Desserts

Yield: 8 dozen cookies 1 cup butter1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)1 1/2 cups white sugar1 1/2 cups brown sugar1 tablespoon vanilla4 eggs4 1/2 cups flour2 teaspoons baking soda2 teaspoons salt2, 12-ounce packages chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 350º. Spray cookie sheets with non-stick coating. 2. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, shortening, white and…

Basket Cakes are a fun mix of delicious cake and colorful centerpiece. The top of the cake can be “filled” with chocolate bunnies and Easter candies, or fresh flowers. The cake shown here is a 10-inch round, baked in two Wilton cake pans that measure 1 ½ inches high. Each pan holds one whole cake…

Yield: 6 servings 8 cups stale French bread, broken into small pieces2 cups milk1 1/2 cups sugar1 teaspoon cinnamon5 tablespoons butter, melted3 eggs1 tablespoon vanilla1/2 cup raisins1/2 cup chopped pecans1/2 cup shredded coconut 1. Preheat oven to 350º. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with vegetable oil. 2. Place bread in a large bowl and pour milk…

Yield: 6 servings Golden, syrupy crust covers tender, cinnamony apples. More comfort food! Filling 6 tablespoons butter, softened 2 cups white or brown sugar, divided use ½ cup chopped pecans ½ cup raisins 3 tablespoons cinnamon, divided use Pie Crust 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, chilled 6 tablespoons ice water Apples:…

Yield: serves up to 15 guestsChildren will love decorating this festive log cake. It’s sure to become a cherished tradition in your home. 4 whole eggs1 cup sour cream1/2 cup vegetable oil1/2 cup water or coffee1 small package instant chocolate pudding mix1 boxed chocolate cake mix2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted1 recipe Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)Candies or…

Yield: Frosting for two- or three-layer cake with lots of fluff on top 4 egg whites (1/2 cup)3 cups white sugar1/2 teaspoon cream of tartarpinch of salt2/3 cup water2 teaspoons vanilla Whisk together egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and water in the top of a double boiler. (If you don’t have a double boiler,…

Fresh Strawberry Pie Yield: 1, 9-inch pie to serve 6 2 cups water2 cups sugar1/3 cup cornstarch1, 3-ounce package dry strawberry gelatin2 quarts whole strawberries, stemmed, washed and dried1, baked pie crust (9-inch, deep-dish) Place water, sugar, and cornstarch in a saucepan and whisk to combine. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil,…

Yield: 1, 9-inch pie to serve 6 For this pie, I used blackberries from Bill’s garden, raspberries, golden kiwi, blueberries, grapes, and oranges. 2 cups water2 cups sugar1/3 cup cornstarch1, 3-ounce package dry peach gelatin2 quarts summer fruit, stemmed, washed and dried1, baked pie crust (9-inch, deep-dish) Place water, sugar, and corn starch in a saucepan…

It’s easy to make any cake look totally “Hollywood,” when you frost it with Chocolate Ganache. It doesn’t have to be a three-tired Groom’s cake. It can be a single-layer cake you just whipped up. Or even cupcakes. My recipe is simple … just two ingredients; heavy cream and semi-sweet chocolate. My recipe calls for…