Caramel Apple Cheesecake

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE Cheesecake, and I've mentioned that a few times on here already.  For Christmas I decided I wanted to make a cheesecake, but not cheesecake bars like I've always done, an actual cheesecake.  So! I found a couple of Caramel Apple Cheesecake bar recipes and decided to combine them and try them out, but made it in a cheesecake pan instead.  You know what? It turned out amazing! It tastes just like an apple pie with a cream filling.  I was told by some people I shared with that it looked and tasted like restaurant quality, so I guess that's saying something! Oh, and you know what? It was a lot easier to make than I expected! Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of steps, but easy!

Baked French Toast

Finally, the long awaited recipe for Baked French Toast.  I don't know if ya'll have noticed, but I loved baked french toast recipes.  And, honestly, this is one of the best I've tried! I mean, it's not enough that the french toast itself is so amazing, add the buttermilk syrup and MAN! IT'S AMAZING! If you ever want to make a breakfast to impress, but you don't want to get up super early and mess up several pots and pans, then this is the way to go for sure! Another great thing about this is you can use whatever berry you feel in the mood for! I've used raspberries and blueberries, both were great!  My friend Ryan...who am I kidding...everyone who matters calls him Morty ;), made this for my sister and I when we visited him and his family a while back.  I've made it twice since, which is not near enough haha.  Anyways, give it a try, let me know what you think, I know it won't disappoint. Please don't be intimidated by the long recipe, it's actually very simple and is very quick to make!

Apple Crumb Pie

My friend Kristy made me this pie a while back, I loved it so much, that a week later I attempted to make it myself! It is seriously my favorite apple pie! I love that it's creamy and has a crispy crumb top. You know how most pies you have to eat ice cream w/ it to off set how sweet it is? Well, at least I do.  This pie, I didn't have to do that! It was perfect alone! It even tastes great cold for breakfast, not saying I did that...ok, I did...only once or twice ;) This is great teamed up w/ my Pie Pastry recipe I added yesterday as well.  Give it a shot, it was super easy to make!

Pie Pastry (aka Crust - New Zealand Style)

Easy Potato Doughnuts

I could eat donuts everyday if it were up to my head, and not my body! I love them! This is a crazy easy recipe for homemade donuts. Don't be intimidated, anyone can do it, I promise! The crazy thing about these donuts are that they have mashed potatoes in them!! That's right, potatoes. I don't know about y'all, but I was so surprised to hear that when I was first introduced to them. BTW, I was given this recipe a few years ago by someone I worked w/, I just can't remember her name, sorry!

They're good as leftovers, but uh-mazing fresh. 

Have you ever had potato donuts?! What did y'all think of them? Let me know if you tried these!

Saltine Toffee - aka Christmas Crack

I made these last year for our neighbor gifts, in fact, I'm pretty sure I might be making these again.  These are delicious!  I had a few people request the recipe after delivering them.  People, nor I, could believe they were made with Saltine Crackers.  They're seriously amazing!  These are so, so easy to make and perfect for neighbor gifts, party treats or just to have around the house during the holidays.

Heavy White Cake Cupcakes

Seriously, these cupcakes are amazing! I had them a probably a couple years ago when my friend made them for a Young Women's event at church.  I thought they were the most amazing homemade cupcake I'd ever had! I figured it was high time I made them for myself. So, what better time than for my baby's 1st birthday?! A bonus to these cupcakes too, are they're jumbo sized! They're also called "Heavy" for a reason, they're not your typical light and airy cupcakes, they're very dense and heavy.  They pair up perfectly with vanilla buttercream frosting, yum! Thanks Emily for sharing your recipe!  You're one amazing person!

Orange Rolls w/ Orange Buttercream Frosting

Almost 2 years ago a shared my Orange roll recipe with you.  Well, today, I'm going to share that same recipe, but with an orange buttercream frosting instead of the glaze.  Both so delicious, go ahead and try both, see what you like best.  I like them both for different reasons, the buttercream is very sweet and limits how many I can eat, the glaze isn't as sweet so I can down more.  Which is a better pro?  Decide for yourself!

S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

A friend of mine made these for me a while back, and I couldn't believe how amazing they were!! I mean, who doesn't love chocolate chip and s'mores?! Well then, why not combine them? I finally gave in last night and made them. Yum! And, You wouldn't believe the size of these things either! They're the size of four of my regular cookies with a s'more inside. I could only fit 5 on a cookie sheet, they're that big!  Oh, and they're even great left over, just reheat them in the microwave.

Really? Can y'all resist these? Just looking at them makes my mouth water. 

Gooey Caramel Brownies

I haven't had these delicious, gooey caramel brownies in years.  During my first Summer semester at good ol' BYU-Idaho, one of my old college roommates, Rachelle, used to make these all the time.  I just remember not being able to get enough of them, I thought they were some of the most delicious things I've ever eaten at the time!  So, when I saw she posted something about these on Facebook a while back, I was brought back to that wonderful Summer and just had to contact her to get the recipe for myself.  She was quick to reply and get me the recipe, I was not so quick to make them though.  Oddly enough, this was just over a year ago, crazy!!  Anyways, I finally made them last night, and they did not cease to impress. I honestly like them even better the next day though.  And notice the two brownies pictured below?  Well, those are the only two brownies left by the time I remembered to take a picture.  Thanks Rachelle for sharing your yummy brownie recipe w/ us :)

Look at all that caramel oozing out!  So good!

Harvest Pumpkin Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Remember last year when I raved about how much I love pumpkin?  Well I've got another great recipe to share w/ ya'll.  I've made these a few times and they've always been a huge hit, especially w/ the husband.  These are perfect anytime, but especially during this time of year.  I found this recipe for Harvest Pumpkin with Cream Cheese Frosting from my 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes cookbook (the same that I've shared a couple of other cupcake recipes from).  Seriously, this cookbook was a great investment, I have yet to regret buying it!

 

 

Spooky Monster Pudding Cups

I found this idea and just had to try it out!  Aren't they adorable?  These "spooky" pudding cups are perfect for School Halloween parties, get-togethers, after-school snack, ect.  Why not get the kids involved and let them decorate the faces for you?  They don't only look good, but taste great too!

White Chocolate Covered Oreos

I've been on a little break for the past few weeks, I went to visit my family in TN for 3 weeks and then my mom flew back w/ me and stayed for an extra few days.  So, I figured now that I'm back home I should add a recipe.  And, since Halloween season is sneaking up on us, what better to share than an easy Halloween treat?!  These white chocolate covered oreos are perfect for a quick, yet yummy treat for any upcoming holiday parties!  I actually made these for a Halloween party last year and most recent I made them for a black and white vintage dessert party by using black and white pearl sprinkles.  There are so many things you can use these cookies for, even just for your own indulgence.

Chocolate Eclair Cake w/ Homemade Chocolate Sauce Topping

I found this dessert on Pinterest and decided I had to try it, so I went ahead and made it for Father's Day.  It turned out amazing!  I thought it was even better than regular eclairs.  The crust was so light and flaky, the pudding was amazing (but that of course b/c it's made with cream cheese), and I was so impressed with the homemade hot fudge!  It was all very good.  Seriously, so easy and delicious.  Go ahead give it a try and let me know what you think.

Southern Style Strawberry Shortcake

Have you ever heard of eating strawberry shortcake w/ a biscuit?  Well I remember the first time I heard of it, I thought it was so weird!  And of course had to taste awful.  It was when I worked at Steak 'n Shake and they served this as one of their desserts.  I put off trying it for the longest time until one of my managers talked me into trying it.  All of a sudden my world was turned upside down, what?!?  How could a biscuit taste so good w/ ice cream and strawberries?!  Well, whatever the answer is, just believe me, it's pretty amazing!  A few years ago I decided to go ahead and come up w/ my own version of Southern Style Strawberry Shortcake, and this is what I came up w/.  Go ahead and give it a try.  It's a very simple, quick dessert.

Momma's Southern Banana Pudding

To answer the question from earlier...I am having a....Boy!!  That'll make 3 boys for me :)  I am seriously so surprised.  I pretty much had no doubt in my mind it was going to be a girl.  Just comes to show, I can be wrong ;)  But onto the dessert...

I definitely should have dipped my bananas in Lemon juice (if you didn't know that, this prevents fruit from browning as quickly), I'm a little embarrassed to post this picture!  They weren't old bananas, I promise.  They were just cut the night before.  So please look past the browning bananas, b/c I can't.  Anyways, I think a lot of people have recipes for Banana Pudding, but this one is my mom's very own recipe she has come to perfect.  My mom can't invite a large group of people for dinner w/o making this for the dessert. It makes a ton and is always a huge hit.  Seriously, so good!  You do need to make it at least 3 hrs before eating, I like even longer though because the longer the wafers sit in the pudding the softer they get, almost cake like.  So, I like to make it the night before eating. 

Again, please excuse the browning bananas.

Cream Lemon Bars

I am so sorry that it's taken me a while to add a new recipe.  It seems like the past little while has been crazy!  And, if I do happen to find any spare time I just want to relax or nap.  Do ya'll ever feel that way?  Anyways, I have a very special, yummy recipe to share w/ ya'll today!  A good friend of mine from college, Pamela, actually shared this recipe w/ me.  After I got engaged (back in the summer of 2005) she offered to throw me a bridal shower!  She is seriously one of the nicest, sweetest people I know, she also has an amazing smile :)  So, when she showed up to my shower w/ these yummy Cream Lemon Bars I just had to have the recipe!  It turns out that they are really simple, and much much better than normal lemon bars (these have just the right amount of lemon, and what's better than cream cheese in a dessert?).  Seriously, these things are amazing!

All I can say is...YUM!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Have I mentioned how much I love cheesecake?!  Well, I do!  So when I saw this recipe for chocolate chip cookie cheese cake, I just had to try it!  I decided to make them for a cookie exchange party I went to around Christmas.  They ended up winning a prize, I just can't remember what it was for now, sorry :(  Anyways, they were really good!  I personally wouldn't have minded more of the cheesecake taste to come out, but maybe I could just make more cheesecake filling?  Anyways, go ahead and try them, they won't disappoint.

Easter Brownies (W/ Peeps and Cadburry Eggs)

Who's ready for Easter?!?  It's less than two weeks away, which reminds me!!  My sister, Bonny, is coming to visit me in exactly a week!!! YAY!  Anyways, back to Easter :)  I figured I should put up a good Easter recipe so, besides my yummy Pineapple Glazed Ham that you can make for dinner, what can you make for dessert?  Well, why not these yummy Easter Brownies?  Filled w/ Cadburry Chocolate Eggs and Peeps!!  Now, to be honest I am not a fan of peeps whatsoever, but cut up and added in these brownies are perfect.  And Cadburry eggs...what could be better?!  They're amazing!  I loved every bite of these brownies when I made them last year and just the other day.  I love the huge chunks of melted chocolate eggs and there's just enough marshmallow in the brownies that makes it the perfect combination.

YUMMY!  Those are the eggs and marshmallows peeking through.  And yes, they were cooked all the way through, these were just fudge brownies.

Day 24 - Mississippi Mud 'Dessert'

Welcome to Day 24 of 25 Days of Recipes (Only 1 day left!! Merry Christmas Eve)!!  I'd like to introduce to ya'll Ashley, from Domestic Imperfection.  We actually have a mutual friend, but we don't know eachother personally.  Do you remember Katie, from Day 6?  Well, we both know her, and I came across Ashley's blog through Katie.  I have loved seeing all the makeovers that she's done to her house.  We also have a huge thing in common, we both have 2 boys who are extremely close in age.  Mine are a year and a day apart, I believe her boys are something like 15 months apart, am I right Ashley?  Anyways check out her site, she seems like such a cute, fun girl!

Take it Away Ashley:

Hey everyone! I'm Ashley and I blog over at Domestic Imperfection.  I blog mostly about crafts, decorating, home renovations, and of course my two adorable boys (21 months and 2 months). If you've read my blog before than you know that I don't post about cooking, mostly because I'm not that great at it. However, this one's just so easy and delicious that I couldn't resist. Every year for my birthday my mom made me Mississippi Mud, it's the only time of year I got it so it was always a special treat. Now that I'm an adult I can make it anytime I want... like Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, The Ides of March, Daylight Savings Time.....

So without further ado, here is the recipe...