Whip Chocolate Dip

A co-worker of mine made this last week for a pot luck we had a work and wow it was good. It sounded really easy to put together and it hits the chocolate spot for sure. I made this for the Super Bowl get together we're going to (Go Packers!) and it would be fantastic for Valentine's day as well.

Whip Chocolate Dip
large container cool whip, thawed
1 bag of semisweet chocolate chips
cinnamon to taste (about 1/2 tsp)
rum extract to taste (about 1/2 tsp)
strawberries and angel food cake cut in bite size pieces for dipping

Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Fold in the thawed cool whip and add the cinnamon and rum extract. Stir well. To serve, dip in strawberries and angel food pieces. Yummy!

Rich and Easy Brownies

These brownies were phenomenal! They were very easy to make and so moist and rich and delicious. My husband took most of them to work which was a big hit and we just kept a couple at home for us which was plenty. They are so chocolaty and would be great for any potluck or gathering or just a special treat at home.

Rich and Easy Brownies From Etc. for Her Magazine
2/3 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Bring margarine, sugar and water to a boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 cups of chocolate chips until melted. Cool slightly and beat in the vanilla. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and gradually add the chocolate mixture and mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt and gradually add to the chocolate mixture. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 325 for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool before cutting. May frost if desired, but really not need to.

Carrot Cake

I absolutely love carrot cake! I think its the combination of spicy moist cake and the yummy, sugary, cream cheesy frosting. It is so good! I don't make it really often, but was having a hankering for carrot cake this last week. I was home one day from work because of the weather so I whipped up a batch. I actually used carrots from my garden that have kept fresh and crisp in my fridge since October if you can believe it. It's pretty amazing to me too! Give this simple recipe a try, you will not be disappointed.

Carrot Cake From Taste of Home Delicious Desserts Cookbook
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (I used 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/2 cup canola oil and it turned out great)
3 eggs
1 1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrot
Frosting: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir into egg mixture. Beat in vanilla. Stir in carrots. Spread into a 9" or 8" square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. For frosting, in a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Frost cake, store in refrigerator.

Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle

I made this tasty dessert for my husband's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary party. It is an elegant and tasty treat that goes together quickly. If you don't have a trifle bowl, use a glass bowl so that you can see the multiple layers of chocolaty goodness!

Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle From allrecipes.com
1 pkg brownie mix
1 3/4 cup cold milk
2 pkg instant white chocolate pudding mix
4 tsp instant coffee
2 T warm water
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 Heath bars, chopped

Prepare brownies according to package directions. Bake and cool completely. Cut into 1" cubes. In medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding mix until thickens. Dissolve coffee granules in water and stir into pudding mixture. Fold in whipped topping. In glass serving bowl, layer 1/3 of brownies cubes, 1/3 of pudding mixture and 1/3 of candy. Repeat until all ingredients are used up . Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.

Chocolate Pear Tart

We had a little get together after work the other night and I brought this for a dessert. It combines yummy chocolate, almonds and sweet pears in a rich, gooey brownie like dessert. I used a tart pan without a removable bottom, but they recommend one with a removable bottom or you could use a springform pan.

Chocolate Pear Tart From Everyday Food
8 T unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup whole blanched almonds
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
2-3 firm ripe Bartlett pears
lemon juice
2 T apple jelly

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9" removable bottom tart pan heavily with butter; set aside.

In a food processor, combine almonds and sugar; process until very finely ground. Add butter, eggs, cocoa, vanilla, salt and almond extract, if using; process until combined. Spread mixture evenly in prepared pan.

Peel, halve and core pears; cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick slices, rubbing them with lemon as you work to prevent discoloration (I sliced them into a bowl and tossed them in lemon juice). Arrange slices on chocolate mixture, slightly overlapping, without pressing in in a single ring around the edge of the tart.

Place pan on baking sheet; bake until top is puffed and a toothpick inserted in center of chocolate mixture comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely in pan.

Briefly heat jelly in the microwave or on the stove until liquefied. Gently brush pears with jelly; let set at least 20 minutes. Remove from pan and serve.

Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

I was ambitious the other night and made the Italian Venison, mashed potatoes and corn and I even made these bars for dessert. I love desserts, but don't make them too often since I'm busy preparing the rest of dinner and hubby doesn't have a huge sweet tooth. I know I shouldn't be eating the whole pan myself!

These bars were pretty easy to put together and were very yummy. We each ate a few of them and I sent the remaining 2/3 of the pan with my husband to work. They will finish anything there! This is a great recipe if you're looking for a quick, throw together dessert for dinner or a bake sale or unexpected company.

Chocolate Oatmeal Bars From Taste of Home's Quick Cooking
2/3 cup butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups quick cooking oats
1 pkg (11 1/2 oz) milk chocolate chips (I used semisweet)
2/3 cup peanut butter
4 Heath candy bars, crushed (I had some toffee bits that I sprinkled on instead, about 1/2 cup)

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add corn syrup and vanilla; beat well. Stir in oats; press into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter; stir until blended. Spread over cooled bars. Sprinkle with crushed candy bars. Refrigerate until set before cutting.

Cappuccino Cake Brownies

I had a fantastic baking weekend. I wish I would have gotten more done, but I have dinner rolls, 2 apples pies and 2 poppy seed rolls in the freezer to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. I had to work all day today (the joys of working in a SNF) because of the holiday this week and our travels to WI so I didn't get much baking done today. I did make a yummy quiche, some baked apples and these brownies for dinner tonight. These were thrown together literally in about 5 minutes and were full of chocolaty coffee goodness. A great way to finish off dinner!

Cappuccino Cake Brownies From Taste of Home
1 T instant coffee granules
2 tsp boiling water
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon

In a small bowl, dissolve coffee in water; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips. In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, melted chocolate and coffee mixture. Combine flour and cinnamon; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Pour into a greased 8x8" baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cute into squares.

Freestyle Apple Tart

I still have apples from the orchard to use up and this is the perfect way! I made this tart last year a few times, but this is the first time this year that I've whipped this up. It is really simple and so yummy. I love the cream cheese surprise! Give this a try, you won't be disappointed.

Freestyle Apple Tart From Kraft.com
1 refrigerated ready to use pie crust
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 red or green apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
2 T flour
1 tsp cinnamon sugar

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line pie plate with crust. Carefully spread cream cheese over bottom of crust in a 6" circle in center. In bowl, toss apples with flour, sugar and cinnamon. Spoon over cream cheese. Carefully fold edges of pie crust partially over apples. Bake 25 minutes, covering loosely with foil the last 5 minutes. Cool. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Apple Praline Pie

I have a big box of apples from a local orchard and have been using them up in various desserts-crumbles, pies, etc. I love to try different pie recipes I find and this one was amazing! This pie combined the delicious apples baked in a flaky crust with a caramelly topping mixed with crunchy pecans. So good! I liked only having to make the bottom crust and trying something different from the streusel topping.

Apple Praline Pie From Simply in Season
3 cups apples, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
2 T flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
9" unbaked pastry shell
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 T honey
2 T butter
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

Combine the first 5 ingredients, tossing to coat apples. Place apples in the pastry shell and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Combine the brown sugar, milk, honey and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add nuts. Remove pie from oven and pour honey-nut mixture over top. Continue baking at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Spice 'n Nice Streusel Cheesecake

Who doesn't love cheesecake? It's not something that I make too often, but I love cheesecake. This bite size little cheesecake squares were so simple to make. I made them for a baby shower this weekend and received many compliments on them. The pumpkin pie spice gives them a nice fall, spiced flavor. Mmmm!

Spice 'n Nice Streusel Cheesecake From Gold Medal Fall Baking

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Streusel (see below)
2 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, flour and 1/4 cup sugar with spoon. Press in ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Bake 15 minutes. Make streusel; set aside. Beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Pour over crust. Sprinkle streusel over cream cheese mixture. Bake about 35 minutes or just until puffed and center is dry. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Store covered in refrigerator.

Streusel:
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick cooking or old fashioned oats
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (may substitute cinnamon)
Mix all ingredients with spoon until crumbly.

Streusel Apple Pie

This is also known as the best apple pie recipe ever! I am not even sure where I found this recipe, but it is so easy and so incredibly yummy-it is surely one of my favorite apple pie recipes. Last year I was raising money for breast cancer research and one of my fundraisers was baking pies to sell at work. These were definitely a huge hit. I love the sweet apple filling and the buttery streusel topping. Enjoy a slice warm with some vanilla ice cream-you can't beat it!

Streusel Apple Pie

1 unbaked pie shell
6 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced
3/4 cup sugar
3 T flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt
Streusel: 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Mix the pie ingredients. Pour into the unbaked shell. Combine the streusel topping (I like to combine in my food processor) until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the pie. Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes. Cover the top with foil for the last 25 minutes to prevent over browning.

Grated Apple Cake

It's almost fall!!! That means that it is once again apple time. Shortly after we moved into our house 2 years ago, we planted an apple tree. Since then, we've also added 3 more apple trees, 3 pear trees, apricot and mulberry trees as well as a few raspberry bushes. We were fortunate to get about a dozen apples from the first tree we planted and they were delicious! I made this apple cake one night for dessert and we enjoyed it for breakfast the rest of the week :) It was even better knowing that the apples were grown by us in our backyard.

Grated Apple Cake From Country Cookin'

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1 cup sour milk (milk with a tsp or so of lemon juice added)
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups shredded raw apples, peeled
1/2 cup nuts
Topping: 3/4 cup brown sugar and 3/4 cup chopped nuts

Cream sugars and shortening. Add beaten egg, sour milk and soda. Sift flour, salt and baking powder and add to the mixture. Next add the apples and nuts. Pour into greased pan and sprinkle with the brown sugar and nut topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes in a 9x13" pan.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was another delicious recipe from the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle book by Barbara Kingsolver. I had 1 last zucchini from my garden (the vine borers killed off my plants) and this was the perfect way to use up some of it. These taste kind of like zucchini bread in cookie form and were a great treat to bring to work. I cut down on the amount of chocolate chips and they were still yummy!

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 T vanilla extract
1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup finely shredded zucchini
12 oz chocolate chips (I used about 6 oz of mini chocolate chips)

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the dry ingredients in separate , small bowl and then add to the liquid mixture. Stir the zucchini and chocolate chips into the other ingredients and mix well. Drop by spoonful onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen.

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

Of course, another zucchini recipe. I've been getting some wonderful zucchini and summer squash from the garden. My plants are still looking ok and just about every day I go out to find another 2 or 3 good size zucchini. Besides shredding a bunch and freezing it for zucchini bread and muffins throughout the winter months, I'm working on using it in my summer baking. I've never made a chocolate zucchini cake before and this one turned out great. It's a recipe from my aunt that she submitted for a cookbook I was putting together. A great chocolate cake recipe!

Zucchini Chocolate Cake
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp cloves
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 T cocoa (heaping)
2 cups shredded zucchini
chocolate chips for topping

Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Beat eggs and sugar, add oil and applesauce, vanilla and buttermilk and mix well. Gradually add dry ingredients; mix well. Add zucchini. Pour into a greased and floured pan. Bake at 325 degrees. It is done when toothpick comes out clean. Add chocolate chips when still hot and spread over cake with spatula if desired. If using a 10 x 15 pan, bake 20-30 minutes. If using a 9 x 13 pan, bake 35 to 45 minutes.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were tasty! I was in the cookie baking mood and found this recipe in my Grandma's collection of recipes. I love the taste of cream cheese and you can never go wrong with chocolate so I gave these a try. And they were goooood!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
4 oz cream cheese
2 tsp grated orange rind (I omitted, but I'm sure it would give these a nice citrus taste)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Sift together flour and salt. Beat butter, cream cheese, orange rind (if using) and sugar, thoroughly until fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, then add flour mixture all at once and beat until blended. Add chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by leveled tablespoon 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly and bake at 350 about 15 minutes. Watch closely so as not to burn edges.

Pumpkin Pie

It's still an excellent time to make a pumpkin pie. Delicious with any meal, this recipe for pumpkin pie is yummy and a cinch to make. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie From Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

1 pie crust, thawed
1 15oz can pumpkin (about 1 3/4 c)
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 c half and half, light cream or milk

Preheat oven to 375. For filling, in a bowl combine pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Add eggs; beat lightly with a fork until combined. Gradually add half and half; stir just until combined.

Place pastry lined pie plate on oven rack. Carefully pour filling into pastry shell. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of the pie with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake about 25 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Cover and chill within 2 hours.

Streusel Topped Apple PIe

This pie is delicious! I made 9 of these for a fundraiser and they sold like hotcakes. Everyone really seemed to enjoy them. I think I'll make another this weekend for Ryan and I to enjoy.

Streusel Topped Apple Pie

1 9" unbaked pie crust
6 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced
3/4 c sugar
3 T flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
dash salt
Streusel: 3/4 c flour, 1/2 c brown sugar, 1/2 c butter

Mix pie ingredients together. Pour into pie shell. Combine streusel topping ingredients until crumbly (I used a food processor). Sprinkle over pie. Bake at 425 for 45 minutes. Cover the top of the pie with foil during the last 25 minutes of baking and keep an eye on them so they do not overflow in the oven.

Tri-level Brownies

Another one of grandma's yummy dessert recipes.

Tri-Level Brownies
Bottom layer: Sift together 1/2 c flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt, mix with 1 c quick oats and 1/2 c brown sugar. Stir in 6 T melted butter. Pat mixture into a 12x8" pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
Middle layer: Combine 1 oz melted unsweetened chocolate, 4 T melted butter and 3/4 c sugar; add 1 egg and beat well. Sift together 2/3 c flour, 1/4 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt, add alternately with 1/4 c milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla to chocolate mixture. Fold in 1/2 c chopped nuts. Spread batter over baked layer. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
Top layer: Place 1 oz unsweetened chocolate and 2 T butter in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate melts. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 c powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Blend in enough hot water to form frosting. Spread over baked layer when cooled.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

This is a recipe that I got from grandma. She rated them as good and I agree.

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Filling:
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup softened butter or margarine
2-3 T light cream or milk

Glaze:
1 oz semisweet chocolate
1 T margarine

In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, set aside. In mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light, add flour, baking powder and melted chocolate. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cool. For filling, beat powdered sugar, peanut butter and butter in mixing bowl. Stir in cream or milk. Spread over cooled brownies. For the glaze, Melt remaining chocolate and butter in saucepan until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer. Cover and cool.

Fudge Brownies

These are the best homemade brownies ever! I actually got this recipe from Hillbilly Housewife. She has a lot of good, cheap, made from scratch recipes like this one.

1 c melted margarine or butter (2 sticks)
2 cups sugar
4 medium eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour

Melt the margarine in a microwave safe bowl. Combine the margarine and sugar in a large bowl with a spoon or whisk. Add all four eggs, and beat the mixture until it is sort of fluffy and emulsified. Add the salt, cocoa, and vanilla. Stir it up really well. Add the flour. Stir again until the mixture is thick and chocolatey. Turn the batter into a well oiled 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool before serving. Cut into 32 small squares. Delish!