Acorn Cookies

This poor neglected little cooking blog!! Where I have been you ask?? On Pinterest!!! What's Pinterest you may ask?? If you don't know what it is go here.....it will change your life!!

I made these darling, yummy tasting cookies for Thanksgiving and they were gobbles {get it "gobbled"} right up!! And they are super easy!! The recipe and picture was found here at Six in the Suburbs.....





1. Melt 1/2 bag of Mini-Chips {5 second interval in the microwave, stirring really good each time} {I just used a can of already made chocolate frosting}
2. Dip the flat end of the Hershey's Kiss into melted chocolate and top with a bite-size Nutter Butter {I spread a little frosting on the end of each kiss and then stuck cookie on}
3. Dip the flat end of a Mini-Chip into the melted chocolate and stick it to the Nutter Butter {again just used a tiny dab of frosting}

So there are a few different ways to do it!!! And any way you choose will be just yummy!! She also suggests if you have someone with a peanut allergy you can use Nilla Wafers.

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough topped Brownies

If you're a fan of raw cookie dough you will love these {and there are no eggs so it's safe to eat}!! I had to hurry and get the cookie dough part on the brownies before I ate the whole bowl! I got the recipe from a dear sweet lady in our ward who made these for a Young Women Activity ~ Kim Arzola! The girls gobbled them right up! I managed to sneak one home to John and he loved them! They were quite easy to do so I made a bunch for a carnival at Halle's school! I am making more tomorrow night so I will snap a picture then!!

Start by making a box brownie mix of your choice, as directed, on the box. Let cool completely!
Then make the.....
Cookie Dough Topping
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 T. milk ( I use evaporated milk)
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. flour
Mini chocolate chips {as much as you want}
Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour and mix well. Spread over cool brownies.
I made a cookie sheet full of these by using 2 brownie mixes and tripling the Cookie Dough Topping since I had to make quite a few! They were very yummy!

Valentine's Heaart Cake Dessert {super easy & super cute}.....

or for any occasion for that matter when ya wanna show a little love!!! I know it's late but I found this super cute and super easy {I know I said that already, but it really is} dessert at Real Mom Kitchen {the picture is hers too} and knew the family would love it!

1/8 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tsp cornstarch
1 cup frozen raspberries
Twinkies
1.In a small sauce pan, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch. Whisk the water into the sugar mixture until well blended. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and gently stir in raspberries. {I added my raspberries during cooking, constantly stirring, and then strained the sauce through a mesh strainer with the back of a spoon so I was left with a smooth sauce, my kids aren't "chunky" fruit fans, and poured it into a squeeze bottle to drizzle over Twinkies}. Allow the mixture to cool.

2.Cut Twinkies in half diagonally, a sharp diagonal, starting about 1 in. down from top left to 1 in. from bottom of opposite side. {I threw my Twinkies in the freezer for about 20 minutes so they were a little more firm when I cut them}. For each heart, put 2 halves together on a plate. Spoon raspberry mixture on top and around hearts.

This is my picture!! Not quite as pretty! I was going to add a few fresh raspberries but forgot!!! But they all loved it!! Even Justin!! You could also drizzle with chocolate sauce too, yum!!
Hope everyone had a very Happy Valentine's day!!!

Lemon Bars

Keepin' short and simple.....go make these! They are the best I've had! AND the easiest to make!! The recipe comes from a cute gal, Michelle Hansen!

For the Bottom Layer you will need:
1 Box Lemon Cake mix
1 Stick of Butter (softened)
1 Egg
Mix together and pat down in a 9x13 pan

For the filling you will need:
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar (doesn't need to be level)
1 8oz pkg cream cheese softened
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Lemon Extract

Beat together & pour over cake mix & Bake @ 350 for 25 mins or longer, just make sure and watch the top for it to be a light brown color, dust with powdered sugar as soon as they come out of the oven. Make a day ahead if you can they seem to set up a little better. ENJOY!!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I know this has been around a while but it was a first for us and it was a hit!! Especially with J~Bear!!! He loved it! It comes from The Girls Who Ate Everything. This picture is from her blog also!!! So yummy!

2 1/2 c. pretzels (crushed fine)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
3/4 c. butter
1 (6 oz) pkg instant strawberry jello
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries or small container (16 oz) sliced fresh strawberries (I prefer fresh)
1 ( 8 oz ) pkg cream cheese
1 c. sugar
8 oz. cool whip

Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a greased 9 X 13 pan. You can use more butter if the crust isn't sticking together and make the pretzels more crushed than I did. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes.
Make jello according to directions and add the strawberries. Refrigerate until partially set. *If it is not set enough it will leak through your cream cheese layer and make your pretzels soggy. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in cool whip. Spread over cooled crust. Pour jello over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate.

Sinful Ice Cream Concoction

Found this recipe how I usually find my recipes....recipe blogs!!! I love recipe blogs! I love that others share their wonderful and yummy recipes! I found this ice cream dessert at The Girls Who Ate Everything And ya know what makes it even better??? It was super easy!! It kinda reminded me of fried of cream or she said it reminded her of Sydney's Sinful Sundae at Outback ~ which I've never had but after having this I might give it a try next time we are there! I whipped it up Sunday morning and we had it after Sunday dinner!

1 half gallon vanilla ice cream
4 c. crushed corn flakes
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. coconut
1 c. melted butter

Get ice cream out to thaw for a bit. Mix everything but ice cream together and layer half on the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish, spread softened ice cream on top of that layer {I found it easier to use a metal spoon that I ran under warm water to spread the ice cream} and then top with remaining mixture.Put in freezer to chill. I served it with some caramel drizzled on top and it was so very good!! And since it was almost gone before I got a picture {cause I like pictures on recipe blogs} ya get to see what was left after John nibbled on it all weekend... Go check out her blog for a yummy looking picture and more great recipes!!

German Chocolate Cheesecake

My sister called me this morning for this recipe and I realized I hadn't put it on here!! This is my FAVORITE dessert of all time! I seriously can eat the whole pan!! And it's not really a cheesecake, but that's what we've always called it and that's what it'll always be to me!!
Crust:
1½ c. flour
1½ sticks butter ~ melted
¼ c. sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts ~ you could leave these out if you're not a nut fan!
Mix all together and spread into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Bake @ 450º for 10-12 minutes, until golden around edges.
Cool completely.

Mix together: ~ {I usually double this mixture}
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
1 8 oz. cool whip
Spread over cooled crust.

2 small instant chocolate puddings...mix together as directed on package with cold milk.
Pour over cream cheese mixture.
Let pudding set up 10 minutes or so and top with another 8 oz. cool whip!
Garnish with additional walnuts or shaved chocolate!! Sooo good!

Sugar Cookie Bars

I think these are great! The yumminess of a sugar cookie without all the work! This recipe and yummy picture from "My Baking Addition". She posts a really great frosting recipe but you could probably use any frosting you have. She also cut them into cute bars and frosted them really cute but you could just frost them while they are in the pan and then cut into squares.

1 cup butter; room temperature

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and frost.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter; room temperature

1/2 cup shortening

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

4 cups powdered sugar

5 Tbsp milk

food coloring (if desired)

Combine butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Spread over cooled cookie.

Cant's Leave Alone Bars

This recipe comes from "Dining As A Domestic Goddess".
1 package yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter, cubed
Mix first 3 ingredients. Press most of the mixture in the bottom of a greased 13 x 9 pan (Reserve a little). Combine milk, choc. chips and butter in separate bowl and microwave 45 seconds on high. Stir and cook another 45-60 seconds. Stir till smooth. Pour over cake mixture. Drop teaspoonfuls of remaining cake mixture over top. Bake 350 for 20-25 min. or till lightly browned. Cool before cutting.

Snicker Salad

This recipe comes from a group of ladies who meet together once a month and exchange recipes and have a good time. They are called the "Cookin' Mamas."

Ingredients:

1 large tub of Cool Whip, thawed

1 large package of vanilla instant pudding

1 cup of milk

6 snickers bars, cut into bite size pieces

3 medium size Granny Smith apples or other tart apple, cut up into small chunks

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding, then mix in the cool whip.

Add the Snickers and then the apples.

Note: Cut the apples after you have mixed the other ingredients so that they aren't brown when you add them.

Lemon Bars

This recipe and picture come from a fun blog called Whimsy Love Blog. These are the one and only lemon bars that have ever turned out and I'm glad she shared them cause we sure enjoyed them!!

Ingredients:
1 C. butter
2 ¼ C. flour
½ C. powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon lemon rind
¼ C. lemon juice
4 eggs, beaten
2 C. sugar

Mix the butter, flour, powdered sugar & salt. Spread in the bottom of a 9" x 13" pan. Bake for 25 minutes in a 325 degree oven.

Mix eggs, lemon juice, rind and sugar. Pour on top of the baked crust. You don't have to wait for the crust to cool. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into squares when cooled. Eat!

Chex Muddy Buddies

1 c. chocolate chips
½ c. peanut butter
¼ c. butter or margarine
1 t. vanilla
9 c. Chex cereal
1½ c. powdered sugar

Microwave directions...
1. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in microwave until melted together and mixture is smooth.
2. In a large bowl, place cereal. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until well coated. Pour into a 2 gallon plastic bag.
3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag, shake until well coated. Spread on wax paper too cool.
Store in refrigerator.

Stove-top direction...
Same as above except melt chocolate mixture in a sauce pan over low heat.

Mix it up !! Try adding in with the powdered sugar: raisins, dries fruit, nuts, marshmallows, gummy bears,Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Lucky Charms...the sky's the limit!!!

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1 2/3 c. white sugar
1 c. oil
1 16oz. pumpkin (2 cups)
2 c. flour
2t. baking powder
2t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1t. baking soda

Beat till fluffy.
Pour into a greased and floured cookie sheet.

Bake @350º for 25-30 minutes.
Cool completely.

Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese - softened
1/2 cube of butter - softened
1 t. vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar

Beat together and spread gently over cooled cake.

YUMMY Cream Puff Dessert

1/2 c. butter
1 c. boiling water
1 c. sifted flour
1/4 t. salt
4 eggs

Combine water, butter, and salt in a pan. Bring to boil. When boiling, remove from heat and add flour, all at once. Stir vigorously until ball forms. Let cool. ( I usually put it on a dinner plate, flatten it a little, and put it in the fridge, flipping it over once, until cool to the touch)

When cool, put in mixer and add eggs, one at a time, until mixed all together.
Spread on a greased cookie sheet. Bake @ 400º for 25 minutes. (You may end up with a few holes in the cream puff...don't worry, it'll be filled in with the yummy filling)
Let cool.

Top with.....
8 oz. cream cheese - softened
3 c. milk
1 lg. instant vanilla pudding
8 oz. cool whip
chocolate syrup

Mix milk and pudding together until thick. Add cream cheese and mix throughly. (It might take a few minutes to incorporate the cream cheese, mix until there are no lumps)
Spread over crust.
Then top that with the cool whip.

Drizzle with choclate just before serving.
YUMMY !!!