Dessert #11....Chocolate Chip Biscotti

I make this recipe every year to sell at our annual Christmas Open House. So, I'm killing two birds with one stone. I set aside a special bag for my hunk...all his very own....to enjoy with coffee. It's a great basic recipe. I don't add nuts--or brush the tops with egg. (cutting corners where I can!!!)

The recipe is from Good Housekeeping...go here to get it! http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/chocolate-chip-biscotti-739

Dessert # 10...and this one was a WHOPPER!

This was the first (and I'm pretty sure the last!) attempt at this monstrosity of a cake. I printed the recipe out about a year ago, so it was one of those desserts I wanted to try. I made it for our 10th anniversary. Let me warn you--it will take a small fortune to buy the ingredients! But, it does make a big one. I would say it probably weighed about 8 pounds! (oh, yes, very good for the waistline!) So, if none of this seems daunting to you, then by all means, make it and totally ENJOY every morsel! I would give it two thumbs up in taste....but pretty much an epic fail in the presentation department! :-)

PUMPKIN CRUNCH CAKE...go here for the recipe! http://www.askchefdennis.com/2010/10/its-the-great-pumpkin-cake-charlie-brown/

 I did three layers and it looks pretty nice--right? Weeeelllllll.....I was able to capture a decent picture, but look at the next one!

 

It was falling apart...I literally had to shift about a third of the cake to another plate because of the caving going on! Like I said-epic fail in the presentation department! But, Erik didn't care what it looked like. I wish I could count this as like--THREE desserts. (oh well...) :-)

Happy October! Dessert #9 Pumpkin Pie Cake

Fall is here! Today it's beautiful out--sunny & mild. And the smell of this yummi-licious cake is wafting in the air! LOL--ok enough of the eloquence!

 

I still have to "flip" it out of the pan so the top is on the bottom as the crust. And I realize my pics re NOT prize winners. Here is where you can get the recipe. http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/2012/09/pumpkin-pie-cake-recipe.html You can see a great picture of how it's supposed to look once it's flipped out and ready  to eat with whipped cream! I hope my hunk likes it!



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...and yet more dessers to report on!

It's good for me to "try" to blog about the desserts because I think I might lose track if I don't! Here's another post of a "clump" of desserts I've made.

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

These are good anytime....and a recipe I'll make again. :-) Here's the recipe. http://www.jensfavoritecookies.com/2012/04/18/iced-oatmeal-cookies/

Maple Pecan Steusel Pumpkin Bread

Talk about making again....this is a great recipe and you can use sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin~! I didn't have pecans, so I used walnuts. (I think pecans would be better though!) http://hotpolkadot.com/2011/11/05/these-arent-the-droids-youre-looking-for/

Apple Crisp Pie

I've used this recipe for awhile now....it's a cross between pie & crisp! I used my square pan, but you can make it in a traditional pie shape. Perfect recipe for fall and apple season! http://southernfood.about.com/od/applepies/r/bl51027f.htm

Dessert #3, #4 and #5!

Nothing like getting 3 for the price of 1! I have to say these three desserts are kind of fudging just a bit...I took the easy route on them!

Dessert #3 was a recipe of bread dough---turned into cinnamon rolls! Since then I have found a different recipe for cinnamon rolls that I really like and have started using. This is the recipe I'll post here. I still make it in my bread machine (dough cycle) and that cuts down on half the work! I've also been on a kick using whole wheat flour--and use that for half the flour in this recipe.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cinnamon-rolls-iii/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=cinnamon%20rolls%20iii&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

As you see--I love using allrecipes.com!

Dessert #4 was something we ate for dinner, but was like a dessert, so I made sure I counted it towards one of the FORTY!!! In addition to allrecipes.com, I LOVE Pinterest! So, that is where I found the recipe for "Whole Wheat, Brown Sugar, Banana Bread Pancakes"! They were hearty and delish. I made them up ahead of time and froze them. The syrup is especially good--and you will want to make some coffee to go along with these for breakfast or dinner!

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/06/whole-wheat-brown-sugar-banana-bread-pancakes/

And now #5....chocolate chip cookies! Plain & simple. I tried to cut down on the fat & used applesauce for half the butter. Nothing special about the recipe I used--just the back of the package of chocolate chips. I know there are a million recipes out there for cc cookies. But, it makes me feel a little better knowing I only have 35 more desserts to go! :-)

He (Erik) did make a request for a future dessert. Baklava!~ I have made this and always use the same recipe, but I'd kind of like to try another one. Baklava is one of those recipes I'm hesitant to find a random one to try. I might have to research this on Pinterest!

Dessert #2 Ultimate Pretzel Crusted Sugar Cookie Brownie Bars

Ok, the real title is:

Ultimate Pretzel Crusted Sugar Cookie Heath Brownie Bars

....but I didn't add in the heath bar. Here is the link to the recipe and awesome pics of what this delicousness is all about! http://blog.babygizmo.com/2012/02/ultimate-pretzel-crusted-sugar-cookie-heath-brownie-bars/

The reason I baked them in two pans is that my big 13x9 was being used. :-)

Can you imagine being able to satisfy your cravings for sweet, salty & chocolate all at the same time?!  So, I've now completed dessert #2 in my year of 40 desserts for Erik!

A side note...it didn't seem like my brownie was totally baked, but I think the key is to let it cool completely before you try cutting. My cookie dough was really STICKY--not the texture of cut-out dough. I just pressed it in as best as I could. Also, mine did not turn out exactly like the pictures I saw--BUT--it did taste really good!

The year of 40 desserts!

Erik turned the big 4-0 on July 15th....I was out of town for most of the day and other than a card, didn't buy him a gift or really celebrate. I was able to surprise him with a card/text/email shower with so many of our special friends helping out! I am going to put all these special messages in a book so he can re-read and be blessed over & over again.

SO....my gift to him will be making 40 desserts through the year IN HIS HONOR! I love to bake--so this will literally be a piece of cake! LOL! Today I have started on this year project with my first dessert. It's in the over right now and I can't promise that I won't be able to hold off on a "taste test" before he gets home from work! It smells so good. It's a blueberry coffee cake.

 I got the recipe HERE: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=25966&origin=detail&&Servings=12

For the topping I added a pack of instant oatmeal (maple & brown sugar) instead of the pecans it called for.

So, there ya have it! My first dessert. I know how my life goes, but I do hope to post each dessert I make....so stay posted. :-)

My birthday--random acts of KINDNESS--help wanted from YOU....

Ok, I have to admit it...I LOVE celebrating my birthday! I don't want to skip it because it means another year older. I still have ONE YEAR left in my 30's...maybe next year I'll feel differently. (?) 

Sooooooo, THIS YEAR I want to celebrate it by sharing a gift with someone else! Yes, a little giveaway of sorts--because isn't that what EVERY good blogger does? LOL! (and the term "blogger" is used loosly--as you notice, I haven't posted on this blog for a year now!!! And look at the old profile pic that I haven't updated for a LONG time!)

Anyway, I'm trying to think of ways to pay it forward OR figure out how to go about some random acts of kindness. This is truly something I want to instill in my girls. BLESSING others for no reason....picking out those that might get overlooked....doing something for someone "just because".....it's actually a fun project and one that will make US feel like the blessed ones for sure. My nephews are getting on board too and we're forming a little club to go about putting our ideas into action!

Now WHY am I saying all of this on my little bloggie??? This is where you come in. Leave a comment on here, or on FB with an idea (be it big or small) of a way to make the day BETTER for someone else. One thought I've had is to bake cookies/cupcakes/something! for the fire department. They serve and put their lives at stake for us and we need to thank them! That is just an example to throw out to you to get your creative inspiration going. Let me know what you're thinking. I'll take all the ideas and suggestions you throw my way and R.A.N.D.O.M.L.Y draw a name for my giveaway! It's a WIN-WIN! I'll get super ideas...AND the pleasure of doing something special for one of you!!!!

Have you ever been blessed by someone else "just because"? Years ago (before I was married) I was given a gift of a LOAD of money. (I think it was $800!!!) And it was anonymous! Yep--something I know the Lord saw, but they didn't reveal themselves to me. I've also participated in our secret sister deal at church and had fun doing things--and having things done for me--throughout the year "secretly". Isn't it fun to bless--and be blessed? Just as the Bible says how it IS more blessed to give than to receive. All this to say--that RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS will not only encourage the heart of others, but bring joy to our own hearts.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men....." Gal. 6:10 

Looking forward to hearing your ideas! Ready, set, GO!