Banana Cream Cheesecake

Ok, I'm in love with banana extract. I pretty much like banana anything--especially banana laffy taffy. Now I just need to learn how to make my own taffy and I'm set. I came across this recipe on Facebook and KNEW I HAD to try it. But....out of fear of eating the whole thing by myself, I decided to recruit guinea pigs. Thankfully I have many willing neighbors (and spouse). So this blog is a thank you to all the compliments on this dessert and a BIG thank you to Lindsay for posting this recipe online. There are many steps to this recipe but as long as you have a good springform pan and a Kitchenaid mixer (with whip and paddle), it's easy! [Rather than piping the whipped cream and slicing bananas, I delivered slices of cheesecake with an intact banana and put the whipped cream in jelly jars on the side.] I think next week, I'm going to try Red Velvet Truffles.....

https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/2018/05/31/banana-cream-cheesecake/

Dark Chocolate Cream Pie

Chocolate, chocolate and more is one of my favorite go-to's for decadent but simple desserts. I like to use my neighbors as guinea pigs for my baking therapy experiments. I ended up doubling the recipe and will be handing it out to a birthday girl and at a housewarming. This dessert is very rich, so I recommend smaller pieces. Also, when giving away desserts, I like to use disposable dishes so I bought pre-made graham cracker crusts. However, in the future, I'm planning to stock-up from thrift stores for 13x9s and pie crusts so I can give away real dishes (which actually end up being cheaper than aluminum). :)

https://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/dark-chocolate-cream-pie/

Lemon Supreme Pie

I was excited to make this one, however, I'm not able to comment on the finished product. I loved both the made-from-scratch lemon curd and the cream cheese layer, but, since I made this for a neighbor as a "get-well" treat, I hope it turned out yummy. I cheated and used a pre-made graham cracker crust instead of baking a pie crust--it saved me a ton of time and seemed to go well with it. I also omitted the extra whipped topping and just left the 2 layers. If you want a quick, easy (but overnight) pie, this is perfect for spring, Easter and summer. I am hoping to make this one again later this season. I love Taste of Home because I know I can always trust their recipes.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-supreme-pie?pmcode=&_cmp=Holiday&_ebid=Holiday3272018&_mid=206673&ehid=dfef5f62f666e299097ce5854fb7aea035676b6b

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pinwheels

I don't like to waste food, and I had some extra tortillas to use up. We had a BBQ with friends so I decided to use them as my pinwheel guinea pigs. There are literally hundreds of pinwheel ideas on pinterest and I might end up making several more in the next couple of weeks, but this was a good starter, especially for a crowd. I actually had a hard time sharing because they were so delicious. I used the advice of the reviews and used 1/4 of a dry ranch packet instead of liquid ranch dressing. Also used larger shredded sharp cheddar cheese, but it didn't seem to affect the flavor (maybe even improved it). Hoping to try/blog more soon!

http://www.lemontreedwelling.com/2017/01/bacon-cheddar-ranch-pinwheels.html

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dip

Need a go to for parties? This is a great quickie to "whip" up. I used mini vanilla wafers and animal cookies for the dip. When you use the stand mixer and whisk attachment on high, you can take the cream cheese right out of the fridge throw it in the bowl with the other ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) you'll have cookie dip in 2-3 minutes! So addicting--another dam in the clean eating river....;)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-dip

Million Dollar Spaghetti

So I have leftover spaghetti noodles and sauce earlier this week. I typed in "baked spaghetti" on Pinterest and lo and behold, I found the recipe to beat ALL recipes--at least according to the hubby. :) I only used sour cream and cream cheese; I didn't have cottage cheese at the time. It was super easy. I re-named it "Lunch Lady Spaghetti" but Million Dollar Spaghetti was very appropriate.

http://sugarapron.com/2015/10/21/million-dollar-spaghetti/#more-1197

Fluffy Lemon Pudding Dessert

Yep-you guessed it, this is another pudding recipe that needed to happen. I won't say this one is my favorite, but then again, lemon pudding isn't either. I ended up adding lemon juice to the pudding mix which helped alot. I also added fresh blueberries to the top. The hubby enjoyed it, although he doesn't plow through pudding desserts unless they contain chocolate ;)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/fluffy-lemon-pudding-dessert

Pistachio Dessert

So I've been doing a pantry inventory of expiring foods. I had a series of pudding that I've slowly been using up. I think I was planning something with pistachio last year that never made it to the table, so I decided it was time. Pistachio pudding is my favorite, so needless to say, I ended up eating quite a bit of this one (found on Pinterest). You can't go wrong with a shortbread crust and cream cheese. ;)

Butterscotch-Toffee Cheesecake Bars

Staying with the butterscotch theme, I added the hubby's 2nd favorite--Heath! Taste of Home posted this on Facebook the other day and I knew I had to make it. It was almost too easy to fix AND eat. ;)  By the way, my secret to anything that requires cream cheese is to let it get to room temperature--in this case, I pulled it out the night before and prepared it this morning so that I could chill it in plenty of time before lunch. Be prepared--you will have to fight yourself (almost physically) to stop eating them :)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/butterscotch-toffee-cheesecake-bars?trkid=FBPAGE_TOH_20161020_Dessert_Fall_Romance_DetailPage

Jalapeno Poppers (with Panko)

The hubby's garden is gi-normous this year. He planted jalapeno peppers for the first time and this Kansas, weak-tongued girl has never really worked with fresh ones. [I usually buy them already sliced and in a jar.]
Last weekend we hosted a bbq and I decided to mass distribute them in the form of poppers. I didn't realize they would lose most of their bite just by taking out the seeds and even more so when baking. It turns out that this is one of the best appetizers I've had the privilege to make. Needless to say, they didn't last long :)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/baked-jalapeno-poppers-recipe.html