MINI FRENCH VANILLA TARTS WITH FRESH BERRIES AND MINT

These little tarts are quick and easy to make. They are easy, pretty, and tasty.

1 box (1.34 oz) French Vanilla Instant Pudding and Pie Filling Mix

1 pkg Graham cracker mini tart shells
Fresh seasonal berries
Mint sprigs for garnish, if desired

Prepare pudding mix as directed on box. Pour pudding into tart shells and refrigerate. Before serving, add 3 or 4 fresh berries and a mint sprig, if desired, for garnish.

This recipe and photo are from my quick fix blog.

RED VELVET CHERRY ALMOND TORTE

1 box (2-layer size) red velvet cake mix

1 can (21-oz) cherry pie filling
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 carton (8-oz) frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 2 9-inch round cake pans; set aside.

Prepare and bake the cake as directed on package for two layers.  Cool and remove from pans according to package directions.

When cakes are cool, combine the pie filling and almond extract in a small bowl stirring until the extract is totally blended into the filling.

Place one cake layer on cake plate and spread with 1 cup of the whipped topping; top with half the pie filling mixture.  Add the second layer and top with the remaining pie filling mixture, spreading to within 1 1/2 inches of the edge of the cake.

Decorate the edges of the cake with the remaining whipped topping and garnish with the almonds.

COCOA-MINT CUPCAKES

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp peppermint extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Whisk the first 4 ingredients together and gradually fold in rest of the ingredients.

Divide batter equally among 12 paper lined baking cups and bake at 375-degrees for 25-minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

For frosting, beat 1 container (16-oz) milk chocolate frosting with 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract on medium speed until fluffy. Frost cupcakes by using a star tip to make a pretty top. Sprinkle with some crushed peppermints.

Yield: 12 cupcakes

recipe and photo First for women 2022

SOUR CREAM RAISIN DROPS with ORANGE FROSTING

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup raisins
Orange Frosting (recipe follows)

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; blend in the egg and vanilla extract.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; add to the dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream.  Mix well after each addition.  Stir in the raisins.  Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until set.  Cool on wire rack until completely cool and frost with the Orange Frosting below:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp grated orange peel
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
4 tsp milk

Beat the butter; blend in the orange peel.  Add sugar alternately with the milk until light and fluffy. 

Yield: Approximately 5 dozen cookies

file photo of this recipe

LAYERED PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CARAMEL AND PECANS

I got this cake recipe from a friend's facebook post. It is from Chef Ron Lock and his information is at the end of the post. Haven't tried it yet but I plan to. Perhaps some of you would like to try it, too.

(This cake is a total showstopper. The mixed flavors and textures pecans, caramel and cream cheese make this one of best pumpkin recipes of all time! Enjoy!)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin, divided - 100% pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/4 cup chopped Pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F

BEAT cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in stand mixer, or, beat in a large bowl with a hand mixer.

Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round pans.

Put the cake pans in the oven and bake for 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove the cakes from the pans and transfer to wire racks to completely cool.

BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl with hand mixer, or standalone mixer, until creamy. Add in the sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Gently stir in the whipped topping.

Cut each cake layer horizontally in half with serrated knife; stack on serving plate, spreading cream cheese filling between layers, leaving top layer unfrosted. Do not frost the top layer!

Drizzle with caramel topping just before serving; top with nuts. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/TheChefRonLock

CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 large egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Adjust oven rack to the lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line 2 large cookie baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

Microwave chocolate chips on high for 1 minute. Stir until melted.

Beat the egg whites, slowly adding the sugar until the egg white are stiff but are not dry. Stir in the melted chocolate and the vanilla extract.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the parchment lined baking sheets; bake 7 minutes or until the tops are dry. Allow to cool on the parchment.

Yield: 64 meringues

file photo

LEMON-BLUEBERRY SCONES

1 1/4 cups whole grain pastry flour

1 cup ground whole oats
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 cup blueberries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet lightly with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, milk, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, honey, oil, lemon juice and lemon zest. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and stir in the yogurt mixture. Add the blueberries and stir just until combined. Drop 1/4 cup batter onto prepared baking sheet to make 10 scones. Bake at 400 degrees 12 to 15 minutes or until light browned and firm.

Per scone: 260 calories, 40 g carbs 15 g protein, 5 g fat (0 saturated) 

file photo for reference only 

SPICED CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

2 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

11 tbsp butter, melted

3 Gala apples, peeled, cored, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

4 (8-oz each) pkgs cream cheese

4 eggs

 1 tsp vanilla extract

In a pot, mix 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil. Cook, do not stir, until mixture turns caramel color, 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully stir in cream. Let cool.

Heat oven to 325-degrees. Wrap entire outside of a 8-inch x 3-inch springform pan with foil; grease inside of the pan. Mix crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and 4 tablespoons butter. Press into pan. Bake 10 minutes; let cool.

In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add apples and cook, stirring, until tender, 10 minutes. In a bowl, mix 3/4 cup flour, oats, walnuts, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger and 5 tablespoons butter until crumbly; reserve.

On medium speed, beat cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth. On low, beat in 1/2 cup caramel, eggs, vanilla, 1/4 cup flour and remaining spices. Pour over crust. Place pan in baking pan on oven rack; fill baking pan with water halfway up the side of springform pan. Bake until center juggles slightly, 1 hour 15 minutes. Add apples and crumb mix. Bake until golden, 45 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave in oven with door closed 1 hour. Transfer from pan to rack; cool. Cover; chill 8 hours. Remove side of pan. Drizzle with some of caramel; serve with remaining caramel.

recipe and photo First for women 2023

GRAVEYARD DIRT

I got this from my daughter in 2914. Now that we are into the 'Ber months and the candies in this recipe are making their way onto our store shelves, I thought I would repeat it.

Instant chocolate pudding (and ingredients on box)

8 - small (clear) plastic cups
cool whip
Oreos
ghost "peeps"
candy corn/pumpkins
1 Ziploc bag
rolling pin

Directions:

First, make the chocolate pudding by following the directions on the back of the box. Once mixed, pour pudding into individual cups and let set up in the refrigerator. I bought a small box of instant pudding so mine was set within 5 minutes.

Next, plop a layer of cool whip on top of your chocolate pudding. Place a handful of Oreos in a ziplock bag and crunch them with a rolling pin until you get something that resembles dirt. I used the minis because we can't be trusted with a whole bad of oreos in the house (plus, they're easier to crunch)! Sprinkle a generous layer of oreo dirt on top of your cool whip.

Decorate your dirt cups with ghost peeps, pumpkins & candy corn. If you're taking them on the go, place a second plastic cup on top and secure with tape.
Source:sewingbarefoot

 

MANDARIN-ORANGE PINEAPPLE CAKE

A friend from Kentucky sent me this cake recipe. Some call it Pig Cake or Pig Pickin' Cake.

1 box Duncan Hines Butter Cake mix

1/2 cup Wesson oil
1 11- ounce can mandarin oranges
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, oil, oranges with juice, sugar and eggs. Mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees in 3 greased, floured and lined with wax paper pans for about 20 minutes or until center of the cake bounces back when touched. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on cooling racks.

Icing
1 12 ounce tub of Cool Whip
small instant vanilla pudding mix
1 16 oz. can crushed pineapple

Icing
Drain juice from pineapple and set aside (If the icing seems to be too thick you can use it to thin it out a bit).

Mix pineapple with the instant vanilla pudding. Stir in Cool Whip. Frost the cake according to these directions. Store the cake in the refrigerator. I think it is better the next day.

  — with Dianna Emmert Gillia