Quick and Easy Last Minute Desserts

I was asked to repost this article for two of my Quick Desserts. So here you go two of my favorite Quick and Easy Desserts.  Have a great Mothers’ Day Weekend and please treat your mom to a great meal and dessert.

First you have to understand how I shop for food items.  I love the “buy one get one free” items, you just never know when that extra item will come in handy for last minute dishes.  I am also watchful for sale items, even though I might not need the item for that weeks meal menu, it is always good to save a little money now for that great dish later.

Although I think fresh is best, you can never go wrong with a canned  or frozen item for these last minute recipes.

 This offering is of two of my most recent creations that were a big success and only took 45 minutes to prepare and bake. First one that was a great success for my chocolate lover friends a few weeks ago.

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

1 box chocolate cake mix

2 packages cream cheese room temperature

2 eggs

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

1 box confectionery sugar

1 stick butter room temperature

mix the cake mix with butter till crumbly

separate ½ cup of mix and set aside

press the rest of cake/butter mix into bottom of a 8x11.5x2 baking dish

take the cream cheese, eggs, sugar and blend till smooth

melt the chocolate chips and mix into this mixture till well blended

Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of your cake mix,

sprinkle the half cup of cake mixture on top 

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes till center is set.

Let cool, then cut into 2 inch squares.

Refrigerate the left over bars,  just set out few minutes prior to serving.

Substitution for cream cheese, and sugar- cream cheese icing

So what was the dessert that inspired me to start sharing my recipes with all of you and especially my Apple loving friends. From the kitchen Cabinets of Larry, here is the newest creation.

 

Quick and Easy Apple Oatmeal Crisp

2 cans of Apple Pie Filling

1 cup of Golden Raisins

1 ½ sticks of butter room temperature

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 ½ cup light brown sugar

1 ½ cup Oats

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1teaspoon nutmeg 

Prepare a 8x11.5x2 baking dish by rubbing with oil or spray with cooking spray

Radom Acts of Kindness and more

February 17th is Radom Acts of Kindness Day. Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. You know what to do...perform a few random acts of kindness. Almost any kind deed will do.  We highly recommend you perform kind acts on as many people as you can.

This is a favorite day of many people and groups. People like the idea of showing a little kindness to others. It's a fun and good thing to do. And, they like being on the receiving end of this day as well. It makes both the giver and the receiver feel good.

Schools have used this day as an educational event, and to promote the value of kindness. Organizations have used this day to promote their cause, and for fundraisers.

We do have to caution you. What comes around, goes around. Random Acts of Kindness is highly contagious.

Of course, since the Valentine's Day has come and gone. We get to have another reason to send chocolate. On  February 19th is Chocolate Mint Day. This day celebrates anything and everything that is chocolate mint flavored. The most common chocolate mint treats are ice cream, candies, and desserts. Not everyone likes chocolate mint. But those who do love it. No, we don't know why some people don't like this great flavor. But, we do feel sorry for them!

For Chocolate Mint lovers, this is truly a great day. Whether its candies, ice cream or desserts, make sure to get your fill of Chocolate Mint.

As a young boy, George Washington made the Cherry tree popular, with his famous quote "I cannot tell a lie, I chopped down the Cherry tree." We celebrate George Washington's Birthday and President's Day in February. Appropriately, its traditional to bake cherry pies in honor of the occasion. On Cherry Pie Day, February 20th, celebrate with a piece of pie.

If Cherry Pie is not your thing, This day is also "Love Your Pet Day".  A day to pamper your pet. People just love their pets, and today is an easy excuse to spend time with them, and to give them special treats. Whether it's a dog, a cat, a fish, a pet snake, or your pet rock......give them lots of love and attention today.  If you don't have a pet, maybe today is the day to adopt a pet. Take a trip to your local Humane Society, and bring home an animal that needs you. It will make you both feel good.  Of course, in our house, every day is Love your Pet Day....

February 22 is " Be Humble Day". On this day you are not to brag or to boast. It's not a time to talk about your success or accomplishments. Be Humble Day can be a humbling experience. That's exactly the intent of today. Humbleness is a good thing, a virtue. People much prefer a humble person to a braggart.  Practice humbleness on the 22nd, and every day. It will serve you well in life

Keep Dancin

Till Next time. LB

Peanutochocoholic Cake

If you are like me, Chocolate and Peanut Butter are two of my favorite pig out foods. It came to me while having a secret meeting with my favorite candy Reese's Peanut Butter cups.  Why not create a dessert that combines my two favorites.  I originally created this recipe over a year ago as a treat for my own birthday. I recently tried it again but made a few changes to the recipe. After Paul and Cindy both agreed it was delicious and a winner. I received lots of request just from my picture of the final cake on face book for the recipe. Here is the final recipe.  Enjoy.

Take any Chocolate Cake mixes that you prefer. I recommend one with the pudding already in the mix.

Follow the cake recipe on the box but add ¾ bag miniature Reese's Peanut Butter cups chopped to the mix... two 8 inch cake pans prepared as cake box recommends.

Bake the cake as recommend and set aside to cool

Peanut Butter cream cheese filling

1/2 cup Powder Sugar

8 oz. of cream cheese soften to room temp

1/2-3/4 cup of Peanut Butter

Whip till nice and creamy

Fold in 1 cup of cool whip

Put this filling in between the two cakes

Cake icing

8 oz. cream cheese room temp

3/4 cup Powder Sugar

½-3/4 cup chocolate syrup(you can also melt chocolate chips)

Whip till creamy

Fold in 1 cup of cool whip

Blend the powdered sugar, cream cheese, syrup and cool whip till creamy, I recommend taste test to adjust to your level of sweetness.

Quick Easy Desserts

First you have to understand how I shop for food items. I love the "buy one get one free" items, you just never know when that extra item will come in handy for last minute dishes. I am also watchful for sale items, even though I might not need the item for that week's meal menu, it is always good to save a little money now for that great dish later.
Although I think fresh is best, you can never go wrong with a canned or frozen item for these last minute recipes.
This offering is of two of my most recent creations that were a big success and only took 45 minutes to prepare and bake. First one that was a great success for my chocolate lover friends a few weeks ago.

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 packages cream cheese room temperature
2 eggs
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
1 box confectionery sugar
1 stick butter room temperature
- Mix the cake mix with butter till crumbly separate ½ cup of mix and set aside press the rest of cake/butter mix into bottom of a 8x11.5x2 baking dish
- Take the cream cheese, eggs, sugar and blend till smooth
- Melt the chocolate chips and mix into this mixture till well blended
- Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of your cake mix, sprinkle the half cup of cake mixture on top
- Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes till center is set. - Let cool, then cut into 2 inch squares.
- Refrigerate the left over bars, just set out few minutes prior to serving. Substitution for cream cheese, and sugar- cream cheese icing

So what was the dessert that inspired me to start sharing my recipes with all of you and especially my Apple loving friends. From the kitchen Cabinets of Larry, here is the newest creation.

Quick and Easy Apple Oatmeal Crisp
2 cans of Apple Pie Filling
1 cup of Golden Raisins
1 ½ sticks of butter room temperature
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
1 ½ cup light brown sugar
1 ½ cup Oats
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1teaspoon nutmeg
- Prepare a 8x11.5x2 baking dish by rubbing with oil or spray with cooking spray
- Mix the raisins and the pie filling together and pour into baking dish
- Mix the butter, flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg till crumbly.
- Spread this mixture over the apple/raisin.
- Bake at 350 degrees till the top is brown and apple are bubbly. Approx. 30 minutes

I hope you enjoy these great quick recipes.

Till Next time LB