Ladies Tea Party! (minus the tea!)

I hosted a book club recently and we got to discuss Anne of Green Gables... my favorite!!!  So of course, we needed to have a ladies tea.  I don't drink tea, but we didn't miss it a bit!  White linens with floral table runners, white china dishes, fresh flowers in the middle, and feminine serving platters make for a fun ladies tea!  A few of us even dressed with "puffed sleeves" or lovely ladies hats and beads.  Such a fun night with some sweet ladies. Many selections and small portions make a ladies tea menu just right.  Most of these recipes are make ahead, so I did most of the desserts a couple days before and put them in the freezer, the sandwich fillings the day before, so the day of, you don't have much to do except dress the table. 
I would like to share with you our menu...
Drink:
Peach Citrus Punch
Ice water with lemon slices
Main:
Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Croissants
Cucumber Salad Sandwiches on Rye
Fruit and Salad:
Strawberries Romanov
Fruity Poppy Seed Salad
Dessert:
Mini Lemon Cupcakes
Mint Brownies
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

I will share all of these recipes, but will make them separate posts so that I can find them again!  Click on each menu item and it will link you to each of the recipes.
I hope you will host a ladies, or little girls, tea party sometime.  It was so much fun!

Glazed Lemon Cookies

My husband LOVES anything lemon.  He had a meeting at the church the evening of his birthday this year, so I decided to surprise the men-folk with some cookies (he's not a huge cake fan).  These cookies were a hit!

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons lemon zest

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (or reduce other salt measurement and use salted butter)

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2-3 teaspoons lemon juice

1-2 teaspoons milk

Preheat oven it 350 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl, whisk and set aside.  In another small bowl, mix granulated sugar and lemon zest with fingers or spoon.  Beat butter and sugar/lemon mixture together until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.  Slowly beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended.  Drop dough by small tablespoon balls onto prepared baking sheet and gently flatten with the palm of your hand or bottom of a glass.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are just set and slightly golden brown.  Cool cookies on baking sheet for 2 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.  In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk (adding just enough milk for right frosting consistency, slightly thinner than most frosting).  Dip each cookie top into the lemon icing or spoon small amount on cookie and swirl with back of spoon.  Can sprinkle a tiny amount of lemon zest on top.  Allow icing to set and serve!  Make about 3 dozen cookies.

Layered Oreo Dessert

This dessert has been in the family for years and we have enjoyed it on many a family gathering nights.  My friend made it as well for a Book Club years ago but she "adultified" and "beautified" it so I have used her version many times as well.  Not a lot of work, but the freezing between layers needs some time.  Make it a day before, or make the faster version for an equally yummy, just not quite as fancy version.  Great for summer BBQ's but also a fun dessert for December using pink peppermint ice cream and adding chopped up candy canes to the top!  The most memorable time I served it was when we had the local LDS missionaries over for dinner and when I got the dessert out, one of the Elders said, "Oh, your kidding!  We had this all the time at home and I haven't had it for 15 months."  He needed a little TLC that night, so I was glad I could provide it in the way of dessert!

Bottom Layer:

2 cups (about 2 rows in the package) finely crushed Oreos mixed with 6 Tbsp. melted butter, (can do this step in the food processor really fast) pressed firmly in bottom of 9x13 pan.

2nd Layer:

1/2 gallon peppermint, green mint, vanilla, or other ice cream or frozen yogurt, softened enough to spread on Oreo layer.  Freeze.

3rd Layer:

12 oz. Cool Whip spread of top of ice cream layer.  Freeze.

4th Layer:

Drizzle chocolate sauce to form a thin layer of chocolate on Cool Whip.  Freeze.

5th Layer:

Sprinkle crushed Oreos (chunks) on top of chocolate layer. Freeze. 

Keep in freezer, removing about 10-15 minutes before serving to soften. 

Faster version:

Bottom Layer:

2 cups finely crushed Oreos mixed with 6 Tbsp. melted butter, pressed firmly in bottom of 9x13 pan.

2nd Layer:

1/2 gallon ice cream mixed with 12 oz. Cool Whip gently folded.  Fold in crushed Oreo chunks and spread over Oreo layer.  Sprinkle top with more Oreo chunks and freeze until ready to serve.

Note:  The trick is to get the ice cream and the Cool Whip at the right softness to spread.  I generally find that on a hot summer day, right when I get home from the grocery store and unpack everything, they are generally softened enough, but NOT melted and it is when they are ready to go!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

One of my favorite birthday treats is a cookie cake from Mrs. Fields, but these can get a little pricey, so I usually make them now.  This has been a favorite at many Ludlow birthday parties.  It can be decorated with frosting or covered in hot fudge next to some ice cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

6 T. granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1-2 cups chocolate chips (I always use semi-sweet)

Sift flour, soda and salt…set aside.

Using electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugars for 1 minute.  Add egg and vanilla and mix for 1 minute.  On low speed add flour.  Mixing until just incorporated.  Add chocolate chips, mixing in by hand.

Use fingers to spread dough evenly over the bottom of prepared pan (10 inch spring form, buttered and lined with parchment). Bake at 350° until top turns golden, but center is still soft. Cool on rack.

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

A few years ago we started a family tradition we call "Cookie Sunday."  Each week we make a batch of cookies and deliver any leftovers to family and friends.  Some weeks we are left with only one plate to pass out.  My little ones love it, my thighs do not.  This is a recipe I came up with after a little trial and error.  It is simply a combination of a few staple recipes I have been using for years.  Please use good quality chocolate and parchment paper to line your cookie sheets.  Finally, for the love of all that is holy, do not overbake them. Happy Sunday!

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour (I use unbleached)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1-1 1/2 cup oatmeal (measured and then ground fine in a blender or food processor)

1 cup butter (softened to room temperature)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs (at room temperature)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 12oz. bag good quality chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and ground oatmeal.  Beat butter and sugars until well combined (2-3 minutes).  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix only until

incorporated.  Add dry ingredients and mix just until no flour can be seen.  Stir in chips and nuts by hand to avoid breaking them into pieces with the mixer.  Using a small ice cream scoop drop onto parchment lined baking sheets. 

Bake at 375° for 8-11 minutes.  I like to take them out when the tops almost look raw and the edges are just turning golden.  The cookie continues to bake while cooling on the pan. 

Chocolate Nutella Cookies

So these little babies are making their appearance in the blog world, so I thought I would introduce you to them if you haven't met them yet. You REALLY need to meet them. I don't know what it is about Nutella, but it was definitely a love at first sight relationship. Have you tried it on pretzels, toast, licked off your index finger? You need to at least try it in these cookies. You can find Nutella at any grocery store in the jams and jellies section or at Costco now which makes it actually pretty affordable. I of course added MORE chocolate to the recipe in the form of chocolate chips. You can always use more chocolate, don't you think?

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
2/3 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon hazelnut extract (you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon vanilla if you can’t find or don’t like hazelnut extract)
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup milk
1 cup chocolate chips (I like to mix semi-sweet and milk chocolate)

Preheat oven to 325°
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Set the mixture aside. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until smooth. Add the extracts (I just used 2 tsp vanilla, I didn't have hazelnut extract and they were still awesome) and beat for another 30 seconds or so. Add the Nutella and beat until smooth.

With the mixer running, add half of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the milk, mixing until combined completely, then add the remaining flour mixture and mix completely. Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 15 minutes (and as long as 2-3 days).

When you’re ready to bake the cookies, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat (this is important so they don't get too flat). Roll tablespoons of dough into balls and place them on the lined cookie sheet, allowing about 2″ between the dough balls. Don't let the dough get to warm or it gets way too sticky to work with. If this happens, just stick it back in the fridge for a while (or freezer if you're impatient like me!)
Lightly press the dough balls with the bottom of a drinking glass and then bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are crackly on top and soft, but starting to set. Remove from the oven and allow them to stand for about 5 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Original recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.

Chocolate Mini Cakes

Chocolate Mini Cakes

Jill and I were asked to cater a mother and daughter event recently for 150 ladies. They wanted to recognize these girls for their achievements in the LDS personal progress program and wanted to create a tea party type atmosphere complete with a tea party type dessert. We took the challenge and decided that it had to be chocolate and it had to be PINK! What we came up with were some chocolate mini cakes decorated with a pink frosting flower and pearl center on top, a strawberry in a dollop of Ready whip, colored chocolate mint candies sprinkled around the plate, and pink lemonade to drink. Of course we forgot to take a picture (yes, we are not the brightest of the bunch when it comes to remembering to take pictures...it could also have to do with the fact that my picture taking devices are either my cell phone or my camera that is held together with duct tape!) Anyway, here are the chocolate mini cakes that we served. Not too hard to make even though it takes a few recipes combined to make each part of the cake just right, (you will recognize each of the recipes as ones we have used before!) but go and make someone feel special by making these cutest little cakes today! You can even make them the day before your event and keep them in the fridge! ENJOY!

Chocolate Mini Cakes
Otherwise known as upside down cupcakes using our favorite chocolate bundt cake recipe!

1 devils food cake mix, Duncan Hines is favorite (do not make according to package)
1 (4 serving) instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
Place all ingredients except chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer for 1 minute. Scrape down sides and continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Generously grease and sprinkle cocoa to coat 24-30 dark non-stick muffin tin cups. (My favorite is to actually use the cooking spray that has flour in it, expensive but worth it!) Spoon batter into the muffin tins filling only about 1/2 or so full. Bake at 350 for 13-14 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs attached but not wet batter. Let cool in the pan for about 10 mins and then using a knife, carefully remove the mini cakes and invert "bottoms up" on a cooling rack to finish cooling. Cool completely before filing, but if not using immediately, they need to be put on parchment paper in an air tight container as soon as they are cool so they won't dry out.

Filling:
Otherwise known as Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling

6 TB flour
1 cup milk
1 cup real butter (MUST be good quality butter!)
1 cup sugar (granulated, not powdered sugar)
2 tsps vanilla extract
In a small saucepan, whisk together the flour and milk. Heat on medium heat whisking continuously until it starts to thicken. Stir and cook until you barely start to see streaks of the bottom of the pan (it should still be mostly liquid though) and quickly get off the heat still stirring. Put a mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the mixture into the strainer and stir with a rubber spatula to push it through, cleaning off the bottom of the strainer when you're finished. You should end up with a nice, smooth mixture. Put mixture in fridge and let it cool completely. In an electric mixer, beat the butter and the sugar a couple of minutes until fluffy. Use the whisk attachment on an electric stand mixer. Then while beating, pour in the cooled milk mixture, then the vanilla. Beat to combine and then scrape down bowl. It will look goopy and lumpy at this point! Just wait...beat on medium high for 7-8 minutes, longer if needed. After 7-8 mins. it will have transformed into a gorgeous and fluffy, light and silky frosting or filling!

Use a long (Wilton Bismarck) tip and put tip 3/4 of the way into the center of each cake, filling and lifting out of the cake until you can see the cake "plumping" (oooh, is that a word, if it is, I certainly hope that "plumping" is never used in a sentence to describe this girl!) and starting to come out the top hole. You can also cut out a piece of the cake and replace after filling, but the decorating tip is much faster and easier I think.

Helpful notes:*Use real butter that is a good quality, cheap brands do weird things!*If after 7-8 min. it's not fluffy, keep going and increase your mixing speed.*Store at room temperature, it may separate in the fridge, can store overnight in a well sealed container. *This recipe really isn't as hard as it sounds, just follow the hints and give it a try, you will LOVE it!


What a better way to "frost" these mini cakes than with real chocolate!...
Chocolate Ganache
3/4 C heavy cream
2 T real butter, melted
8 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped (or use good quality chocolate chips)
Put chocolate pieces in a bowl. Pour melted butter over it. Place cream in microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes- it needs to be at a simmer. Immediately pour over chocolate and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit for about 3 minutes and then stir until smooth. Let it cool until it's a good spreading consistency and then spread on top of filled mini cakes. Use about a tablespoon chocolate and drop in the center of each cake. Then use the back of your spoon to spread the chocolate around the top, allowing the chocolate to lovingly drip down the sides of the cake. If your chocolate in the bowl gets too thick to spread, just put it back in the microwave and reheat for about 30 seconds or so.

Decorating the mini cakes:
Make sure the you give the ganache time to cool and set before decorating or else you will have a melty mess! To decorate the cakes, we used just a regular buttercream frosting (you can even just buy that stuff in a can if you want!) and added pink (3 or so drops of red depending on how much frosting you have) food coloring to it. (Try two drops of red and 1 drop of yellow for a pretty peachish-pink color too!) Use a trusty Wilton 1M Star tip and decorating bag and hold the tip upright, just touching the center of the cake and squeeze! It will come out a beautiful flower if you just let the petals form and gently release and lift when the desired flower size is achieved.


These cakes are such a hit, they are worth the extra time and effort we promise! If you want to simplify, just use silver metal cupcake holder cups and make them into cupcakes, or just don't fill them...but we insist you use the fabulous chocolate GANACHE!

OH...CREPES! Class

I can't believe it's been a whole month since we taught this class and we've been too busy to post these recipes! This class was fun and forgive the play on words with the title...it was either Oh crepe! or Holy crepe!, neither of which is probably very respectable so forgive us. (Although it is kind of fun to say if you stub your toe or something.) Anyway, crepes seem to be on the main scene these days if you want to serve something fancy. They are a bit of work, not as much work as time consuming. You know what we always say though, "It's the time and effort you put into something that makes someone feel special." So here are some yummy ways to make someone feel special with CREPES! So pretty, so delicious, so versatile, and yes...so FRENCH! So we also included some fun ways to make it a French night, oui oui!


Cashew Chicken Crepes with Creamy Parmesan Sauce
Original recipe from Darla Evanson

Crepes: makes 20 thin crepes
1 1/2 cups flour
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup milk
3 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons melted butter

Filling: fills 14
1 1/2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup cashews-finely chopped
3 Tablespoons green onions
8 ounces fresh mushrooms-sliced
1 lb rotisserie chicken chunks- cut in small pieces
1 1/2 cups cut up broccoli -steamed
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon soy sauce

Topping Sauce:
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese - canned
1 cup cashews and chopped parsley for garnish

Crepes - Blend all ingredients in the blender until smooth. Let sit for a few minutes for batter to thicken up. Cook crepes and place between waxed paper. Filling and Topping Crepes - In a large skillet, heat butter. Saute onions and mushrooms. Add chicken pieces and cook about 5 minutes or until warmed through. Mix whipping cream, Parmesan cheese and soy sauce. Stir in broccoli and ¼ c. cashews. Fill crepes. Roll and place in greased 9x13 pan. Mix whipping cream and Parmesan cheese in small saucepan and warm up. Drizzle filled crepes with a bit of sauce and spread to cover top of crepes. This keeps the crepe moist while baking. Cover and bake at 450 until bubbly - 10 minutes or less, just until warmed through. Drizzle with the rest of the sauce before serving. Garnish with finely chopped cashews and fresh parsley to serve.

(Notes- when I make this for a weeknight meal for my family, I make the filling using skim evaporated milk instead of whipping cream, and serve over hot brown rice or quinoa. The evaporated milk makes it runnier, so it would not work as well if you were filling crepes.)


Ways to Fill and Fold a Crepe:
Blintz- spread filling in center and roll, serve with crepe edge down
Half moon- spread filling over half of crepe, fold remaining half over filling
Triangle- same as half moon, only fold half moon shape in half again


Crepe Recipe: For a savory crepe, omit the sugar. For a sweetened dessert crepe, add sugar!
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1 cup flour
1 1/3 cups milk
½ teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar (omit for savory crepes)
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor just a few seconds until combined and smooth, or whisk by hand until there are no lumps. Let sit in refrigerator for a few minutes or up to 2 days, so let it thicken a little, remixing just slightly when ready to use. Heat a nonstick skillet to medium heat for about 3 minutes. Butter pan. When butter stops sizzling, lift pan of the heat, at an angle while pouring 1/8-1/4 cup of batter (depending on size of crepes you desire) into pan and use a circular motion to help spread the batter into a circular shape. Place pan back on heat and cook until edges are set and you can run a spatula under it, about 30 or so seconds. Flip crepe and cook another 20-30 seconds. Remove crepe from pan and either keep warm in the oven or cool to room temperature.

Savory Crepe fillings:
Any meat (deli or cooked and diced) or cheeses.
Soft cheeses and fresh herbs such as goat cheese and chives or fresh mozzarella and basil.
Chopped and steamed or sauteed vegetables with soft cheeses, mushrooms, and herbs.

Sweet Crepe Fillings:
Creamy éclair type filling (see recipe below).
Nutella
Any sliced fruit or berries mixed with sugar (allow to sit for a few mins).
Spoon juice over top.
Softened vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce or sauteed apples and warm caramel sauce.

Sweet Crepe Cream Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter (½ stick of butter), softened
¼ C. sugar
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon rind
1 8oz. tub Cool Whip
Mix together cream cheese, butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon rind until creamy. Fold in Cool whip. Spoon a tablespoon or so of the filling down the center of crepe and roll. Top with favorite toppings such as fruit or ganache (chocolate glaze) or any of the toppings suggested above.


French Bistro Dinner Party Ideas:
Chalk board with menu written
Simple white or beige cotton table cloth, simple dishes and napkins
Bud vase with single stem rose
Votive candles
French music
Everyday type goblets
Cheese and bread tray
Dress in your favorite black turtleneck and beret!

Oreo Dessert

A favorite of mine for years. This cool dessert reminds me of sunburns from grandma's pool and mustache marks from Black Cherry Shasta. Hello summer.

Oreo Dessert Crust:

6 Tbs. Butter, melted

2 cups crushed Oreo cookie crumbs

Filling:

1-2 quarts ice cream of choice

Hot fudge sauce:

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup light corn syrup

4 Tbs. butter

Pinch salt

8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Topping:

Oreo cookies, roughly crushed

Crust and filling: Combine cookie crumbs and butter and press into a 9x13 pan. Soften ice cream slightly and then smooth onto cookie crumbs. Freeze for at least a few hours.

Sauce:

Bring the cream, corn syrup, butter, and salt to a boil in a small sauce pan over medium- high heat. Off the heat, stir in the chocolate, cover, and let stand until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Uncover and whist gently until smooth. Adjust the consistency by heating and stirring in additional cream as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time. Sauce can be poured over ice cream and frozen, or served as a warm sauce over a serving of the dessert. Top with crushed oreo cookies.

Out of School Party

Fun. Fun. Fun. Last May our class was a presentation of ideas for graduation/out of school get togethers. Table decor ideas can be simple with beach towels for table cloths, helium balloons coming out of beach buckets filled with treats. Don't forget sea shells, sunglasses and flip flops scattered about the table as well. Each person can make their own homemade "beach" frame with a some cheap shells and a little glue. We talked about how great pizza stones can be for a delicious homemade pizza, and how you can find them at grocery stores for relatively inexpensive. Homemade Pizza (This dough recipe makes enough for three 12 inch pizzas. Store bought dough works just great) Basic Pizza Dough: 4 ½ cups flour, plus extra for the counter 1 envelope (or 2 ¼ tsps) instant or rapid-rise yeast 1 ½ tsp salt 2 Tbs olive oil 1 ¾ cups water, warm Pepperoni Pizza (makes 1 pizza): 3/4-1 cup sauce 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese Pepperoni slices (regular or turkey) Olive Oil Chicken Ranch Pizza: 3/4-1 cup ranch dressing (you can add a small amount of minced garlic for some zip) Cooked and sliced chicken 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese Thinly sliced tomatoes Thinly sliced red onions Cooked bacon pieces Olive oil Barbeque Chicken Pizza: 3/4-1 cup barbeque sauce 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese Cooked and sliced chicken Sliced mushrooms Sliced red onion Pineapple tidbits Olive oil Crust: Whisk 4 cups flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add oil and water and still with spatula until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead by hand until forms a smooth, round ball (about 10 min.), adding the remaining flour as needed to prevent dough from sticking to the counter. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 ½ hours. Pizza: Heat oven to 500° and let baking stone or upside down cookie sheet heat for at least 30 minutes. Turn dough onto lightly floured counter and cut into three pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth round ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 20-30 minutes. Working with one ball at a time, stretch and shape the dough into one 12 inch round on a piece of parchment paper. Spread sauce over pizza, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edges. Next, add the cheese and any desired toppings listed above. Lightly brush the edge of the dough with olive oil. Put pizza (parchment paper and all) in the oven. Bake until the curst edges are brown and the cheese is golden, 8 to 13 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and remove parchment. Let the stone or pan reheat for 5 minutes before baking the next pizza. Oreo Dessert Crust: 6 Tbs. Butter, melted 2 cups crushed Oreo cookie crumbs Filling: 1-2 quarts ice cream of choice Hot fudge sauce: 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup light corn syrup 4 Tbs. butter Pinch salt 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped Topping: Oreo cookies, roughly crushed Crust and filling: Combine cookie crumbs and butter and press into a 9x13 pan. Soften ice cream slightly and then smooth onto cookie crumbs. Freeze for at least a few hours. Sauce: Bring the cream, corn syrup, butter, and salt to a boil in a small sauce pan over medium- high heat. Off the heat, stir in the chocolate, cover, and let stand until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Uncover and whist gently until smooth. Adjust the consistency by heating and stirring in additional cream as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time. Sauce can be poured over ice cream and frozen, or served as a warm sauce over a serving of the dessert. Top with crushed oreo cookies.

Chocolate Shortbread Bars

Our cute aunt Lynn made this delicious treat for Thanksgiving years ago and we have been enjoying the recipe a myriad of times since. Because it is Lynn's recipe, we loving call these "Lynn's Cookies." Now, you all don't have the pleasure of knowing our sweet aunt Lynn, so I made up a new more descriptive name for them. They really are one of my absolute favorite treats. Buttery shortbread taste and a mix of chocolate make for a treat you will be craving too!
(Sorry again for no picture...they always seem to get eaten before I remember to get a picture! I'll try to remember next time I make them, which will probably not be too long from now!)

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 C flour
1/2 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 + 1 1/2 cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (according taste preference- I use the 1/2 cup semi-sweet mixed with the canned milk, another 1/2 cup semi-sweet and 1 cup Guittard milk chocolate chips for the topping)
14 oz. can sweet and condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 C chopped nuts (walnuts), optional
With a handmixer, beat butter until creamy. Add flour, sugar, salt and mix to crumbly (mix on low for just a few second and then can use knives to "cut" the mixture until you have pea size clumps). Gently measure 2 cups "pea size" mix and press into the bottom or a 9 x 13 glass pan, so it forms a crust. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until light golden brown on edges. While baking, put 1/2 cup chocolate chips and canned milk in a saucepan and stir until melted and blended. Turn off heat and add vanilla. Spread over hot crust. Mix 1 1/2 c chocolate chips, remaining "pea mix," and walnuts with a fork. Sprinkle on top and bake at 350 for an additional 25-30 minutes. Cool before cutting. Enjoy! I like to cut mine into only about 1-1 1/2 inch bars because they are so rich! Besides, you don't feel as bad when you take two!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
(adapted from The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookie book)

I have the most delightful 7 year old. He and I understand each other. When ever we are given a difficult choice like cake or cookie, we always choose the later. This is a delicious recipe, one of may favorite treats by far. We usually dump a whole bunch of homemade hot fudge on top of it with a side of ice cream, but it could easily be smothered in frosting and devoured for dinner.


Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

1 1/4 c. All purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
6 T. granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 t. vanilla
1-2 cups chocolate chips (I always use semi-sweet)

Sift flour, soda and salt...set aside.

Using electric mixer of medium speed beat butter and sugars for about 1 minute. Add egg and vanilla and mix for 1 minute. On low speed add flour, just mixing until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Use fingers to spread dough evenly over the bottom of prepared pan (10 inch spring form, buttered and lined with parchment). Bake at 350 until top turns golden, but center is still soft. Cool on rack.

New and Improved Peanut Butter Blossoms

I will tell you this right now...I am a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate! Anytime I have a choice of dessert, it usually involves both of those yummy and fattening ingredients! But if you're going to have a treat, you might as well ENJOY IT!!! You will definately enjoy these! I like this recipe because it uses butter and the recipe on the back of the Hershey's kiss bags have you use shortening, which is too much solid fat for me. (O.k., I know I just said I don't mind fattening, but atleast it makes me FEEL like I'm trying to be a little healthier!)
I made these at Valentine's and used Hershey's "extra creamy" milk chocolate hearts and they were sooo delicious! I also found they were easier to eat than with kisses on them, so look for them at Valentine's Day time!





1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar (plus additional to roll dough in)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Hershey's kisses (or hearts!)
Soften butter or bring to room temperature and cream with sugars. Add egg, vanilla, and peanut butter (don't forget my sister's hint and put plastic wrap in the measuring cup first to make life much easier!) Add dry ingredients. Roll into just over 1 inch balls and roll in a bowl with the extra sugar until barely covered and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. (The edges of the cookies will be just beginning to crack, if the middle is cracking, you've baked them too long!) As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press the kiss or heart on the center. Let them cool until the chocolate has cooled through the soft phase (it takes a while, although we always get impatient and stick them in the fridge to finish cooling after a while because they look too good!) Enjoy!

Note: The original recipe tells you to cook them 8 minutes, put kisses on, then to cook for a couple more minutes. You can try that too if you find that the kiss falls off the cookies too much!

Double Layer Chocolate Cake

Have a good laugh at my photography skills. Listen I barely have time to floss let alone learn how to take a decent picture. Moving on...
I use to cringe when mom assigned me the cake for the monthly birthday party, but now I like to experiment with cake recipes. I am essentially trying to one up myself each time I make one. Sad hobby I know but when you have kids following you into the bathroom you look forward to some alone time with a cake. This time the cake was for my sweet nephew. He is a soccer guy through and through so we used cheap soccer balls from the grocery store for cake decor and used the candles as the goals. Remember to use parchment paper on the bottom of your pans and spray the sides well to make cake removal a piece of...oh, you get what I'm saying! This cake recipe is courtesy of my friend Jamie.

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (I always use unbleached cause I'm crazy like that)
1 2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cup softened butter
2/3 baking cocoa (Love the Dutch processed)
1 1/4 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla (use the real stuff please, in fact find Mexican vanilla is you're feeling loco)
1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 large eggs

Set oven to 350. Grease two 9 inch round pans and use parchment paper to line the bottoms (just trace the cake pan and cut out with scissors...just like kindergarten). In a large mixing bowl combine all wet ingredients. then mix in all dry ingredients. Mix for 30 seconds on medium, scraping the sides as needed. Beat all of the ingredients on high for 4 minutes. Divide evenly among pans and bake for 20-25 minutes. If a toothpick comes out clean your cake is done. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pans and cool completely on rack.

Delicious Chocolate Frosting:
(adapted from America's Test Kitchen)

8 oz. semi-sweet Chocolate ( actually used half milk, half semi)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch Salt
2 tbs. cocoa
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Melt chocolate in microwave at 3o second increments, add vanilla and salt. Beat the butter in a mixer on medium-high until smooth, about 30-60 seconds. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the sugar and cocoa. Beat until smooth, 2 to 5 minutes. Beat in the chocolate mixture. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat until the mixture is fluffy, 4 to 8 minutes.