Category Archives: Dessert

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon – it’s Friday, May 5th.  Cinco de Mayo quite literally means the 5th of May in Spanish so it’s easy to keep track of the date 😊 If you aren’t familiar, here are 3 fun facts about Cinco de Mayo, 1) it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, 2) it’s not a national holiday in Mexico, 3) it celebrates Mexico’s victory against Imperial France.  As you can see, it’s a relatively minor holiday that is celebrated regionally in Mexico….and pretty much everywhere in the United States.  In Puebla, Mexico it is celebrated with parades, parties, music, folk dancing, and traditional foods.  In the United States, it’s celebrated with Mexican food.  Are you sensing a theme to my blog post?  I’m going to share fun Mexican fares to enjoy for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you are craving Mexican food. Here’s my lineup: Homemade Flour Tortillas Slow Cooker Shredded Salsa Chicken Spicy Grilled Queso Chunky Guacamole Mexican Fried … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Poultry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Taco ‘bout a good time!  

With Easter right around the corner, I want to share a few fun ideas for your celebration.  I’m strictly sticking with dessert, cocktail, and snack options here.  You don’t need me telling you what to bake for brunch or cook for dinner (or where to go out to eat if you prefer) 😊 My family has the same conversation every year about what we’re going to eat…and we always go with the exact same thing as the previous year.  It’s tradition, we know what to expect, and everyone looks forward to the meal.  I think the same applies to a lot of families out there.  So, that’s why I like to focus on the “sides” if you will.  It’s themed food that’s delicious, easy to make, and adds to the celebration in a way that doesn’t break tradition yet lets us enjoy something new.  So please enjoy the “treats” I’m sharing with you … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Easter Edibles

St Patrick’s Day is next week, and in an effort to get everyone excited about the holiday, I want to share some of my favorite St Patty’s Day recipes.  All are easy to make, themed for the holiday, and taste amazing.  The 4 recipes I’m going to cover in this blog can be standalone meals/appetizers or could be combined into one big SPD feast!  Here are the recipes: Irish Nachos Guinness Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Lucky Charms Marshmallow Bars Drunk Leprechaun   Irish Nachos are a fun twist on traditional nachos because they are essentially the same thing, but you use potatoes in place of tortilla chips.  The potatoes are sliced thin and baked until they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.  They are topped with melted cheese, crumbled bacon, green onion, sour cream, etc.  It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that is perfect for your St Patrick’s Day party. The recipe can be … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Poultry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shamrockin’ Food

Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 21 this year.  It’s traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday” which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.  It’s a wonderful celebration filled with plenty of food and drink…New Orleans style!  We like to celebrate Mardi Gras every year with a fun and festive meal at home.  Sometimes we are with friends and family and sometimes it’s just us.  Either way, the drinks are flowing, and the food is plenty.  Any reason to make a themed meal, right? I like to have a big entrée that allows us to have plenty of leftovers.  This year we are making Spicy Gumbo.  To keep us lubricated, we’ll be enjoying a cocktail while we cook.  And for an appetizer and dessert, we’ll be snacking on a simple themed treat.  It’s an easy menu that I’ll walk you through how to make! Mardi Gras White Chocolate Covered Pretzels – These are a wonderful finger food … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mardi Gras Grub

Valentine’s Day is a few short days away.  Do you have plans or know how you’re going to celebrate?  A lot of people have set traditions each year and like to go out to dinner or prepare a fun meal at home with their friends and/or loved ones.  We prefer staying in and making a meal at home.  We feel less rushed, it’s fun to cook together, and we can make something special to celebrate the holiday.  Two things I like to focus on when creating new Valentine’s Day recipes is desserts and cocktails.  Both will enhance your dinner and make the event more memorable and are required to complete the meal (in my opinion).  So, let’s walk through my new recipes and hopefully something will catch your eye to prepare for Valentine’s (or Galantine’s) Day! I’m going to start with the cocktails because 1) they are easy to make, 2) they are delicious, and 3) you need … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cupid’s Cocktails & Confections

I previously posted a blog called Individual Dessert Cups where I discuss easy, no bake desserts that are mini-sized and served in 2oz cups.  They are perfect for a holiday gathering (especially with Christmas and NYE coming up) or would make great treats for a birthday party, picnic, or even a bake sale.  I think they are JUST the right size to satisfy your sweet tooth yet are small enough that you can have more than one without feeling bad about overindulging. You can make them in a variety of flavors, complete with cookie base, creamy filling, and themed toppings.  Here are the recipes I’ll be walking you through today: Individual Cookies & Cream Dessert Cups Individual Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert Cups Individual Pumpkin Spice Dessert Cups   Let’s start with Individual Cookies & Cream Dessert Cups.  These are easy to make, delicious, and perfect for any Oreo lover! There is an Oreo crust, creamy … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Individual Dessert Cup 2.0

Chocolate Peppermint Trifles are a wonderful no bake dessert for the holidays!  Think layers of cookie crumbs, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and crushed candy canes…it’s delicious!  It’s a simple recipe that takes about 15 minutes to make and then sets in the fridge until ready to serve.  I like to serve mine in 4-8oz trifle containers, but you could divide the pudding between 8-4oz containers to stretch it further. The recipe can be found here. Start by adding the Oreos to the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse into fine crumbs then divided between 4 8oz trifle dishes (or 8 4oz dishes) and use the back of a spoon to press into the bottom.  If you don’t care for mint flavoring, you can use regular Oreos for the base. Add the milk, chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, and peppermint extract to a large mixing bowl.  Whisk to combine and set aside.  The mixture will become thick.  Same as before if you … Continue reading

Posted in Christmas, Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Chocolate Peppermint Trifles

We are fast approaching my favorite time of year – Christmas!  The decorations, lights, and carols all put me in a festive mood.  And one of my favorite things this time of year is Christmas cookies and other goodies.  It’s a busy time of year for most and sometimes the stress of baking or spending hours in the kitchen is just too much for some.  That’s why I want to share with you a few recipes for QUICK yet delicious holiday treats.  Chocolate is involved (lots of chocolate is involved).  And the kids can help with decorating if you need an extra hand or 2. You’ve probably seen some of these treats around before or perhaps you’ve made them yourself but here are the recipes if you are interested: Holiday Rolo Pretzels Holiday Peppermint Pretzels Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Clusters Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers   Let’s walk through how to make them! Holiday Rolo Pretzels These are super simple to … Continue reading

Posted in Christmas, Dessert, Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chocolate Covered Christmas

Individual dessert cups are an easy, no bake desserts that are perfect for birthday parties, holidays, a treat for your coworkers, or for you to have on hand at home whenever you are craving a little something sweet 😊 They come in a variety of flavors (3 of which I’m sharing with you today) and are the perfect bite-sized treat.  Think cookie base, creamy filling, and festive toppings.  You will not be able to stop after one! Here are the recipes I’ll be walking you through today: Individual Birthday Cake Dessert Cups Individual Peanut Butter Dessert Cups Individual Banana Pudding Dessert Cups   Let’s start with Individual Birthday Cake Dessert Cups.  These taste just like birthday cake batter and are to die for!  There is a vanilla cookie crust, birthday cake cheesecake filling, and plenty of sprinkles to go around.  Super yummy and will be the talk of the party. The recipe can be found here. Start by making … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Holidays, Party, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Individual Dessert Cups

Loaded Brownie Ice Cream Cake screams indulgence!  The bottom is a thick fudge brownie that is topped with hot fudge, caramel sauce, ice cream, Oreo cookies, whipped cream, and more cookies.  It’s a rich dessert that you won’t want to share, lol! I think ice cream desserts can be enjoyed year-round.  Sure, they are necessary during summer months but every now and again I do crave a yummy ice cream dessert during fall or frigid winter months.  It’s dessert…it’s for any time of year.  This recipe in particular is a showstopper.  It’s rich, indulgent, sweet, and you don’t need a big slice to feel satisfied because it’s so dense. The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing the brownie mix according to package instructions, using a 9×13 baking dish.  Don’t over bake the brownies!  But do let them cool completely.  If you have a deeper 9×13 baking dish, use that.  The ingredients get piled high!  If you have a standard 9×13 baking dish that … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Loaded Brownie Ice Cream Cake