Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Strips

I found this recipe in an old issue of Real Simple magazine. I might have skipped past it except for the sweet woman who cooks at our church. She sometimes makes these for Wednesday night dinners. They are just wonderful.

This isn't her recipe. I've never asked for it. Some treats are just that: treats. But I couldn't resist sharing this just for the fun of it.

Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Strips

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 burrito-size flour tortillas
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Dividing evenly, brush tortillas on both sides with oil and sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Cut into 1-inch strips and arrange in a single layer on two baking sheets.

Bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely. 

Strips can be made, cooled, and stored in an airtight container up to four days ahead.

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes

I found this recipe in the September 2014 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Found is the correct word. I'd marked it, laid it aside and then stuff just sort of piled on top of it. I'm going through items trying to clear out and get rid of stuff and I found what looks like a wonderful recipe. So here it is.

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes

 

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon table salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup apple cider

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 (5 x 3 inch) disposable aluminum foil loaf pans

Vegetable cooking spray

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Stir together flour, apple pie spice, baking powder, salt and cloves. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with apple cider, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Lightly grease disposable loaf pans with cooking spray. Pour batter into prepared pans, and place on a baking sheet. For streusel-topped cakes, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons Streusel Topping over batter in each pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks and cool completely (about 1 hour).

Makes 6 mini loaves.

Streusel Topping

 

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

1/8 teaspoon table salt

Stir all ingredients together. Let stand 30 minutes or until firm. Crumble into small pieces.

Makes about 1 cup.

Salted Peanut Butterscotch Bars

Once every quarter or so, the Coffee County Extension Office hosts a Crafting on a Shoestring Budget event. It costs $10 per person and we go home with some wonderful items we've assembled, painted, etc. And they feed us a snack. Like a mini-meal type snack. Super good. Really. This recipe is one of those snack items. I went back for seconds. It wasn't my fault. The pieces were just too small. LOL

We also had hotdogs on skewers. They'd taken crescent rolls, cut them into strips, and wrapped the dough around the hot dogs. Then they baked them. They didn't stop there. A triangle piece of cheese went on the top and upside-down cupcake holders went on the bottom. They were stuck upright in Styrofoam covered in bright red paper. The result? Rockets. My youngest nephews would LOVE this! Super good to eat too! As were the strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows. Yes. In case you doubted at all, I've already got my reservation in for the next craft event.

Salted-Peanut Butterscotch Bars

15 whole graham crackers, broken up
3 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
One 11-oz. package butterscotch morsels (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chopped salted roasted peanuts

Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil, allowing ends to overhang by 2 inches.

Process graham crackers with sugar and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Pulse in butter until moistened. Transfer to lined pan and press crumbs down evenly and firmly.

Place butterscotch morsels in a large bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir until smooth and creamy. (Continue to microwave in 10-second intervals if morsels have not melted. Do not overheat or mixture will seize up and turn into a stiff mass.) Stir in peanut butter and peanuts. Blend well and spread evenly over graham-cracker crust. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour 30 minutes or until firm.

Lift bars out and remove foil. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut into squares.

Makes about 36 1 1/2-inch squares

Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Cake

Some recipes have you wanting to rush right out, gather all the ingredients and prepare the recipe. This is one of them. Of course, it helps that it is a hot, humid Sunday afternoon in the Deep South. This recipe is in the June 2014 issue of Coastal Living. The only change I plan to make is to substitute pecans for the walnuts. Those of you who know me, also know I'll melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave. It's so much easier and takes way less time. Just be careful to check every 30 seconds, stirring each time, to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn.

Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Cake

6 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Simple Butterscotch Sauce (recipe follows)
1 half-gallon container (8 cups) vanilla ice cream, softened
Simple Hot Fudge Sauce (recipe follows)
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 9-inch round cake pan AND one 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Combine chocolate and butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until melted. Let cool to room temperature.

Stir sugar, eggs and vanilla into chocolate mixture. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture.

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake 14 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center emerges with moist crumbs clinging. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Pour half of Simple Butterscotch Sauce over cake baked in springform pan. Spoon 4 cups ice cream evenly over butterscotch sauce. Remove cake from round cake pan, and place on top of ice cream, pressing gently. Pour over remaining butterscotch sauce; top evenly with remaining ice cream. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.

Run a knife around edge of springform pan, and release cake. Place on a serving plate. Pour Simple Hot Fudge Sauce on top of cake. Sprinkle with huts.

Makes 8 servings.

Simple Butterscotch Sauce

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Heat butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in cream; cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until well-blended. Cool completely.

Makes 1 1/3 cups.

Simple Hot Fudge Sauce

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup sugar
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate,  chopped

Combine whipping cream, corn syrup and sugar in a small, heavy saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 7 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate until smooth. Let cool.
'Makes 1 1/3 cups.

Lemon Mousse Cheesecake

I found this recipe in the March 2014 Relish magazine insert in today's newspaper. Since I love all things lemon, I had to save it for myself and share it with everyone else.

I love the extra tips Relish includes. One involves creating zest. They used a Microplane zester. I have a nifty zester that I got form either Tupperware or The Pampered Chef years ago. Just be sure not to get into the white of the lemon. That part is bitter. Just get fine bits from the yellow.

Another tip, this one from me, is to make sure the eggs are room temperature. It helps the egg whites form soft peaks.

 

Lemon Mousse Cheesecake

Crust:
5 tablespoons melted butter
40 vanilla wafers, crushed, or 8 graham crackers, crushed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup sugar

Filling:
24 ounces cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
3/4 cup lemon juice (about 4 lemons)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

To prepare crust, combine all ingredients. Stir well and press into a 10-inch springform pan.

Combine cream cheese and 1 cup sugar; beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add flour, egg yolks, lemon rind and juice; beat until smooth. Set aside.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/3 cup sugar; beat until stiff peeks form. Fold into lemon batter.

Pour batter into crust. Place pan in a large baking pan. Add water to baking pan to a depth of one inch. Bake 55 minutes, until cake is set but still jiggly in the center. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.

Serves 20.

Chocolate-Amaretto Cheesecake

Chocolate and Valentine’s Day seems to go together. Ask anyone. It’s a great marketing concept. Buy her (or him) a box of chocolates to show your love and affection. Or you could make a luscious cheesecake. Just be sure to start early so you can give this cheesecake plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator.

This recipe comes from the Light and Easy Cooking Collection. It’s another one of those I received in the mail and kept. Don’t miss the variation at the bottom of the recipe. Crème de menthe is a wonderful variation.

You can also use an 8-inch pan for this recipe. Cook the larger cheesecake 45 to 50 minutes.

Chocolate-Amaretto Cheesecake

6 chocolate wafers, finely crushed
1 ½ cups light process cream cheese product
1 cup sugar
1 cup 1 % low-fat cottage cheese
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup amaretto
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate mini-morsels
Chocolate curls (optional)

Sprinkle chocolate wafer crumbs in bottom of a 7-inch spring form pan. Set aside.

Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add cream cheese and next 7 ingredients, processing until smooth. Add egg, and process just until blended. Fold in chocolate morsels.

Slowly pour mixture over crumbs in pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 65 to 70 minutes or until cheesecake is set. Let cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Remove sides of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving platter. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.

Makes 12 servings, at about 200 calories per serving.

Chocolate-Mint Cheesecake

Substitute ¼ cup crème de menthe for amaretto.

To make chocolate curls: Melt 3 squares semisweet chocolate. Pour the melted chocolate onto wax paper, and spread to a 3-inch-wide strip. Let stand until cool but not firm. Pull a vegetable peeler across the chocolate, and transfer curls to a plate. Store chocolate curls in the freezer.

Apple Slab Pie

I was immediately drawn to this recipe from Pillsbury. Apples, cinnamon and nutmeg usually means good in my mind. This reminds me of the dessert pizza a local pizza restaurant serves with their buffet. It is wonderful! This is going to be a favorite for a long, long time.

 

 

Apple Slab Pie

1 box Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
9 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (9 medium)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Remove pie crusts from pouches. Unroll and stack crusts one on top of the other on lightly floured surface. Roll to 17x12-inch rectangle. Fit crust into 15x10x1-inch pan, pressing into corners. Fold extra pastry crust under, even with edges of pan. Crimp edges.

Mix granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon juice. Stir in apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture into crust-lined pan.

Bake 33 to 38 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling. Cool on rack 45 minutes.

Mix powdered sugar and milk until well blended. Drizzle over pie. Allow glaze to set before serving, about 30 minutes.

Makes 24 servings.

Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars

This recipe is in the February 2013 of Woman’s Day magazine. You know the one I’m talking about. It has Paula Deen on the cover. But this isn’t a Paula Deen recipe, though she has a few in the magazine.

This recipe comes from Annie Abdai up in Calgary, Alberta. It’s in the section where readers can share recipes. And you know how I feel about shared recipes. They’re some of the best. Can’t wait to give it a try!

Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars

3 tablespoons granulated sugar
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon molasses
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment, leaving a 3-inch overhang on two sides.

Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and 6 tablespoons butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour, mixing until fully incorporated. Using floured fingers, press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake until set and golden brown at the edges, 15 to 18 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine the condensed milk, corn syrup, molasses and 5 tablespoons butter. Stirring occasionally, bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Gently simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened and pale golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and salt. Immediately spread the mixture over the crust. Refrigerate until set, 30 to 45 minutes.

Lace the chocolate and the remaining tablespoon butter in a microwave-safe bowl; cook on HIGH until beginning to melt, 30 seconds. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Spread over caramel and refrigerate until it is set, about 30 minutes. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

Makes 64.

White Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse

Over the holidays I developed a rather unfortunate love of peppermint flavored milkshakes at Arby’s. I’m not even a huge milkshake fan. It’s just that one night the picture looked good and I ordered one. And I was hooked.

This recipe comes from the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Coastal Living magazine. It looks absolutely wonderful. What a great dessert for the holidays or for Valentine’s Day or for, well, anytime you can find an excuse for an absolutely luscious dessert.

White Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse

1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream, divided
12 oz. white chocolate, chopped
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
Garnish: crushed peppermint candies

Heat ¾ cup cream in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat, and add chocolate, stirring until melted. Stir in peppermint extract. Cool completely.

Beat remaining ¾ cup cream until firm peaks form. Fold chocolate mixture gently into whipped cream mixture. Spoon mousse into 8 (3-oz.) cups or glasses. Garnish, if desired. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.

Holiday Cheesecake Presents

This recipe comes from the folks at PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese. At first, I was really bummed that I hadn’t happened on to it before Christmas. Then I remembered all the other times we need festive presents throughout the year. Just think about birthdays. Oh, and the New Year is fast approaching. Don’t forget class parties and office gatherings and, well, you get the picture. These will be perfect all year long!

Holiday Cheesecake Presents

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
3 packages (8 oz each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs

Mix crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons sugar; press onto bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Mix cream cheese, ¾ cup sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix until blended. Pour over crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Cut into bars. Decorate bars with decorating gels and sprinkles to resemble presents.

Store leftover bars in refrigerator.

Makes 2 dozen bars.

Bucket Peach Cake

A number of years ago we headed to Chilton County in search of peaches. For those who may not be from this part of the country, Chilton County, Alabama, is known for its wonderful peaches.

We could have stopped at the produce stands located right off the interstate. But we wanted something else. So we headed down a county road and ended up at McCraw Farms.

They are the real deal. We chose to purchase peaches someone else had picked but we could have picked our own. They also have other fruit, as it ripens.

I grabbed a few recipes, had a wonderful time visiting and signed up for the mailing list. Every year I receive a post card to let me know about what time the peaches will be ready. I can call if I want to make sure. And every Christmas I get a Christmas card from Bernice McCraw. Inside, she includes a recipe. I wanted to share it.

This seems like a dessert that would be fun to make with kids. Mix the pudding yourself, then invite the children to help layer the ingredients in a large bowl. How fun!

Bucket Peach Cake

1 8-oz. package cream cheese
1 large Cool Whip
2 packages vanilla wafers
1 cup Confectioner’s sugar
2 packages instant vanilla pudding
3 cups diced peaches

Mix cream cheese, sugar and Cool Whip. Mix instant pudding as directed on box. Crush cookies very fine. Layer in a container, beginning with pudding, then peaches and cream cheese. Repeat, ending with crushed cookies. Chill.

Red Velvet-Peppermint Swirl Brownies

This recipe comes from the December 2012 issue of Southern Living magazine. I love Red Velvet Cake (be sure to check out that recipe too!) and I needed something festive to take to a party. Well, cake is nice be not as easy to serve and eat when it’s more of a grazing thing going on.

I couldn’t resist giving this a try. The photo made it look yummy. And it is. Even with everything that went wrong. LOL I didn’t have Peppermint extract. I added crushed peppermints. It seemed to work. I’ll know when I actually buy some Peppermint extract and make them again. Oh, and I had to retrieve utensils -- and wash them -- more times than I can say. But it all worked out and I managed to laugh through it all. The brownies were worth it all.

Red Velvet-Peppermint Swirl Brownies

1 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
¾ cup butter
2 ¼ cups sugar, divided
4 large eggs
1 (1 oz.) bottle red liquid food coloring
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 13-x-9-inch pan with aluminum foil, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease foil.

Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 ½ to 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in 2 cups sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Add food coloring, peppermint extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gently stir in 1 ½ cups flour and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese and remaining ¼ cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg whites and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until blended. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Drop cream cheese mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls over batter in pan; gently swirl with a knife.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 32 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Lift brownies from pan, using foil sides as handles. Gently remove foil; cut brownies into squares.

Makes about 2 dozen. (I cut them into smaller, bite-size pieces)

Easy Pumpkin Mousse

This recipe comes from the December 1990 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. That magazine is still one of the best for providing wonderful recipes, especially at Christmas.

Easy Pumpkin Mousse

1 16-oz. can solid-pack pumpkin
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 ½ cups heavy or whipping cream
Chocolate curls for garnish

About 30 minutes before servings:

In large bowl, stir pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat heavy or whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into pumpkin mixture.

Spoon mixture into six 8-oz. glasses. Garnish with chocolate curls.

Makes 6 servings, about 325 calories per serving.

Double Blueberry Buckle

This recipe comes from another old newspaper clipping. Wish I’d had it when the blueberries were fresh. It doesn’t matter though. I’ve got plenty in the freezer. How about you?

Double Blueberry Buckle

Cake

¼ cup butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup milk
1 cup blueberries

Blueberry Topping

¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup blueberries

To make cake, cream butter and ¾ cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and rind. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with milk. Gently fold in 1 cup blueberries. Spread dough into greased and floured 9-inch square pan. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

To make topping, in small saucepan, combine all topping ingredients, reserving ½ cup blueberries; cook, stirring, until thickened. Spread hot topping over warm cake. Use reserved blueberries for top decorations.

Makes 8 servings.

Lemon-Blueberry Pretzel Cheesecake Squares

Sometimes easy is good. Thanks, Pillsbury, for another great recipe!                 

Lemon-Blueberry Pretzel Cheesecake Squares

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies
1 1/2  cups coarsely crushed pretzels

1 pint (2 cups) blueberries                                        

3 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2  cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
3 eggs
Additional 2 cups blueberries for garnish, if desired

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray.

In medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in 1 cup of the pretzel crumbs. Press cookie dough evenly in bottom of pan. (If dough is sticky, use floured fingers.) Bake 5 minutes. Place 2 cups blueberries evenly on crust.

 

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon peel with electric mixer on medium-high speed about 1 minute or until well blended. Add eggs; beat about 2 minutes or until well blended and creamy. Gently spoon evenly over blueberries.

 

Bake 27 to 33 minutes or until set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center still jiggles slightly when moved (it will become firm during refrigeration). Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until chilled and firm. Cut into 8 rows by 3 rows.

 

Spoon 1 teaspoon of the remaining pretzel crumbs and a few blueberries over each serving.

 

Makes 24 squares.

HERSHEY'S Chocolate Cheesecake

I’ve always been a big fan of cheesecakes. How about you? This one is luscious! Trust the folks at HERSHEY’S to come up with it. And don’t forget to check out the recipe for Cheesecake Squares that’s at the bottom.

HERSHEY’S Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake

1 cup salted or unsalted finely crushed pretzels
1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 packages ( 8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup HERSHEY’S European Style Cocoa
2 eggs
1 cup dairy sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For crust, in medium bowl combine crushed pretzels and 1 tablespoon sugar; stir in butter. Press mixture on bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. Bake 8 minutes; cool slightly.

In large mixer bowl beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and cocoa. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream and vanilla; blend well.

Pour into pan. Bake 35 minutes. Turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven 20 minutes without opening door. Remove from oven. Cool completely; cover and refrigerate. Garnish as desired.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake Squares

Double ingredients above for pretzel crust. Press mixture firmly on bottom of buttered 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake as directed.

Prepare cheesecake using recipe above. Bake 35 minutes or until edges are set (edges may crack slightly). Remove from oven. Cool completely

Frozen Lemon Custard Dessert

This comes from an old, yellowed newspaper clipping. I have no idea which newspaper. It does have a note saying it is a favorite contest winner for Oct. 15 (no year listed) for Betty Current. That’s what I don’t know.

That I do know is that in the Deep South -- and much of the country this year -- it is really hot and this sounds like just the thing for a summer afternoon treat!

Frozen Lemon Custard Dessert

1 package honey graham crackers (11 double crackers), crushed (1 ½ to 2 cups; set aside 2  tablespoons crumbs for garnish)
¼ cup sugar or 1 to 2 packets sugar substitute
¼ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup melted butter or margarine
1 quart vanilla ice cream
2 pints lemon custard frozen yogurt
Grated rind of 3 lemons
Raspberries or raspberry sauce

While preparing the crust, remove ice cream and frozen yogurt from freezer and let it soften.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, pecans and melted margarine. Mix and pat into the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish.

Combine ice cream and frozen yogurt. Mix with lemon rind. Spread on top of crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs and return to freezer until frozen.

Remove from freezer 15 to 20 minutes before serving and let stand at room temperature. Slice in 2-inch squares and serve with raspberry sauce or pureed raspberries sweetened to taste with sugar substitute. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves, if desired.

Apple Raisin Bars

This recipe was in an October 2011 issue of Family Circle. I was thrilled to get it because at the time our apple tree was producing more apples than I could possibly keep up with.

Apple Raisin Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups packaged light-brown sugar
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups diced Golden Delicious apple
¾ cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Liberally coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a medium-size bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, blend together sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla for 3 minutes or until smooth.

Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture; mix for 2 minutes or until just incorporated. Stir in diced apples and raisins and spread into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cook completely before cutting into bars and serving.

Makes 12 bars, at 338 calories per serving.

Oreo Cheesecake Bites

Everybody loves Oreo cookies, don't they? I sure think so. They are wonderful stand alone treats or you can use them to make a glorious dessert like this one!

Kraft is wonderful about also including kitchen tips at the end of their recipes. So be sure to check out a couple at the end. And check out their website too for more delicious recipes!

Oreo Cheesecake Bites

36 OREO Cookies, divided

1/2 cup butter or margarine, divided

4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

1 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

 

HEAT oven to 325°F.

LINE 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 24 cookies. Melt 1/4 cup butter; mix with crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.

BEAT cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each just until blended. Chop remaining cookies. Gently stir into batter; pour over crust.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Meanwhile, microwave chocolate and remaining butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir until smooth. Cool slightly; spread over top of cheesecake. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve.How to Make Mess-Free Cookie Crumbs

Crushing cookies into crumbs can be a messy task. To keep the mess to a minimum, place the whole cookies in a resealable plastic bag. Flatten bag to remove excess air, then seal bag. Crush the cookies into crumbs by rolling a rolling pin across the bag until the crumbs are as fine as you need.

How to Neatly Cut Dessert Bars

When cutting creamy-textured desserts, such as cheesecake, carefully wipe off the knife blade between cuts with a clean damp towel. This prevents the creamy filling from building up on the blade, ensuring clean cuts that leave the edges intact.

White Chocolate Cheesecake

This recipe came from the Houston Chronicle sometime in the 1980s. I know this only because that is the time period in which I lived in Texas.

White Chocolate Cheesecake

1 ½ cups sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 ½ lbs. cream cheese, softened
2 oz. white rum
1 lb. white chocolate, melted
6 eggs
Graham Cracker Crust (recipe follows)
White chocolate curls for garnish

Blend sugar, sour cream, cream cheese and rum; mix in melted chocolate. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour mixture into Graham Cracker Crust. Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees; turn oven off and leave cake in oven 2 hours with door closed.

Garnish lavishly with white chocolate curls; serve chilled.

Makes 10-12 servings.

Graham Cracker Crust

½ stick butter (4 tablespoons), melted
8 teaspoons sugar
1 box graham crackers, crushed (about 1 ½ cups crumbs)

Mix melted butter with sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Pat evenly over bottom and sides of pan. Set aside.