right?
There are a ton of Trifle recipes out there.  I went with this one because one, I love NIkki's blog and two, it just sounded awesome.  The pudding layer had sweetened condensed milk whipped into it and that sounded mouth wateringly delicious!  I added a few things (like caramel and Snickers bars) and there you have it... Snickers Brownie Trifle.
Snickers Brownie Trifle
Slightly adapted from: Chef In Training

* brownie mix
* ingredients to make the brownies (eggs, oil and water)
* 1 (3.9 oz) box instant chocolate pudding mix
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 (14 oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
* 1 (8 oz.) container Cool whip
* 1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip
* caramel sauce
* 6 Snickers candy bars

Make the brownies according to the package directions.  I made the family size (9x13) pan of chewy brownies.  Let cool completely.

Whip the chocolate pudding mix, water and sweetened condensed milk until fluffy.  Gently fold in 8 ounces of Cool Whip.

Cut brownies into squares.  I cut mine into 1 to 1 1/2 inch squares (not too big but not crumbled).
To assemble the Trifle:

Add a layer of brownies to the bottom of the Trifle bowl using 1/2 of the brownies.
Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the brownies.
Sprinkle with a handful of the chopped Snickers.
Cover with half of the chocolate pudding mixture.
Cover that layer with Cool Whip.
Now repeat (brownies, caramel, Snickers, pudding and Cool Whip.)
Top with chopped Snickers bars and drizzle with more caramel sauce

Refrigerate 8 hours before serving.
I thought this dessert was awesome!  The pudding layer tasted like a chocolate mousse, the brownies soaked up a little bit of the caramel and the whipped cream and Snickers?  To die for!  Definitely something I will make again. 
What do you think?  Pure chocolate heaven?